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Toward home-brewed electricity with 'personalized solar energy'
November 05, 2009
New scientific discoveries are moving society toward the era of "personalized solar energy," in which the focus of electricity production shifts from huge central generating stations to individuals in their own homes and communities. That's the topic of a report by an international expert on solar energy scheduled for the November 2 issue of ACS' Inorganic Chemistry, a bi-weekly journal. It describes a long-awaited, inexpensive method for solar energy storage that could help power homes and plug-in cars in the future while helping keep the environment clean. Daniel Nocera explains that the global energy need will double by mid-century and triple by 2100 due to rising standards of living world population growth. Personalized solar energy - the capture and storage of solar energy at the individual or home level - could meet that demand in a sustainable way, especially in poorer areas of the world.
The report describes development of a practical, inexpensive storage system for achieving personalized solar energy. At its heart is an innovative catalyst that splits water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen that become fuel for producing electricity in a fuel cell. The new oxygen-evolving catalyst works like photosynthesis, the method plants use to make energy, producing clean energy from sunlight and water. "Because energy use scales with wealth, point-of-use solar energy will put individuals, in the smallest village in the nonlegacy world and in the largest city of the legacy world, on a more level playing field," the report states.
American Chemical Society
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Related Solar Energy Current Events and Solar Energy News Articles Solar Energy Current Events and Solar Energy News RSS UT Knoxville and ORNL researchers turn algae into high-temperature hydrogen source In the quest to make hydrogen as a clean alternative fuel source, researchers have been stymied about how to create usable hydrogen that is clean and sustainable without relying on an intensive, high-energy process that outweighs the benefits of not using petroleum to power vehicles.
Chemists describe solar energy progress and challenges, including the 'artificial leaf' Scientists are making progress toward development of an "artificial leaf" that mimics a real leaf's chemical magic with photosynthesis - but instead converts sunlight and water into a liquid fuel such as methanol for cars and trucks.
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NC State Develops Material That Could Boost Data Storage, Save Energy North Carolina State University engineers have created a new material that would allow a fingernail-size computer chip to store the equivalent of 20 high-definition DVDs or 250 million pages of text, far exceeding the storage capacities of today's computer memory systems.
Shifting the world to 100 percent clean, renewable energy as early as 2030 -- here are the numbers Most of the technology needed to shift the world from fossil fuel to clean, renewable energy already exists. Implementing that technology requires overcoming obstacles in planning and politics, but doing so could result in a 30 percent decrease in global power demand.
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Gold Solution for Enhancing Nanocrystal Electrical Conductance In a development that holds much promise for the future of solar cells made from nanocrystals, and the use of solar energy to produce clean and renewable liquid transportation fuels, researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) have reported a technique by which the electrical conductivity of nanorod crystals of the semiconductor cadmium-selenide was increased 100,000 times.
Key issues for the future of wind energy The prestigious journal Energy Policy has recently reported two studies that highlight some key issues for the future of wind energy in Spain.
Scientists uncover solar cycle, stratosphere and ocean connections Subtle connections between the 11-year solar cycle, the stratosphere, and the tropical Pacific Ocean work in sync to generate periodic weather patterns that affect much of the globe, according to research appearing this week in the journal Science.
Connections among solar cycle, stratosphere and ocean discovered Subtle connections between the 11-year-solar cycle, the stratosphere and the tropical Pacific Ocean work in sync to generate periodic weather patterns that affect much of the globe, according to research results appearing this week in the journal Science. More Solar Energy Current Events and Solar Energy News Articles
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Solar Power Your Home For Dummies (For Dummies (Home & Garden))
by Rik DeGunther (Author)
Solar Power Your Home For Dummies is the bestselling consumer guide to solar power in North America. Updates for the second edition ensure that this title continues to provide readers with accurate and timely information on a subject that is constantly evolving. Solar Power Your Home For Dummies, 2nd Edition, includes updates on changes to federal, state, and local regulations, laws, and tax incentives that seek to make solar-power adoption more feasible. Expanded coverage of the technology that underpins full-scale solar-power systems for the home have been added in direct response to consumer demand. With this information, readers are better positioned to weigh the pros and cons of embarking on what can be an expensive undertaking. New small and mid-sized solar...
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Photovoltaics: Design and Installation Manual
by Solar Energy International (Author)
Producing electricity from the sun using photovoltaic (PV) systems has become a major industry worldwide. But designing, installing and maintaining such systems requires knowledge and training, and there have been few easily accessible, comprehensive guides to the subject. Now, with Photovoltaics: Design and Installation Manual, a world-class solar energy training and education provider-Solar Energy International (SEI)-has made available the critical information to successfully design, install and maintain PV systems. The book contains an overview of photovoltaic electricity and a detailed description of PV system components, including PV modules, batteries, controllers and inverters. It also includes chapters on sizing photovoltaic systems, analyzing sites and installing PV...
