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Solar News

See also Directory:Solar#News Sources

As of Aug. 27, 2009, we began posting all solar news stories here, then archiving the older content as it gets too long.

2013

Solar > Ron Ace >
Inventor Ronald Ace says his ‘Solar Traps’ will solve the world’s energy problems - Ronald Ace said his flat-panel "Solar Traps," which can be mounted on rooftops or used in power plants, will shatter barriers that have stymied efforts to make solar energy cheap, clean and reliable. His claimed discoveries, which exist only on paper so far, would represent such a leap that they're sure to draw skepticism. (PureEnergyBlog; May 12, 2013)

Nanotech / Solar > Paint >
Graphene paint just one atom thick could power homes of the future - Scientists at the University of Manchester have found a way to use thin slices of graphene to convert solar energy to direct current electricity. The discovery could lead to a whole array of new applications, including a whole new method of creating a sustainable energy source to power buildings of the future. (PureEnergyBlog; March 5, 2013)

Featured: Conspiracy / Spirituality / Solar > David Allan >
David Allan on "What is Time, How Does GPS Work, and God's Time" - Those of you who have been following our news for a while might enjoy watching my Dad give this presentation at Snow College. It will help you see what informs my belief system and world view. Before talking about the history of time and atomic clocks, he describes how his life has been guided by inspiration from God. He also touches on the dangers the world faces due to conspiratorial attacks on freedom. (PureEnergyBlog; March 23, 2013)

Featured: Solar > PA > R&D >
Solar Rectenna by Brian Willis - A U-Conn researcher has come up with special new technique using selective area atomic layer deposition (ALD) to make the tiny shapes necessary for rectenna fabrication. Its 70% efficiency in converting light to electricity from the whole solar spectrum breaks the conventional Shockley–Queisser limit by not relying on the same mechanism as classical solar cells. It's cheap, simple and scalable for mass production. (PESWiki; March 8, 2013)

Solar > Space-Based >
Beam-Me-Down Scotty Space-Based Solar - The link is for updates on space solar power that skirts that problem but is decade/s away but will likely get cheaper to build with private space companies getting involved. (PureEnergyBlog; March 2, 2013)

Newsletters > Future Energy eNews / Climate Change / EVs / PV >
Valone’s Future Energy eNews — February 2013 - In this issue: 1) Recycled plastic converted to fuel; 2) Climate change consequences; 3) Saving money by using electric vehicles; 4) Electricity data browser shows changes in fuel mix; 5) Powerful photovoltaics approach 50% efficiency. (PureEnergyBlog; February 26, 2013)

2012

Featured: Solar > Concentrated > PV >
V3 Solar's Spin Cell - V3Solar's Spin Cell is claimed to be capable of generating over 20 times more electricity than a flat panel with the same area of PV cells thanks to a combination of concentrating lenses, dynamic spin, conical shape, and advanced electronics. The V3 Spin Cell features two cones, one made up of hundreds of triangular PV cells ... (PESWiki; October 6, 2012)

Solar > PV >
Worlds first 3D solar cell is surprisingly efficient - Solar3D, Inc., the developer of a breakthrough 3-dimensional solar cell technology to maximize the conversion of sunlight into electricity, today announced the successful fabrication and operation of a working 3-dimensional silicon solar cell that produces at least 250% of the power of a basic silicon solar cell. (BitsofScience; September 5, 2012)

Solar > Windows >
Scientists create highly transparent solar cells for windows that generate electricity - Researchers at UCLA are developing a new kind of polymer solar cell (PSC) that produces energy by absorbing mainly infrared light, not visible light, making the cells nearly 70% transparent to the human eye. They made the device from a photoactive plastic that converts infrared light into an electrical current. (PhysOrg; July 20, 2012)

Featured: Store Solar > Cooking >
Global Sun Oven Videos - I've been selling the Sun Oven for more than a decade and was pleased to see these new videos produced by Paul Munsen, President, introducing and demonstrating the capabilities of the oven. 1. What is the Global Sun Oven? 2. Emergency Preparedness; 3. Pots and Pans; 4. Even, Non-drying Heat; 5. Dehydrating; 6. Hot Water; 7. Additional Resources. (PES Store; July 2012)

