Spray on solar power

Spray on solar power technology from Mitsubishi could transform everything from buildings, cars and clothing into energy-generating surfaces.  Thin solar cells – less than 1 millimeter thick, and which weigh 1/10th of similarly sized crystalline solar panels – are the latest in building integrated photovoltaics.

The Japanese-based company has been part of a clean tech revolution starting in March 2011 after the devastating tsunami and resulting nuclear power plant meltdowns.  Government has backed research and development of solar power and other green energy sources.

Mitsubishi Chemical Corp has developed spray-on solar power technology with solar cells that use carbon compounds that operate semiconductors when dried and solidified, which means they can generating electricity when exposed to UV light.  Thin film solar, like this spray on solar technology can save space and cut down on weight normally associated with conventional solar panels.

Mitsubishi Chemical’s spray-on power technology promise a potential light-to-electricity conversion rate of over 10%. Traditional crystalline silicon solar panels provide an efficiency of as much as 20%, but – as noted above – less space and less weight of the spray on solar cells gives the technology an advantage.  Moreover,  Mitsubishi hopes to improve efficiency to 15%  by 2015.

Solar energy is all around us - can we capture it without solar cells?

What if it was possible to generate solar energy without solar cells?  In other words, could we harness the power of the sun for our use without having to pay for bulky PV solar panels?  According to a recent Forbes Blog post by Alex Knapp, solar technology could take a big step forward relying on breakthrough research at the University of Michigan.  Using magnetic properties of light at just the right intensity, Professor Stephen Rand and his associate, William Fisher, have discovered electrical voltage can be generated without needing solar cells.

Light has electric and magnetic components. Until now, scientists thought the effects of the magnetic field were so weak that they could be ignored. What Rand and his colleagues found is that at the right intensity, when light is traveling through a material that does not conduct electricity, the light field can generate magnetic effects that are 100 million times stronger than previously expected. Under these circumstances, the magnetic effects develop strength equivalent to a strong electric effect.

“This could lead to a new kind of solar cell without semiconductors and without absorption to produce charge separation,” Rand said. “In solar cells, the light goes into a material, gets absorbed and creates heat. Here, we expect to have a very low heat load. Instead of the light being absorbed, energy is stored in the magnetic moment. Intense magnetization can be induced by intense light and then it is ultimately capable of providing a capacitive power source.”

What makes this possible is a previously undetected brand of “optical rectification,” says William Fisher, a doctoral student in applied physics. In traditional optical rectification, light’s electric field causes a charge separation, or a pulling apart of the positive and negative charges in a material. This sets up a voltage, similar to that in a battery. This electric effect had previously been detected only in crystalline materials that possessed a certain symmetry.

What this all means is that one day we may not need expensive semiconductors to capture solar energy.  Instead, solar manufacturers could simply use ubiquitous, cheap materials like glass or transparent ceramics.

This solar technology is still in the conceptual stage, and may take years before it can be reliably used for everyday applications.  But perhaps the promise of cheaper solar power is worth the wait.

How 3M Ultra Barrier Solar Film Works

You probably know 3M for its Post-Its or tape products, but now the company is working to change the solar landscape with the help of a $4.4 million grant for development of its lightweight Ultra Barrier Solar Film.  The grant, awarded through the Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative, will allow 3M to expand production of Ultra Barrier Solar Film at its Columbia, MO plant.  The Ultra Barrier laminate is produced with the company’s flexible copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) and other solar energy surfacing.  It shields photovoltaic (PV) cells, offering protection in place of glass.

The lightweight material reduces the overall weight of solar panels, making them both lighter and more affordable.  By using Ultra Barrier on a conventionally-sized PV panel (4 x 6 feet), the panel’s weight would be only 1/8th of a typical 30-pound glass-covered solar panel.  This is important for rooftop solar installations on residences and commercial buildings where weight is a factor.

Through SunShot, solar energy development will be accelerated, while solar panel installation costs can be dramatically reduced from $7 to $1 per watt of solar capacity.

Will you drive a solar powered car some day?

Experts are predicting that 2011 is going to be the year of the electric car.  Several auto manufacturers are releasing new 100% electric or plug-in electric hybrid models this year.  Many new concept cars will soon be driving major highways in the next few years, as well.

All this means that solar-powered electric cars are on the horizon.

Currently, several green cars offer solar panel options for consumers.  The Toyota Prius (not an electric car yet) is a traditional hybrid that can be outfitted with PV cells on its roof to offset battery drain running the air conditioning.  It can help boost mileage too!  The new 100% electric Nissan LEAF also has a solar panel option, which 70% of its buyers are choosing.  Like the Prius, the solar panels will help power internal operations of the automobile, though will not actually recharge the battery.

