Solarati

Current-generation solar cell technologies are too expensive and inefficient for wide-scale commercial applications. Now researchers have developed a new anode coating strategy that significantly enhances the efficiency of solar energy power conversion. Their work focuses on “engineering” organic material-electrode interfaces in bulk-hetero-junction organic solar cells. The breakthrough promises to bring researchers and developers worldwide closer to the goal of producing cheaper, more manufacturable and more easily implemented solar cells.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

In a finding that could help ease concerns about the potential environmental impact of manufacturing solar cells, scientists report that the manufacture of solar cells produces far fewer air pollutants than conventional fossil fuel technologies. Solar energy has been touted for years as a safer, cleaner alternative to burning fossil fuels to meet rising energy demands. However, environmentalists and others are increasingly concerned about the potential negative impact of solar cell (photovoltaic) technology.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Researchers are exploring how waste heat from car exhausts could provide a new greener power supply for vehicles. Similar conversion technology is used in everyday applications such as controlling the central heating system or refrigerator temperature. Now researchers aim to use this technology to generate electricity from the waste heat in vehicles.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

The electrons in nanoparticles of noble metal oscillate together apace with the frequency of the light. This phenomenon can be exploited to produce better and cheaper solar cells, scientists have shown. Electricity-generating solar cells are one of the most attractive alternatives for creating a long-term sustainable energy system, but thus far solar cells have not been able to compete economically with fossil fuels. Researchers are now looking at how nanotechnology can contribute in bringing down the cost.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Welcome to the first of our weekly roundup of solar power plants, gadgets and oddities.
The Solar Powered Blimp.
Interesting model and concept, shame about the chewing gum soundtrack on the video!
You can learn more about this at hyperblimp.com/

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Plants, trees and algae do it. Even some bacteria and moss do it, but scientists have had a difficult time developing methods to turn sunlight into useful fuel. Now, researchers have a proof-of-concept device that can split water and produce recoverable hydrogen.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Plants, trees and algae do it. Even some bacteria and moss do it, but scientists have had a difficult time developing methods to turn sunlight into useful fuel. Now, researchers have a proof-of-concept device that can split water and produce recoverable hydrogen.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Scientists have set a new solar-to-grid system conversion efficiency record by achieving a 31.25 percent net efficiency rate. The old 1984 record of 29.4 percent was toppled Jan. 31 on SES’s “Serial #3″ solar dish Stirling system at Sandia’s National Solar Thermal Test Facility. The solar dish generates electricity by focusing the sun’s rays onto a receiver, which transmits the heat energy to a Stirling engine. The engine is a sealed system filled with hydrogen. As the gas heats and cools, its pressure rises and falls. The change in pressure drives the pistons inside the engine, producing mechanical power, which in turn drives a generator and makes electricity.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Scientists have set a new solar-to-grid system conversion efficiency record by achieving a 31.25 percent net efficiency rate. The old 1984 record of 29.4 percent was toppled Jan. 31 on SES’s “Serial #3″ solar dish Stirling system at Sandia’s National Solar Thermal Test Facility. The solar dish generates electricity by focusing the sun’s rays onto [...]

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Teams of researchers all over the world are working on the development of organic solar cells. Organic solar cells have good prospects for the future: They can be laid onto thin films, which makes them cheap to produce.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites