Cheap solar panels made from amorphous silicon (instead of the more expensive, yet more commonly used crystalline silicon) will now be more efficient. Researchers at TU Delft have discovered a way to increase the efficiency of these less-expensive solar panels from 7% to 9%. Even though its very cost-effective to produce amorphous solar panels with [...]
The State of Idaho is known for its potatoes. But now, it could be home to a production plant for the thinnest solar cells currently available. Boise Idaho announced last month that it was bringing a 10-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) power plant to the region. Then, this week Transform Solar revealed that a thin film solar [...]
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What if there was a magical way to increase solar panel efficiency by 20%? This is not a fairy tale! National Semiconductor has developed Solar Magic technology to boost solar panel output and increase power optimization. At first, the product was introduced as an add-on accessory for existing solar panel arrays. Now, National Semi’s solar [...]
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Two words: simple and cheap. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are taking down common barriers to affordable and easy home solar power. MIT has created paper solar cells with an inkjet printer process. This amazing solar innovation begs the question: could homeowners print out their own thin film solar cells one day? Of [...]
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Earth Day 2010 was a banner day to roll out all sorts of positive environmental messages, to encourage greener behavior and to demand governmental action to slow global climate change. On April 22, the U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced a big, $200 million boost for solar power research and development. The new [...]
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Sure, you might be thinking about putting solar panels on your home, business or garage, but what about your four-legged friends? Did you know that solar power has gone to the dogs? Well, perhaps not literally, but there are ways you can incorporate solar panels as part of a dog house or other pet shelter. [...]
If you didn’t already know, then let me be the first to tell you when and how solar technology will change the world. OK, well maybe I won’t be the first to make the claim, but I can at least tell you that the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has included solar tech in its [...]
Step aside Joe Camel! There’s a better use for tobacco plants these days. In fact, researchers at University of California Berkeley have developed a new solar technology that can be used to create biodegradable spray-on solar cells from the ubiquitous crop. Smokin’ hot solar cells are actually based on a virus that attacks tobacco crops. [...]
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 [...]
Thinking about installing solar panels this year? There’s no time like the present to take the plunge. The past few years have seen some major developments in solar technology, plus price cuts of up to 50% in the last 12 months alone. Add in the fact that you may be entitled to tax credits or [...]