Featured: Solar > Thermal > Home >
A Tour of David W. Allan's Solar Home that Uses 10 Solar Principles - Located in the cooler central Utah climate at 6,000 foot elevation, the Allan's solar home integrates at least ten different forms of solar, including: trombe wall, solarium convection, photovoltaic cells, propylene-glycol heat exchange, eutectic salt chamber, berm insulation, black chimneys and under-ground intake for passive solar air conditioning, and dehydration of food. (PESN; June 24, 2012)

Oil / Solar > Government and Politics >
What if solar got the same subsidies as fossil fuels? - US solar subsidies: $1 billion, compared to $72 billion subsidies for fossil fuels over 5 years. If the US gave the same subsidies to solar that it does to fossil fuels, solar would be cheaper than grid power in 100% of the country, rather than 14%. Germany has 6x more solar than US, even though the US gets 3.9x more sun. (PESWiki; June 20, 2012)

Pollution / Solar > Problems >
New Book: Solar Cells 23,000 Times Worse for Environment Than Carbon Dioxide - Green Illusions (June 2012, University of Nebraska Press) explains how the solar industry has grown to become one of the leading emitters of hexafluoroethane (C2F6), nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). These three potent greenhouse gases, used by solar cell fabricators, make carbon dioxide (CO2) seem harmless. (TheDailyBell; June 5, 2012)

Solar / Hydrogen > Solar Hydrogen > Photosynthesis Imitation >
HyperSolar Envisions Solar Powered Hydrogen "Farms" - Essentially mimicking the natural process of photosynthesis, Hypersolar's nanoscale solar device with protective plastic coating enables the production of hydrogen in hostile environments including sea water, wastewater or stormwater runoff. That gives the system a leg up on conventional hydrogen systems, which require purified water. (CleanTechnica; May 26, 2012)

Newsletters > Future Energy eNews >
Future Energy eNews: May 2012 - Tom Valone's headlines this month include: 1) Anti-Matter Propulsion Engine Redesigned; 2) Tinted Windows Produce Electricity; 3) Lithium Air Battery Moves Forward; 4) Metal Oxides for Gree Energy Tech; 5) ZENN and EEStor Team Up

Nanotech / Solar >
A Nano-Approach to Solar Rivals the Entire Market - A small team of experts at Magnolia Solar have come together to develop a nanostructure-based coatings to replace silicon and thin-film approaches. They are working on a concept that would allow for the full absorption of all light, boasting efficiencies of 15 to 20 percent as low as 50 cents per watt. (EnergyDigital; March 19, 2012)

Featured: Storage > Hydrogen >H Storage / Solar > Concentrated > Thermal > SHEC >
NEST Lines up Grid-Parity Solar - The first success story of the New Energy Systems Trust (NEST) seems to have already commenced with us lining up a breakthrough grid-parity solar company with an order for 4500 one-megawatt systems in India. SHEC Labs is a likely vendor of the biomass-to-H technology, if not using their solar thermal storage breakthrough. (PESN; May 9, 2012)

Biomimicry / Solar > PV > R&D >
Solar Panel patent design mimicking dragonfly eyes gets speedy approval - A star of the show at the #1 Korean tech show, EXCO 2012, was a design that efficiently captures solar energy from all directions. Jong-Eun Lee's system uses only relatively small ball-type lenses that will collect sun light easily from every angle. (Yahoo News; April 16, 2012)

Hydrogen / Solar > Solar Hydrogen >
Scientist Develops Self-Sustaining Solar Reactor that Produces Clean Hydrogen Fuel - A doctoral student in mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware has designed a new type of reactor that produces hydrogen using nothing more than concentrated sunlight, zinc oxide, and water. And best of all, the zinc oxide used by the reactor can be reused, meaning that once the reactor is up and running, it would be self-sustaining. (Inhabitat; April 7, 2012)

Emergency Preparedness > Vehicle-to-Grid / PV >
Tsunami steers Japan tech innovation - On the March 11 anniversary, let's take a look at some innovations spurred by a desire not to be so vulnerable to disaster. They include Nissan's converter to enable an electric car to power up your house for 2 days, transparent solar panels that you can put on your windows, a cell phone app that can detect radiation levels, and other apps for emergencies. (BBC; March 9, 2012)

