Category TECHNOLOGY
Researchers develop record-breaking plastic solar cell
Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have made a breakthrough with plastic solar cells, creating a record-breaking polymer cell that converts 10.6 percent of the sun’s energy into electricity Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have madea breakthrough with plastic solar cells, creating a record-breaking polymer cell that converts 10.6 percent […]
Sunflower-Inspired Pattern Could Boost Concentrated Solar Power Efficiencies
POSTED BY: DAVE LEVITAN New research from MIT and RWTH Aachen University in Germany joins a growing list of biomimetic concepts—from whale-inspired wind turbines to artificial photosynthesis—that are helping renewable energy push forward. This time, the researchers copied a seemingly appropriate source to boost the efficiencies of concentrating solar power (CSP) technology: the sunflower. The florets on […]
First Solar Ends Research Into ‘Holy Grail’ Technology That Sank Solyndra
By Christopher Martin – Dec 14, 2011 2:29 PM MT The sun shines off of First Solar Inc. solar panels that form a one megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic array at Intel Corp.’s campus in Folsom, California. Photographer: Ken James/Bloomberg First Solar Inc. (FSLR) is abandoning a research project aimed at developing the same material for solar panels […]
Reining In the ‘Soft Costs’ of Solar
Reining In the ‘Soft Costs’ of Solar By JIM WITKIN Department of EnergyThe 22 winners of the Rooftop Solar Challenge will try to untangle local ordinances that impede solar installations by driving up the costs of permitting, financing and hooking up to the grid. The size of the circles reflect the size of the population that […]
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AWARDS $156 MILLION FOR GROUNDBREAKING ENERGY RESEARCH PROJECTS
New ARPA-E Projects in 25 States Will Accelerate Innovation in Clean Energy Technologies, Increase America’s Competitiveness and Create Jobs Washington, D.C. – Arun Majumdar, Director of the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), today announced 60 cutting-edge research projects aimed at dramatically improving how the U.S. produces and uses energy. With $156 million […]
ARPA-E PROGRAMS MAIN OVERVIEW
ARPA-E programs explore creative “outside-the-box” technologies that promise genuine transformation in the ways we generate, store and utilize energy. Unlike conventional DOE research, ARPA-E funds concepts that industry alone cannot support, but whose success would dramatically benefit the nation. Its high risk, high reward programs aim to substantially reduce foreign energy imports; cut energy-related greenhouse […]
Analysis: Solar cos that eschewed silicon step up their game
By Nichola Groom DALLAS | Thu Oct 20, 2011 6:46pm EDT (Reuters) – As prices on silicon-based solar panels continue to plummet, makers of alternative technologies are tweaking their products and in some cases shifting strategy altogether to make sure they are not left behind in the race to make solar competitive with fossil fuels. From start-ups such […]
For Alternative Energy, Storage Makes All the Difference: View
Arguments for solar and wind power are so enticing (endless availability, no pollution and so on) that it’s easy to see why the idea of transitioning the world economy to alternative energy over the next 40 years keeps gaining favor. Public discussion often makes it seem as if the only obstacles are efficiency and cost. Photovoltaic solar […]
Analysis: Solyndra casts shadow on U.S. energy loan aid
By Roberta Rampton and Ayesha Rascoe WASHINGTON | Thu Oct 6, 2011 10:04pm EDT (Reuters) – Political furor over the Solyndra bankruptcy has dealt a body blow to the idea that the government should try to help clean tech start-ups through the costly “valley of death” to commercial viability. The capital needed to commercialize cutting-edge, renewable energy technology is seen […]
Report Says Vehicle Fuel Should Be the Priority, Not Electricity
By MATTHEW L. WALD ReportOnTheFirstQTR Department of EnergyThe nation’s persistent reliance on oil poses long-term hazards, an analysis says. Research on solar and wind power is all well and good, but a self-assessment by the Department of Energy has found that in the great scheme of energy needs, the government is not investing enough in […]
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