Green Options » solar technology http://greenoptions.com/tag/solar-technology Posts tagged 'solar technology' Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:50:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en Asia Light Years Ahead of the US in Clean Tech Investment — Financial and Economic Consequences http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/20/asia-light-years-ahead-of-the-us-in-clean-tech-investment-financial-and-economic-consequences/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/20/asia-light-years-ahead-of-the-us-in-clean-tech-investment-financial-and-economic-consequences/#comments Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:50:06 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/20/asia-light-years-ahead-of-the-us-in-clean-tech-investment-financial-and-economic-consequences/
Asia is investing hundreds of billions of dollars more than the US in clean technology, according to a new report by two research institutions. In the future, the US may be importing trillions of dollars of needed clean technology (and losing countless jobs to Asia) as a result.

In total, the report showed that China, Japan, and South Korea will invest about $509 billion in clean tech over the next 5 years, whereas the US (with our greenest President in decades, maybe ever) is only expected to invest $172 billion (about 3 times less) — this is assuming the climate and energy legislation in Congress passes.

If the US were to invest the same percentage of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as South Korea, it would invest almost $140 billion per year ($700 billion over this five year period)! Compared to China, the anticipated per-GDP investment ratio is 1:4 (US to China).

In 2008, Japan almost matched US R&D spending on energy and achieved almost the same number of international clean energy patents despite having dramatically lower GDP.

The financial investment is not the only thing giving these countries a major advantage in this field, though.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/20/asia-light-years-ahead-of-the-us-in-clean-tech-investment-financial-and-economic-consequences/feed/ New Report Forecasts Solar Boom in NC — “Growing Solar in North Carolina” http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/19/new-report-forecasts-solar-boom-in-nc-growing-solar-in-north-carolina/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/19/new-report-forecasts-solar-boom-in-nc-growing-solar-in-north-carolina/#comments Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:26:23 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/19/new-report-forecasts-solar-boom-in-nc-growing-solar-in-north-carolina/
A new report by Environment North Carolina’s Research and Policy Center, “Growing Solar in North Carolina,” found that North Carolina (home of my UNC Tar Heels) could be a solar power giant soon.

The new report found that North Carolina has a lot of solar energy potential due to its “vast” solar energy intensity (which is nearly as much as Florida’s) combined with other economic, policy and technological factors.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/19/new-report-forecasts-solar-boom-in-nc-growing-solar-in-north-carolina/feed/ $4 Million Goes to MIT from French Oil Company for Solar Energy Battery Project http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/07/4-million-goes-to-mit-from-french-oil-company-for-solar-energy-battery-project/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/07/4-million-goes-to-mit-from-french-oil-company-for-solar-energy-battery-project/#comments Sat, 07 Nov 2009 20:02:21 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/07/4-million-goes-to-mit-from-french-oil-company-for-solar-energy-battery-project/
Total, a French oil company, recently agreed to give the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) $4 million for a 5-year research project to develop stationary batteries that can more efficiently store solar energy.

More efficient energy storage has been a difficult issue for scientists to crack. It is a major issue preventing more widespread use of renewable energy, and solar energy in particular.

Is this project, one funded by a true oil giant, the one that will make it happen?

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/11/07/4-million-goes-to-mit-from-french-oil-company-for-solar-energy-battery-project/feed/ Spanish Solar Company SOLARIG Building 8 PV Parks in Italy http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/31/spanish-solar-company-solarig-building-8-pv-parks-in-italy/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/31/spanish-solar-company-solarig-building-8-pv-parks-in-italy/#comments Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:15:24 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/31/spanish-solar-company-solarig-building-8-pv-parks-in-italy/
SOLARIG, a company based in Spain that incorporated about four years ago, just began construction of eight photovoltaic parks in Italy this month. The parks will provide 8 MW of energy in total. Over the next few months, it plans to construct photovoltaic projects producing 30 MW throughout different regions of Italy.

But this is just the beginning. SOLARIG has a more global vision.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/31/spanish-solar-company-solarig-building-8-pv-parks-in-italy/feed/ Dell Does it Again! Solar Trees Planted in Dell Parking Lot http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/dell-solar-trees/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/dell-solar-trees/#comments Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:55:11 +0000 Beth Graddon-Hodgson http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/dell-solar-trees/

Dell has been a trend-setter when it comes to the incorporation of greener technologies to reduce their corporate carbon footprint and they’re doing it again! Although this time they are following the lead of Google, by installing solar trees in the parking lot of their head office in Round Rock, Texas.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/27/dell-solar-trees/feed/ Solarmer Breaks Plastic Solar Cell Efficiency World Record, Again http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/23/solarmer-breaks-plastic-solar-cell-efficiency-world-record-again/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/23/solarmer-breaks-plastic-solar-cell-efficiency-world-record-again/#comments Fri, 23 Oct 2009 19:37:57 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/23/solarmer-breaks-plastic-solar-cell-efficiency-world-record-again/
Solarmer Energy broke the world record for plastic cell efficiency last year. Now, they’ve just broken it again.