Lighting > LEDs >
LED's efficiency exceeds 100% - For the first time, researchers have demonstrated that an LED can emit more optical power than the electrical power it consumes. Although scientifically intriguing, the results won’t immediately result in ultra-efficient commercial LEDs since the demonstration works only for LEDs with very low input power that produce very small amounts of light. (PhysOrg; March 5, 2012)

Nanotech > Solar > Photosynthesis Imitation >
MIT Researchers Find a Way to Make Solar Panels from Grass Clippings - A paper published in Scientific Reports describes an improved method for making electricity-producing "biophotovoltaics" without the sophisticated laboratory equipment previously needed. Researchers said custom-designed chemicals could be mixed with green plants, even grass clippings, to create a photovoltaic material by harnessing photosynthesis. (CNET; February 2, 2012)

Solar > Problems / Wind > Farms > Downsides >
Renewable "Green" Energy Yields Very Poor Results - A 1 GW wind farm would require 500 windmills, each producing 2 MW -- assuming the farm operates at full capacity, which doesn't happen continually in reality. Since wind turbines must be spaced apart to maximize production, a 1 GW farm needs from 48,000 to 64,000 acres of land (75 to 100 square miles). In contrast, a 1 GW gas-fired plant needs about 10 to 15 acres. (MadIsle / Newsmax; January 30, 2012)

2011

Solar / Trends > Zeitgeist >
U.S. Solar Energy in 2011 - Rhone Resch of the Solar Energy Industries Association writes: "In contrast to some of the recent headlines, the solar energy industry is a strong, thriving industry in the United States that is creating jobs and lowering costs for the consumer. In 2011, a number of myths about the solar energy industry circulated nationally. Let’s set the record straight." (CleanTechnica; December 30, 2011)

Nanotech / Solar > Solar Paint > Quantum Dots >
Researchers develop paint-on solar cells - A team of researchers at the University of Notre Dame have developed an inexpensive solar paint that uses semiconducting nanoparticles to produce energy. "By incorporating power-producing nanoparticles, called quantum dots, into a spreadable compound, we've made a one-coat solar paint that can be applied to any conductive surface without special equipment." (PhysOrg; December 21, 2011)

Trends > Zeitgeist >
The Year in Energy - Surprising successes helped offset disappointing failures in solar, biofuels, and nuclear power. This was supposed to be a big year for energy-related technology. Fukushima set back nuclear. In 2011, average prices for solar panels dropped by almost 50 percent from 2010 levels. (MIT Technology Review; December 27, 2011)

Solar > PV > R&D >
Scientists create first solar cell with over 100 percent quantum efficiency - Researchers over at the National Renewable Energy Lab have claim to have recorded an efficiency topping out at 114 percent, by creating the first working multiple exciton generation (MEG) cell. Using MEG, a single high energy photon can produce more than one electron-hole pair per absorbed photon. (Engadget; December 19, 2011)

Solar > PV > Trends >
A Bad Year for Solar Energy - By virtually any yardstick, 2011 was probably a year the PV solar panel industry may like to forget. First and foremost, of course, there was the Solyndra case, which quickly morphed into a major political issue that will likely be continually revisited during the upcoming U.S. presidential campaign. China's heavily-subsidized solar panel industry may present significant ongoing challenges... (Environmental Leader; December 13, 2011)

Featured: Nanotech >
The Less than Exotic Free Energy Technologies of Nanoholdings - Nanoholdings is a company that has developed multiple technologies that incorporate nano-materials. Their CEO, Justin Hall, recently gave a TED talk discussing their discoveries. It seems when it comes to energy technology, they are still thinking too far "inside of the box" -- ignoring more exotic, and more robust solutions. (PESN and BeforeItsNews; December 5, 2011)

Solar / Lighting > Solar Lighting >
Light Ambassadors bring cheap solar lighting through bottles (Video) - By easily embedding a plastic or glass bottle in the tin roofing, dwellings in impoverished nations are transformed from dark to light. The water in the bottle diffracts the solar light, sending it in all directions, like a 55-W bulb -- for free. Thousands of dwellings are being simply transformed. (Isang Litrong Liwanag . org)

