Posts Tagged: image

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30
Aug 10

How to collect solar power

How to guide for creating solar power

…I am sure that almost everyone understands the vast amount of damage that we are currently doing to our worldwide environment, you simply need to read the news one night to discover one story after the next. Likewise, at some point I am certain you will likely have also seen the various for advertisements out there for domestic green energy systems. Well, I will discuss today a cheaper way for the normal household to obtain green energy through building DIY solar energy panels and wind turbines. I am aware, it sounds a tad farfetched at first, however, read on and all shall be explained.This is now the new craze if you’d prefer. Increasingly families are turning to creating their very own solar panel sets and wind turbines primarily in order to save money I feel, however, many are now also doing it to do their bit to save the environment. Companies have now realised that there is a market for the DIY green energy guide and have therefore leapt on that opportunity. These guides allow for green DIY products to…

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How to collect solar power

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3
Feb 10

Solar Efficiency Record Broken

When it comes to eeking another fraction of a percentage point of power out of a solar panel, we’re pretty good at not paying attention. I mean, what’s the difference between 40.7% and 40.8% anyway

…efficient. They’re better because they’re cheaper…and these record-breaking panels are NEVER cheap.
But this one is worth talking about.
Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Colorado eeked that extra fraction of a percent out using a few very interesting techniques. Highly efficient solar cells have to split light into segments and then capture each hunk of wavelengths separately. This lets the panel be efficient across a wide spectrum.
This new chip uses an entirely different system to split the wavelengths (gallium indium arsenide and gallium indium phosphide…if you’re curious.) The result is a much thinner and lighter solar cell that could even possibly be flexible.
The chips is also optimally efficient under concentrated sunlight. Concentrated sunlight is preferable because large areas of light can be concentrated on small areas of photovoltaic material. And since the PV material (especially this ultra-efficient stuff) is extremely expensive, using less per unit of sunlight…

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Solar Efficiency Record Broken

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30
Jan 10

MIT: ‘Major discovery’ primed to unleash solar revolution

In a revolutionary leap that could transform solar power from a marginal, boutique alternative into a mainstream energy source, MIT researchers have overcome a major barrier to large-scale solar power: storing energy for use when the sun doesn’t shine.

…runs through the electrode, the cobalt and phosphate form a thin film on the electrode, and oxygen gas is produced.Combined with another catalyst, such as platinum, that can produce hydrogen gas from water, the system can duplicate the water splitting reaction that occurs during photosynthesis.The new catalyst works at room temperature, in neutral pH water, and it’s easy to set up, Nocera said. “That’s why I know this is going to work. It’s so easy to implement,” he said.’Giant leap’ for clean energySunlight has the greatest potential of any power source to solve the world’s energy problems, said Nocera. In one hour, enough sunlight strikes the Earth to provide the entire planet’s energy needs for one year. James Barber, a leader in the study of photosynthesis who was not involved in this research, called the discovery by Nocera and Kanan a “giant leap” toward generating clean, carbon-free energy on a massive scale.”This is a major discovery with enormous implications for the future prosperity of humankind,”…

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MIT: ‘Major discovery’ primed to unleash solar revolution

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26
Jan 10

Introducing the World’s Largest Solar Powered Winery

The largest solar installation of any winery in the world is set to be built for Constellation Wines’ Gonzalez winery in Monterrey County, CA by Pacific Power Management.

…Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:3 Cyclists Document 12,000 Mile Trip on Solar Powered BlogHow to Go Green: Alternative EnergyEmeril Green Episode: Fall Harvest7 Daily Tasks That (Surprise!) Don’t Require Paper TowelsEd Begley Jr. on Must-Do Solar Power Maintenance, Green Businesses, and More”Greenest” Parking Lot Planned For Country’s Largest Airport…

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Introducing the World’s Largest Solar Powered Winery

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24
Jan 10

Times Square Gets Solar-Powered Billboard

A solar and wind-powered electronic billboard will debut in New York’s Times Square in December, becoming the flashy intersection’s first eco-friendly ad. Forty-five solar panels and four wind turbines will power the nearly 6,000 square foot billboard, resulting in a reduction of carbon dioxide usage by 18 tons a year

…The billboard, for Ricoh Americas’ parent company Ricoh Company Ltd. of Tokyo, will measure 47 feet (14 meters) high by 126 feet (38 meters) long. Its floodlights will be powered on site by 45 solar panels and four wind turbines….

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Times Square Gets Solar-Powered Billboard

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24
Jan 10

Huge Solar Plants Bloom in Desert

“Giant, power-generating farms will soon sprout in California, using large solar dishes and a 200-year-old engine design. They may finally make solar a viable alternative to coal and gas plants.”

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Huge Solar Plants Bloom in Desert

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22
Jan 10

Concept cellphone designed to be powered by solar energy.

Solar-powered Mobile Script concept cellphone with a roll-out touchscreen

…Eco Factor: Concept cellphone designed to be powered by solar energy.
Industrial designer Aleksander Mukomelov is trying to make use of the latest advancements in technology, including flexible displays in a hi-tech cellphone dubbed the Mobile Script. The cellphone is designed to offer mobility, constant internet access, access to documents, games and give the best in terms of means of communication and contact….

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Concept cellphone designed to be powered by solar energy.

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21
Jan 10

Solar at Sea: Chinese Cargo Ships Will Have Solar Sails

The Australian company, Solar Sailor, has signed a deal with the largest Chinese shipping line COSCO to outfit their tankers with large solar-powered sails controlled by a computer that angles them for maximum wind and solar efficiency and the company claims that the sails will pay for themselves within four years.

…The shipping and air travel industries have been the hardest to
conform to new energy efficiency demands. Planes and tankers require huge quantities of
fuel, but our global economy depends on both of them to survive, so
they’ve been difficult industries to regulate. Even the latest environmental
standards set by the EU included gimmes for shipping and airline
companies.

It seems as though China is slowly but aggressively moving into a
position of leadership in the transition to a global green economy.

Via EcoGeek…

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Solar at Sea: Chinese Cargo Ships Will Have Solar Sails

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21
Jan 10

Seasons of the Sun : The Solar Cycle

We are currently in the middle of the 11 year solar cycle, with the Earth experiencing the effects through changes to radio communications, power distribution, orbiting spacecraft and even the weather. So predicting what the Sun will do next is in all our interests.

…Sunspots are relatively cool areas on the Sun that appear as dark blotches. Scientists count the number of sunspots to measure the magnitude of a solar cycle, and to determine how long the cycle lasts. If scientists were able to predict sunspot activity, not only would we know ahead of time what the Sun will do, but we might gain a better understanding of how the Sun operates.
Dr. David Hathaway, along with Robert Wilson and Ed Reichmann, looked at many different ways scientists predict sunspot activity. They tested each statistical method to see which worked best, and then combined the top two methods to develop an even better prediction method of their own.
“There are many different ways of predicting the sunspot cycle,” says Hathaway. “but until now there has never been a systemic study to determine whether one method works better than another. After examining various methods, we found that some of the techniques currently used and touted are basically useless.”
By looking at more than 15 methods, the…

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Seasons of the Sun : The Solar Cycle