But, solar powered cars that run on 100% renewable solar energy are still in the future:

The primary reasons we do not yet see cars that are covered in solar panels driving around is that too many panels would be required to completely power the vehicle, and the cost would be prohibitive for most consumers.

A solar electric car has been developed.  The experimental Swiss “Solartaxi,” was developed to circle the globe and powered entirely by energy generated by solar panels.  However, the vehicle required a solar array on a trailer that was nearly as big as the Solartaxi itself!

For now, if you want a solar-powered electric car, your best bet is to purchase an electric car.  Then, instead of plugging it into the grid, install solar panels on your garage, or recharge at one of a solar park and ride facilities or solar powered garages like the ones shown below.

Solar powered garages offer renewable energy to recharge EVs

Solar Power Generating Hornet

Solar energy, in its pure, direct form of sunlight is 100% natural.  We know that of course.  But to convert the energy into usable electricity, mankind has developed solar cells using materials like silicon.

Surprisingly there is solar electricity in nature.  The oriental hornet, pictured to the right, has the ability to generate power from sunlight.  According to a recent National Geographic article, the insect literally has cells within its exoskeleton that can produce electricity when exposed to sunlight.   Its the first solar power generating animal known to man.

A scientific study, led by Marian Plotkin of Tel-Aviv University unveiled the process by which the oriental hornet generates power from sunlight.

Their research revealed that pigments in the hornet’s yellow tissues trap light, while its brown tissues generate electricity. Exactly how the hornets use this electricity is still not entirely understood, Plotkin noted.

The researchers also discovered that while man-made solar cells have an efficiency rate of about 10-11%, the hornet’s “solar cells” are only about 1/3 of 1% efficient.  In other words, the hornet still needs to eat food for energy!

Yet, scientists are excited about the discovery because its the first of its kind for the animal kingdom.

The National Geographic article explained:

The team found that many of the hornet’s brown tissues contain melanin, the pigment that protects human skin cells by absorbing damaging ultraviolet light and transforming it into heat.

A structural analysis of the brown tissues also uncovered grooves that capture light by channeling rays into the tissues and breaking them apart into smaller rays.

The brown tissues “are a lot like a light trap—only one percent of the light that strikes is reflected away,” said Plotkin, whose study appeared in the December issue of the journal Naturwissenschaften.

The hornet’s yellow tissues contained the obscure pigment xanthopterin, which gives butterfly wings and mammal urine their color.

What does this discovery mean for solar research and the development of future solar technology?  The research team used isolated xanthopterin in a solution which was placed inside a solar cell electrode conductor.  When sunlight hit the electrode, the pigment generated electricity.

The research is just the beginning.  Scientists will compare the exoskeleton of the oriental hornet to other insects to see if there are others that are also generating power from sunlight.

Just possibly, we’ll be seeing solar energy taking flight in the natural world!

High efficiency solar panels from Boeing

Boeing has long been known for its leadership in aerospace.  Now, its using its engineering expertise in the renewable energy field.  In just a month or two, we will likely be seeing high efficiency solar panels from Boeing.

Boeing’s wholly-owned subsidiary Spectrolab has created C3MJ+ solar cells to be used in PV solar panels and other solar products.  Perhaps the most exciting features of these high efficiency solar panels is that they can convert over 39% of sunlight into solar electricity!  That statistic shatters the previous PV solar panel record for efficiency set by SunPower Corporation (24.2%).

If you are not familiar with Spectrolab, the company is already supplying solar power to 60% of the satellites orbiting Earth.  Partnering with Boeing, they hope to produce 10 million of the high efficiency solar panels.

High performance solar roof shingles from Dow

One of our favorite ways to go solar is with low profile, but high performance solar roof shingles.  From the manufacturer Dow comes a residential solar shingle that has been certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

Introduced in October 2009, Dow’s Powerhourse solar shingle is an affordable roofing option that can help cut your electricity bills and carbon emissions.  The sleek profile of solar roof shingles blend right into your regular roof tiles, minimizing the aesthetic impact.  Now, the residential solar shingles will be available for purchase in 2011!

According to Dow’s website:

But, why is our solar solution revolutionary? First, it’s a residential shingle – in both its installation technique and in the roofing protection it provides. In addition, it generates solar electricity by integrating solar cells into the design. In other words, the shingle is the solar panel, and the solar panel is the shingle.