Wind > Vertical Axis >
WindCharger : Sauer Energy’s Cheap Vertical-Axis Turbine For Small Buildings To Be Launched - According to the company, the vertical axis wind turbine can be installed by a single worker, having few moving parts and its manufacturing price low. Unlike similarly-sized traditional horizontal-blade turbines, the WindCharger is able to produce energy at wind velocities that are as low as 5 mph. (Green Optimistic; September 7, 2011)

Pollution / Solar > Problems >
Solar Industry Responsible for Dumping 2.4 Million Tons of Lead on China and India - It turns out that some members of the solar panel manufacturing industry might actually be doing harm while advancing renewable energy by dumping millions of tons of lead into the environment in China and India. (TreeHugger; September 4, 2011)

DIY / Solar > Thermal >
Cansolair Provides Solar Heating With Pop Cans - Hank notes that the Canadian company Cansolair has developed a technology that utilizes panels composed of recycled aluminum pop (soda) cans, that absorb solar radiation to provide heating for a home. This technology is affordable and easy to replicate. (YouTube / MartineBlue; February 20, 2008)

Featured: Electromagnetic > Newman >
Solar Powered Perpetual Motion Machine - The user Magnetflipper on YouTube has posted a video of a machine that is powered by a solar panel but which then appears to augment that energy from yet another source, using electromagnetic overunity from a Joseph Newman motor. (PESN and BeforeItsNews; August 31, 2011)

Solar > EnviroMission Tower >
Big solar tower coming to Arizona - An ambitious solar energy project on a massive scale is about to get underway in the Arizona desert. EnviroMission is undergoing land acquisition and site-specific engineering to build its first full-scale solar tower, 800-plus meter (2625 ft) tall (2x Empire State Bldg.). Its 200-megawatt power generation capacity will reliably feed the grid with enough power for 150,000 US homes. (Changing Power and GizMag (Video); July 21, 2011)

Piezoelectric / Solar / Wind >
Piezo-Photovoltaic Device Creates Electricity From Wind/Rain/Sun - A new device that harvests energy from raindrops, winds or sunlight has been invented at the Institute for Materials Research and Innovation at the University of Bolton, UK. Elias Siores led a team who created a special polymer with piezoelectric and photosensitive properties. (Green Optimistic; June 15, 2011)

Ink Jet / Solar > Chalcopyrite / CIGS >
Inkjet Printing Solar Cells - Engineers at Oregon State University (OSU) have developed a process to create 'CIGS' solar cells with inkjet printing technology that allows for precise patterning to reduce raw material waste by 90 percent and significantly lower the cost of producing solar cells with promising, yet expensive compounds. (GizMag; June 28, 2011)

Emergency Preparedness / Grid > Vulnerabilities >
'Controlled' power cuts likely as Sun storm threatens national grid - Officials in Britain and the United States are preparing to make controlled power cuts to their national electricity supplies in response to a warning of a possible powerful solar storm hitting the Earth. The controlled power "outages" will protect the National Electricity Grids against damage which could take months or even years to repair should a large solar storm collide with the Earth without any precautions being taken. (Independent; UK; June 13, 2011)

Solar > Concentrated >
Google Ups R&D to Make Solar Cheaper than Coal Google's new patented concentrated solar technology makes use of a camera to adjust mirrors that optimize a given plant’s efficiency. The camera and a processing computer are located within the central tower of the solar thermal plant, and if a misalignment, or better (more efficient) angle is detected, then the mirrors are adjusted by robotic actuators. (Inhabitat; June 9, 2011)

Featured: Emergency Preparedness / Grid > Vulnerabilities >
Simply Amazing Solar Prominence Eruption! Next Time... - Referring to yesterday's M-class flare, one sun watcher said: "Never seen anything like this before - spectacular". Its glancing blow is predicted to produce some great northern lights. But that would be a very different story if it had been directed straight at the Earth hitting the U.S., wiping out the grid -- unless we are prepared. (PESN and BeforeItsNews; June 8, 2011)