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The Solar Electricity Handbook 2009: A Simple, Practical Guide to Using Electric Solar Panels and Designing and Installing Photovoltaic Solar PV Systems
by Michael Boxwell (Author)
The Solar Electricity Handbook is a practical and straightforward guide to using electric solar panels. Assuming no previous knowledge of solar panels, the book explains how solar panels work, how they can be used and explains the steps you need to take to successfully design and install a solar electric system from scratch using photovoltaic solar panels. Accompanying this book is a solar resource website containing lots of useful information, lists of suppliers and on-line solar energy calculators that will simplify the cost analysis and design processes. Why buy the Solar Electricity Handbook? * The Handbook is a simple, practical guide to using electric photovoltaic panels. * The book is suitable for enthusiastic novices and professionals. * Clear examples,...
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Solar Energy
by Poof Slinky
With a pair of sunglasses and this kit in hand, kids will find that the paltry power of those little cylinders and the familiar holes in the wall is nothing to that of our nearest star! Children from age eight will learn how to harness the sun's boundless energy as they work with this lab's solar collector, solar heater, focusing lens, and thermometer in over 25 experiments in energy conservation. They'll never squint at the sun quite the same again!
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Solar Revolution: The Economic Transformation of the Global Energy Industry
by Travis Bradford (Author)
In Solar Revolution, fund manager and former corporate buyout specialist Travis Bradford argues—on the basis of standard business and economic forecasting models—that over the next two decades solar energy will increasingly become the best and cheapest choice for most electricity and energy applications. Solar Revolution outlines the path by which the transition to solar technology and sustainable energy practices will occur. Developments in the photovoltaic (PV) industry over the last ten years have made direct electricity generation from PV cells a cost-effective and feasible energy solution, despite the common view that PV technology appeals only to a premium niche market. Bradford shows that PV electricity today has become the choice of hundreds of thousands of...
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Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius
by Gavin Harper (Author)
FOLLOW THE SUN TO MORE EVIL FUN! Let the sun shine on your evil side - and have a wicked amount of fun on your way to becoming a solar energy master! In this guide, the popular Evil Genius format ramps up your understanding of powerful, important, and environmentally friendly solar energy - and shows you how to build real, practical solar energy projects you can use in your home, yard - even on the road! In Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius, high-tech guru Gavin Harper gives you everything you need to build more than 50 thrilling solar energy projects. You'll find complete, easy-to-follow plans, with clear diagrams and schematics, so you know exactly what's involved before you begin. Illustrated instructions and plans for 30 amazing...
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Sunforce 50044 60-Watt Solar Charging Kit
by Sunforce
The Sunforce 50044 60 Watt Solar Charging Kit gives you another reason to love the sun -- it'll help keep your batteries charged. This kit is excellent for cabins, remote power, back-up power, and 12-volt battery charging. The kit includes a PVC mounting frame, 7 Amp charge controller, 200-watt inverter, and wiring/connection cables. And with the built-in blocking diode technology, this charger kit is designed to protect against battery discharge at night. You can also use this kit to maintain the charge on any 12-volt battery for clean, silent operation of various electronics, such as deer feeders and landscaping pumps. The 50044 features a built-in ultra-bright blue LED charging indicator, and is a great choice for automobiles, recreational vehicles (RV), tractors, all terrain vehicles...
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2008-2009 Essential Guide to Solar Energy, Photovoltaics, Solar Cells, Roof Panels, Heating, Lighting, Concentrating - Complete Guide with Practical Information ... and Government Research (Two CD-ROM Set)
by U.S. Government (Author)
This up-to-date and comprehensive electronic book on two CD-ROMs presents an incredible, totally revised and greatly expanded collection of important documents and publications about solar energy, solar heating and lighting, solar concentrating technology, and photovoltaic (PV) solar power cells. Encyclopedic coverage of every practical aspect of solar power, heating, electricity, and research is thoroughly covered in this incredible collection! Federal documents cover the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Photovoltaics Program; National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Center for Photovoltaics; Photovoltaics for Buildings; Photovoltaics Silicon Materials Research; Solar Decathlon; Amorphous Silicon; NREL Solid State Theory Group and Solid State Spectroscopy. Office of Energy...
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Xantrex Technologies 852-2071 Xpower AC/DC Powerpack Solar With 400 Watt Inverter, Two AC Outlets, USB Port, And Digital Display
by Xantrex Technologies
The XPower Powerpack Solar is the first portable power pack that incorporates solar power in a compact, portable power source. It's completely self-renewing, which means the detachable 5-watt solar panel has the ability to recharge the power pack's 10 amp-hour battery.The 5-watt solar panel captures stores and converts the sun's renewable energy, replenishes the XPower Powerpack Solar's battery, and extends the runtime of many devices by up to 25 percent.
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The Renewable Energy Handbook: A Guide to Rural Energy Independence, Off-Grid and Sustainable Living
by William H. Kemp (Author)
As oil prices continue to rise, many people are starting to think about how to unhook from the electricity grid. The Renewable Energy Handbook focuses completely on off-grid, sustainable living and rural energy independence. Author/engineer William H. Kemp, who is a leading expert in small- and mid-scale renewable energy technologies, designed and built his own off-grid home. The result is a house that has all the standard “middle-class” creature comforts while using less than five times the total fossil-fuel energy of the average North American house. The Renewable Energy Handbook focuses on the unique requirements of off-grid living and contains chapters on energy conservation; heating and cooling; backup power; domestic water heating; wireless communications;...
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