Solar shingles are an example of the growing market in building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) – construction materials that include solar cells to generate clean solar electricity.  Consider these features of Dow’s high performance solar roof shingles:

• Quick, easy installation
• Minimal roof penetrations, compared with traditional solar panels
• Sleek profile that integrates with existing asphalt shingles on your roof
• Comprised of thin film solar cells (CIGS: copper, indium, gallium, diselenide)

The UL certification is one of the final steps needed to bring Dow’s Powerhouse Solar Shingles to the market early next year.  Certification confirms the ability of the solar roof shingles to meet electrical codes and photovoltaic connections.

Products trademarked HQRP® are marketed and sold exclusively by Osprey-Talon. HQRP 12 Watt (12W) Solar Electric Power Panel. The solar cells are encapsulated beneath high transmission tempered glass. The rear surface of the module is completely sealed from moisture and mechanical damage. Construction of the module minimizes weight while providing a durable, protective environment for the solar cells.

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Kyocera solar panels

For those of you looking for solar panels manufactured in the USA, your search just got a little easier.

Solar panel giant Kyocera started rolling the assembly line at its solar module plant in San Diego California this week.  The new plant opened up in response to Americans’ growing demand for renewable energy options, including solar electric generating systems.

Kyocera has big business plans for the coming months ahead.  By March 2013, it is targeting annual global production volume of 1,000 megawatts (MW), which is the equivalent of one gigawatt, of solar cells.

According to the company’s official website, the new San Diego plant will be an important addition to the company’s production line:

“The U.S. is experiencing extraordinary growth in its adoption of solar electricity,” said Steve Hill, president of Kyocera Solar, Inc.  “Kyocera’s San Diego plant will provide high-quality, high-efficiency solar modules to serve this expanding market. With a 35-year commitment to providing clean energy through solar modules, Kyocera is adding capacity globally to meet worldwide demand.”

Kyocera will produce 30 MW of solar cells each year in its new solar manufacturing line.  Produce include solar modules from 210 to 235 watts.

It will be easier to buy American made solar panels soon!

The company’s press release notes:

Solar energy has become one of Kyocera’s fastest-growing businesses globally, with the company expecting to double its production of solar cells in the two fiscal years from 2009 to 2011.  In addition to the operations coming to San Diego, Kyocera currently has solar module manufacturing facilities in Japan, China, the Czech Republic and Mexico.

By manufacturing solar panels here in the USA, the Kyocera San Diego plant helps fulfill “Buy American” provisions required by the U.S. government.  Of course, it also helps meet rising demand for alternative energy resources which are anticipated to continue to rise, particularly as fall out from the BP Oil Spill continues.

Kyocera’s new operations in San Diego are running according to schedule.  If you’d like additional information or to submit an inquiry regarding its solar electricity generating systems for either distributed generation or utility-scale models, visit the company’s “contact us” page.

Tiny Solar-Powered Sensor System (Photo by: Daeyeon Kim)

The next big thing in energy could be tiny! 

Researchers at the University of Michigan recently unveiled a 9-cubic millimeter solar powered sensor system that can harvest energy from surroundings and operate virtually perpetually.

Nearly 1000 times smaller than existing commercial counterparts on the market, the tiny solar powered sensor system is dwarfed by a U.S. penny (shown above).  The entire system – solar cells, processor and battery- are held in a frame that measures only 2.5 x 3.5 x 1 millimeters.

The UM solar system offers great promise in the field of nanotechnology.  Often, we think about the need for great amounts of solar energy coming from vast fields of panels.  Yet, the demand for solar micro applications should not be ignored.

The tiny solar-powered sensor system could be used for a variety of monitoring needs.  Potential medical applications could enable doctors to monitor pressure changes in the eyes and brain with a less-invasive method.  Within the body, the sensor could even draw on kinetic or thermal energy, rather than light!

Exposure to any source of light, whether natural sunlight or indoor bulbs, will charge the tiny solar cells.  And, the system uses the lowest powered commercial-class microcontroller, which requires about 2,000 times less power when in sleep mode than existing alternatives.  The transition from sleep to active mode is almost instantaneous because so little energy is required for operation at any level.  In fact, the sensor system primarily remains in sleep mode, “awaking” every few minutes to take measurements of conditions.

The total average power consumption is less than one nanowatt.  Want to talk tiny?  A nanowatt is one-billionth of  a watt.

Wondering about the future of this tiny powerhouse?  According to the University of Michigan’s press release:

The inventors are working to commercialize the technology through a company led by Scott Hanson, a research fellow in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

The paper is entitled “Millimeter-Scale Nearly Perpetual Sensor System with Stacked Battery and Solar Cells.”

This research is funded by the National Science Foundation, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Focus Center Research Program and ARM.