The new efficiency record is 7.6% and it breaks 7% for the first time.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/23/solarmer-breaks-plastic-solar-cell-efficiency-world-record-again/feed/ Solar Report Shows 30% Decrease in Cost of Solar Over 10 Years http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/22/solar-report-shows-30-decrease-in-cost-of-solar-over-10-years/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/22/solar-report-shows-30-decrease-in-cost-of-solar-over-10-years/#comments Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:10:25 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/22/solar-report-shows-30-decrease-in-cost-of-solar-over-10-years/

Just the other day, I wrote that it was a great time to go solar, especially due to the great rebates and discounts on solar technology. Apparently, I jumped the gun and was a few days early. A new report by Lawrence Berkeley National Lab — “Tracking the Sun II: The Installed Cost of Photovoltaics in the US from 1998-2008” — shows a significant decrease in solar costs over the last ten years and shows that now is a great time to go solar.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/22/solar-report-shows-30-decrease-in-cost-of-solar-over-10-years/feed/ Where are the Gaps in the Solar Marketplace? http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/20/where-are-the-gaps-in-the-solar-marketplace/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/20/where-are-the-gaps-in-the-solar-marketplace/#comments Tue, 20 Oct 2009 11:58:52 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/20/where-are-the-gaps-in-the-solar-marketplace/
92% of people think we need to develop and use solar power, but less than 1% of US power is from solar. Where are the gaps?

I can identify three main ones, but they seem to be getting addressed more and more by a wide variety of parties — public, private and non-governmental. So, what is left?

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/20/where-are-the-gaps-in-the-solar-marketplace/feed/ Better and Cheaper Solar Cells: Gaining Control of Light-Harvesting Pathways http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/12/better-and-cheaper-solar-cells-gaining-control-of-light-harvesting-pathways/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/12/better-and-cheaper-solar-cells-gaining-control-of-light-harvesting-pathways/#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2009 17:37:41 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/12/better-and-cheaper-solar-cells-gaining-control-of-light-harvesting-pathways/

New research at the University of Florida (UF) has just brought to light a new method in the capturing and guiding of energy that may lead to cheaper and more efficient solar cells.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/12/better-and-cheaper-solar-cells-gaining-control-of-light-harvesting-pathways/feed/ US Department of Energy Dishes Out $87 Million for Solar Technology and Deployment http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/12/us-department-of-energy-dishes-out-87-million-for-solar-technology-and-deployment/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/12/us-department-of-energy-dishes-out-87-million-for-solar-technology-and-deployment/#comments Mon, 12 Oct 2009 13:38:38 +0000 Zachary Shahan http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/12/us-department-of-energy-dishes-out-87-million-for-solar-technology-and-deployment/

Steven Chu, US Energy Secretary, announced at the start of the Solar Decathlon on DC’s National Mall on Friday that the Department of Energy (DOE) would be dishing out an additional $87 million in new funding for the development and rapid deployment of solar energy technologies.

This money is being given to 47 projects in a range of sub-fields and sectors.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/12/us-department-of-energy-dishes-out-87-million-for-solar-technology-and-deployment/feed/ Top 10 Solar Technologies to Watch Out For http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/11/top-10-solar-technologies-to-watch-out-for/ http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/11/top-10-solar-technologies-to-watch-out-for/#comments Sun, 11 Oct 2009 14:00:34 +0000 Derek Markham http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/11/top-10-solar-technologies-to-watch-out-for/

Solar power technology is moving forward by leaps and bounds, with some new advancements being built out into usable installations virtually every day. Design concepts once thought to be ‘pie in the sky’ ideas are being implemented, and making a simple solar panel array look like old-school technology.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2009/10/11/top-10-solar-technologies-to-watch-out-for/feed/ Renewable Energy, Obama And The Credit Crunch http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/11/30/renewable-energy-obama-and-the-credit-crunch/ http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/11/30/renewable-energy-obama-and-the-credit-crunch/#comments Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:02:22 +0000 mcmilker http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/11/30/renewable-energy-obama-and-the-credit-crunch/ The Washington Post brings to light just how big an impact Obama’s pledge will have for renewable energy companies. We’re already seeing high profile interest in funding entrepreneurs in solar, wind and alternative energy; early next year we could see a boom!

President-elect Barack Obama wants the nation to derive 10 percent of its electricity from renewable energy sources by 2012, up from 2 percent today. That comes on top of the global push for green power, making wind and solar power companies a good bet.

It’s been a rocky road for the high flying sector, recently as the credit crunch has reduced investors willingness to capitalize any company, least of all those involved in risky new ventures. But, that hasn’t stopped big names like T. Boone Pickens from investing in wind power and..