Solar / Ethanol / Hydrogen > Production >
Hydrogen generated from sunlight and ethanol - An international team of scientists has announced success in creating hydrogen at ambient temperature and pressure using a combination of sunlight and ethanol. The method is potentially cheaper, produces higher yields and, because no high temperatures or pressures are required, uses less energy than conventional methods. (GizMag; May 30, 2011)

Nanotech / Solar > Thin Film > Amorphous Silicon >
'Swiss cheese' design enables thin film silicon solar cells with potential for higher efficiencies - A bold new design for thin film solar cells that requires significantly less silicon - and may boost their efficiency - is the result of an industry/academia collaboration between Oerlikon Solar in Switzerland and the Institute of Physics' photovoltaic group at the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. (Solar Daily; May 10, 2011)

Solar > Photosynthesis Imitation >
Atom-Thick Coating Helps Researchers Achieve Artificial Photosynthesis - By growing layers of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide on a semiconductor surface, researchers from the École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) have managed to create solar cells that can ultimately extract hydrogen from water under the direct action of sunlight, just like leaves do their natural photosynthesis. (Green Optimistic; May 11, 2011)

Solar / Human Powered >
Could Human Photosynthesis power the future? - Dr. Arturo Solis Herrera has developed a technology that utilizes the properties of melanin – the animal analogue to chlorophyll. His melanin based (polihydroxyindol) photo-cell absorbs a broad spectrum of electromagnetic radiation, and converts it into electricity. He has also developed a pharmaceutical claimed to enhance human "photosynthesis" for increased health. (PESN and BeforeItsNews; May 3, 2011)

Nanotech / Microorganisms / Solar > Thin Film >
Solar power goes viral: Modified virus improves solar-cell efficiency by one-third - Researchers at MIT have found a way to make significant improvements to the power-conversion efficiency of solar cells by enlisting the services of tiny viruses to perform detailed assembly work at the microscopic level. (PhysOrg; April 25, 2011)

Featured: Prizes > Contests >
Create the Future and Win Twenty Grand! - The 2011 Create the Future contest by NASA Tech Briefs magazine is now accepting entries. By submitting your innovative technology you could attract attention to your idea and win twenty thousand dollars! Previous winners have include the MYT Engine and Litrospheres. (PES and BeforeItsNews; April 25, 2011)

Solar >
Solar Panels Increase Home Value - A study by Berkeley National Labs has found that homes sold in California earned a premium for solar panels. The benefit ranged from $3900 to $6400 per kW of capacity. An earlier study found that proximity to solar or wind power may also raise home values. (Venture Beat; April 22, 2011)

Solar > Thin Film >
Spray-on film turns windows into solar panels - Norweigan solar power company, EnSol, has patented a thin film solar cell technology designed to be sprayed on to surfaces such as windows and exterior walls. Unlike traditional silicon-based solar cells, the film is composed of metal nanoparticles embedded in a transparent composite matrix, and operates on a different principle. (GizMag; April 17, 2011)

Solar / Magnetism >
Solar power without solar cells: A hidden magnetic effect of light could make it possible - A dramatic and surprising magnetic effect of light discovered by University of Michigan researchers could lead to solar power without traditional semiconductor-based solar cells. 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. (PhysOrg; Apr. 14, 2011)

Solar > Thin Film >
Wysips technology can turn any surface into a PV power plant - A French company recently showed off a prototype phone where the touchscreen display itself housed the solar-soaking cells. Wysips technology allows light to pass through a semi-cylindrical lens onto thin strips of photovoltaic cells below, while also allowing the surface underneath to show through; enabling many to potentially become self-sufficient power producers. (GizMag; March 29, 2011)

Top 100: Solar / Wind > Skybuilt >
SkyBuilt Power Wins an Edison Award for Best Energy and Sustainability Product for 2011 - SkyBuilt won the Silver Award in this category for its transformational renewable energy power stations. Like Edison, SkyBuilt has taken a variety of best of breed commercial products and created completely integrated, optimized and automatic power systems. They provide easy expansion, upgrading, and rapid deployment. (PR-USA; April 10, 2011)

