University Research
Solar Power and Smart Energy Management used for Crop Irrigation
02 August 2011POSTED IN Research
Researchers from Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems have developed a model project in Wadi El Natrun in Egypt that uses solar power to irrigate crops without heavily relying on storing power.
Concentrated Solar Thermal System from MIT Could Supply Constant Power
31 July 2011POSTED IN Research
Widespread implementation of solar power will require backup power systems to provide power when the sun isn’t shining. MIT researchers have designed a solar thermal system that could deliver steady power 24/7.
Fine-Tuning the Band Gaps of Polymers for Solar Cells
28 July 2011POSTED IN Research
Researchers from the Institute of Polymer Optoelectronic Materials & Devices at the South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, and the University of Hong Kong, have shown that the band gap and energy levels of conjugated polymers can be finely tuned using a donor-n-acceptor (D-n-A) molecular design. This tuning ability is important for improving polymer solar cells.
3-D Photonic GaAs Crystals with Electro-Optic Properties
24 July 2011POSTED IN Research
Researchers at the University of Illinois have demonstrated an optoelectronically active 3-D photonic gallium arsenide (GaAs) crystal, an advance that could open new avenues for solar cells.
Rooftop Solar Panels Keep Building Cool
20 July 2011POSTED IN Research
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have shown that rooftop solar panels have a positive side effect: They keep houses and offices cooler.
Doped Semiconductor Nanocrystals Promising for Solar Cells
18 July 2011POSTED IN Research
Researchers from Tel Aviv University and Hebrew University have shown that semiconductor nanocrystals can be doped in a way that allows them to be used as conductors, making them useful in many electronic and electro-optical devices including solar cells.
Ingersoll-Rand Sponsors Purdue University's 2011 Solar Decathlon Entry
15 July 2011POSTED IN Applications News
Ingersoll-Rand plc, a company known for creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments, today announced that it has awarded $150,000 (USD) to Purdue University to sponsor its team's bid in the US Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon 2011.
Study Released on Environmental Impact of CPV
14 July 2011POSTED IN Applications News
A new report finds that concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) solar systems have distinct environmental advantages as compared with other energy technologies, in most cases using less land, water and materials than other solar technologies.
MIT Researchers Print Photovoltaic Cells on Paper
13 July 2011POSTED IN Research
Technology developed by MIT researchers allows an inexpensive and simple solar cell to be printed using an inkjet printer. The solar cell is formed from special “inks” deposited on the paper and can even be folded and unfolded.
SOLON to Partner with TEP and University of Arizona on Energy Storage Solutions
07 July 2011POSTED IN Applications News
SOLON Corporation, one of the largest providers of turnkey solar power plants in the US, today announced that it will partner with Tucson Electric Power (TEP) and the Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy (AzRISE) at the University of Arizona to design and construct an Energy Storage Management Research and Testing (SMRT) site.
San José: A city showcases its green vision
27 June 2011POSTED IN Editors Blogs
Many thousands of people in the solar industry will be in the San Francisco Bay area to look at and learn about the latest trends and technologies at Intersolar North America (12 to 14 July). While there, a side trip suggestion is to drive about an hour south to San Jose and see the city’s showcase of green energy technologies.
‘Cling-Film’ Method Makes Efficient Polymer Solar Cells
04 July 2011POSTED IN Research
Scientists from the University of Sheffield and the University of Cambridge have shown that very simple and inexpensive manufacturing methods in which flexible layers of material are deposited over large areas like cling-film can be used to make efficient solar cell structures.
14th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Expo + Policy Forum
01 July 2011POSTED IN Politics and Policy News
On 16 June 2011, the Sustainable Energy Coalition and the US House and Senate Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Caucuses, in partnership with the House Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition, House Algae Energy Caucus, House Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Caucus, House High Performance Building Caucus, Green Jobs Caucus and Congressional Peak Oil Caucus, hosted the 14th annual Congressional Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Expo + Policy Forum.
CIGS Solar Devices Created with Inkjet Printing
28 June 2011POSTED IN Research
Engineers at Oregon State University have discovered a way to create successful “CIGS” solar devices with inkjet printing technology.
RMTS Moves from Colorado to New York to Further Solar Research
27 June 2011POSTED IN Applications News
RMTS, an emerging nanotechnology company that is developing innovative technologies with applications in clean energy, medical equipment for the health care industry, and consumer electronics, has relocated from Colorado to New York to launch a research and development partnership with the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering (CNSE) of the University at Albany.
Less Expensive Solar Cells Based on Rare Earth Elements
26 June 2011POSTED IN Research
NUtech Ventures and Rare Earth Solar have announced an exclusive license agreement involving technology that replaces the typical semiconductor materials now used in solar cells with rare earth elements. NUtech Ventures is a nonprofit organization that forms partnerships between University of Nebraska researchers and the private sector.
Nanotechnology Keeps Lights On in Off-Grid Countries
23 June 2011POSTED IN Applications News
At The Economist Conferences UK Energy Summit today, the CEO of Eight19, Simon Bransfield Garth, explained how printed-plastic PV technology will use nanotechnologies to keep the lights on for those currently off-grid in developing countries.
Solar Thermal Research Facility Opens in Australia
19 June 2011POSTED IN Research
A new solar thermal research facility in Newcastle, Australia, was officially opened by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, Minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson and Member for Newcastle, Sharon Grierson on June 18.
Soitec, Schneider Electric Partner on CPV in Morocco
16 June 2011POSTED IN Business News
Soitec, a manufacturer of semiconductor materials for the electronics and energy industries, and Schneider Electric, a specialist in energy management, today announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding with Masen (Moroccan Agency for Solar Energy), lead player in the Moroccan Solar Plan, on an integrated partnership on Concentrix technology in Morocco.
World's Solar Experts Convene in Seattle for 37th IEEE PVSC
15 June 2011POSTED IN Applications News
The Organising Committee of the 37th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), the solar industry's longest running global gathering of leading photovoltaics (PV) scientists and engineers, today announced its final program for the June 19-24 event taking place at the Washington State Convention Center in Seattle, Washington.