Read more of this story »

]]> http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/11/30/renewable-energy-obama-and-the-credit-crunch/feed/ First Solar Thermal Plant in 20 Years Launches in CA http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/27/first-solar-thermal-plant-in-20-years-launches-in-ca/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/27/first-solar-thermal-plant-in-20-years-launches-in-ca/#comments Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:53:28 +0000 Sarah Lozanova http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/27/first-solar-thermal-plant-in-20-years-launches-in-ca/ solar energy

By turning a long line of mirrors, the first solar thermal plant in nearly two decades was launched last week in Bakersfield, California. Unlike solar photovoltaic systems that convert sunlight into electricity, this plant will focus sunlight on tubes that contains water. The light heats the water, creating steam, thus turning turbines.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/27/first-solar-thermal-plant-in-20-years-launches-in-ca/feed/ ‘Black Silicon’ Could Revolutionize Solar Cell Technology http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/12/black-silicon-could-revolutionize-solar-cell-technology/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/12/black-silicon-could-revolutionize-solar-cell-technology/#comments Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:17:36 +0000 Andrew Williams http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/12/black-silicon-could-revolutionize-solar-cell-technology/ A newly discovered material called ‘black silicon’ is between 100 and 500 times more sensitive to light than conventional silicon, and could be used to revolutionize solar energy generation.

The material was discovered when a team of Harvard University scientists shone an ultra-powerful laser (briefly producing the same amount of energy as the sun falling on the entire surface of the Earth) on a silicon wafer, before adding sulphur hexafluoride. The result was a silicon wafer that looked black to the naked eye, but when examined under an electron microscope turned out to be covered with a massive amount of ultra-tiny spikes.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/12/black-silicon-could-revolutionize-solar-cell-technology/feed/ New iJET Solar Cell is as Easy to Make as Pizza http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/05/new-ijet-solar-cell-is-as-easy-to-make-as-pizza/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/05/new-ijet-solar-cell-is-as-easy-to-make-as-pizza/#comments Sun, 05 Oct 2008 16:37:16 +0000 Andrew Williams http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/05/new-ijet-solar-cell-is-as-easy-to-make-as-pizza/ An Australian scientist has developed a new method of manufacturing solar cells using nothing more than some nail polish remover, a pizza oven and a standard inkjet printer.

The iJET technique is so easy and cheap to carry out that it could revolutionize access to solar technology in the developing world.

In a recent radio interview (audio), Nicole Kuepper, a 23 year-old PhD student at the University of New South Wales, explained the process.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/10/05/new-ijet-solar-cell-is-as-easy-to-make-as-pizza/feed/ New Concentrated Solar Tech: Simple, Cheap and Efficient http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/04/new-concentrated-solar-tech-simple-cheap-and-efficient/ http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/04/new-concentrated-solar-tech-simple-cheap-and-efficient/#comments Thu, 04 Sep 2008 19:41:44 +0000 Ariel Schwartz http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/04/new-concentrated-solar-tech-simple-cheap-and-efficient/ sun

Morgan Solar, a Toronto-based company launched last summer, believes it has the answer to creating simple and cheap solar concentrators.

While other companies are working to make solar cheaper by using mirrors or lenses to magnify sunlight that is directed into solar cells, Morgan Solar takes a different approach. Their system uses a thin sheet of acrylic to concentrate sunlight 750 times. The sunlight is directed to a tiny cell on the edge of the plastic, greatly reducing the amount of material needed.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://cleantechnica.com/2008/09/04/new-concentrated-solar-tech-simple-cheap-and-efficient/feed/ Orlando Now a ‘Solar America City’ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/04/23/orlando-now-a-solar-america-city/ http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/04/23/orlando-now-a-solar-america-city/#comments Wed, 23 Apr 2008 16:01:35 +0000 Shirley Siluk Gregory http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/04/23/orlando-now-a-solar-america-city/ City of Orlando flag.Orlando, Florida, recently became one of 12 cities across the U.S. chosen as a federal Department of Energy (DOE) “Solar America City.”

Each of the dozen cities will receive $200,000 to advance the use of solar technologies in their communities. All the cities were selected for “their commitment and comprehensive approach to the deployment of solar technologies and the development of sustainable solar infrastructures,” according to the DOE.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://ecolocalizer.com/2008/04/23/orlando-now-a-solar-america-city/feed/ Solar Technology To Be Implemented In Every Day Use Consumer Products http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/03/27/solar-technology-to-be-implemented-in-every-day-use-consumer-products/ http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/03/27/solar-technology-to-be-implemented-in-every-day-use-consumer-products/#comments Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:05:16 +0000 Angelique van Engelen http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/03/27/solar-technology-to-be-implemented-in-every-day-use-consumer-products/ electrol.JPGNew solar technology based on organic photoelectrochemical, dye-sensitized cells, is being implemented in hundreds of every day use consumer products ranging from clothing, smart cards, gadgets, lighting to windows and building facades.

Konarka, a Lowell, MS, company pioneering the technology, says it’s ready to market the products in which the solar dye has been implemented after the summer. The technology has a light to energy conversion rate of of 7.2 percent. This compares to 16 to 20 percent of regular, photovoltaic, solar technology.

The advantages of dye solar technology include flexible implementation options. Dye-based solar technology also converts low light and light rays at obscure angles. Plus the electricity generated can be applied to specific current wavelengths.

Read more of this story »

]]> http://ecopreneurist.com/2008/03/27/solar-technology-to-be-implemented-in-every-day-use-consumer-products/feed/