Featured / Best Exotic FE: Noble Gas Engines > PlasmERG >
Noble Gas Engine Ready for Production Investment - PlasmERG Inc., which has demonstrated a noble gas plasma expansion motor that can provide clean, cheap, and reliable power; is gearing up for commercial production, pending patent approval and adequate financing. (PESN and BeforeItsNews; April 2, 2011)

Solar > new: Solar Windows >
Chicago’s Willis Tower to Become a Vertical Solar Farm - Formerly known as Sears Tower, the world's tallest building (1451 feet or 442 m) from 1974 to 1998 has enough window area for a 10 acre solar power plant. As a pilot project, the south facing windows of the 56th floor will be replaced with Pythagoras Solar's transparent solar windows which cut down on heat gain – and therefore cooling costs – while harnessing energy from the sun. (GizMag; March 22, 2011)

Featured: Events > COFE >
4th International Conference on Future Energy (COFE) - Upcoming SPESIF conference at the University of Maryland on March 15-17, 2011 includes plenary session organized by Tom Valone. Topics include: emerging energy, field propulsion, fission & fusion, space tech, energy medicine, tidal, hydrogen, solar power, magnetic motor, zero-point energy, space power, astrosociology, space settlement topics. (PESWiki; February 6, 2011)

Newsletters > Future Energy eNews > Events >
Future Energy eNews: January 2011 - Tom Valone's headlines this month include: 1) Upcoming Conference on Future Energy (COFE 4) Abstract: Water Electrolyzers and ZPE; 2) The Year in Energy; 3) Thunderstorms Produce Antimatter; 4) Italians Claim Demonstration of Cold Fusion; 5) TR-10 Solar Fuel

Solar / Water / Alt Fuels >
New Reactor Paves The Way For Efficiently Producing Fuel From Sunlight - Using a common metal most famously found in self-cleaning ovens, Sossina Haile hopes to change our energy future. The metal is cerium oxide-or ceria-and it is the centerpiece of a promising new technology developed by Haile and her colleagues that concentrates solar energy and uses it to efficiently convert carbon dioxide and water into fuels. (Energy Daily; January 21, 2011)

Trends > U.S. Government and Energy >
President Obama’s State of the Union Calls the Clean Tech Future Our Sputnik Moment - In Obama's State of the Union speech, he called the current quest for green technology this generation's "Sputnik moment", urging the nation to see other countries' advances as fuel to reach past them as in 1969 when they put the first man on the moon. He wants 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015, and to be on 80% clean energy by 2035, and to eliminate tax cuts for oil companies... (Inhabitat; January 26, 2011)

Featured: Solar > Coronal Mass Ejections > Grid > Emergency Preparedness >
Two Suns in the Bible - In the scripture that talks about "the day that cometh shall burn them up" in Malachi, the next verse talks about the "Sun of righteousness" arising "with healing in his wings." Alphabetics provides some insight on this passage, and its ramifications for solar energy. (GreaterThings and BeforeItsNews; January 23, 2011)

Trends / Wind / Solar >
Study claims 100 percent renewable energy possible by 2030 - New research has shown that it is possible and affordable for the world to achieve 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, if there is the political will to strive for this goal. It would entail building around four million 5 MW wind turbines, 1.7 billion 3 kW roof-mounted solar photovoltaic systems, and around 90,000 300 MW solar power plants. (PhysOrg; January 19, 2011)

Solar / Nanotech > R&D >
MIT: Get Lots of Solar Energy in a Little Light - Researchers at MIT will use a way to concentrate sunlight so they can get a more powerful solar energy -- up to 100 times than current traditional photovoltaic cells. They use a solar funnel with carbon nanotubes - hollow tubes made of carbon atoms to capture and focus light energy. The drawback is the price of carbon nanotubes. (Solar Energy Utilize; January 11, 2011)

Solar > Thin Film > Dye Sensitized >
Oxford develops affordable thin-film solar tech - An innovative OU (Oxford University) company has developed new solar cell technology that is manufactured from cheap, abundant, non-toxic and non-corrosive materials and can be scaled to any volume. Oxford PV predicts that manufacturing costs will be around 50% less than the current lowest-cost thin film technology. (PhysOrg; January 6, 2011)