Concordia University has unveiled a world-first in solar technology, combining heat and power in its new John Molson School of Business building. The innovative system will generate electricity and provide fresh air during heating season, setting a new standard for construction.
Researchers have developed a new method to boost the efficiency of solar cells by using nanoparticles. By scattering light and improving color-specific capture, this approach could significantly improve sunlight conversion rates.
Researchers have found that the alignment of the sun's magnetic field with Earth's shields our planet from solar particles. The discovery could be used to predict when solar storms will be severe, and is expected to impact power lines and spacecraft.
Researchers at UCLA have developed a new polymer that significantly improves sunlight absorption and conversion capabilities in solar cells. The silole-containing polymer can also be crystalline, making it suitable for high-efficiency solar cells, with the goal of reaching 10% efficiency.
Comet particles from Wild 2 provide a glimpse of the solar system's early convulsions, flinging primordial material out into the cold regions. The particles contain minerals formed at high temperatures, suggesting transport from the inner to outer solar system.
A new method for overcoming two major hurdles facing solar energy has been discovered and demonstrated by researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The antireflective coating boosts the amount of sunlight captured by solar panels, allowing them to absorb the entire solar spectrum from nearly any angle.
A joint Sandia/SES award recognized a solar-to-grid system conversion efficiency record of 31.25 percent, surpassing the existing 1984 record of 29.4 percent. The SES Serial #3 solar dish Stirling system achieved this milestone at Sandia's National Solar Thermal Test facility in January 2008.
The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) mission will conduct extremely high-altitude orbits above Earth to investigate and capture images of processes taking place at the farthest reaches of the solar system. The spacecraft will provide scientists with a new understanding of the global interaction between our sun and the galaxy.
Researchers analyzed oxygen isotope compositions of comet Wild 2's halo crystals, finding signatures similar to asteroids and the sun. This suggests heat-processed particles were transported outward in the young solar system, complicating theories on its early history.
University of Utah engineers have developed a new way to slice thin wafers of germanium for use in high-efficiency solar cells. The new method, wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM), reduces waste and breakage of the brittle semiconductor, making it more economical to produce such cells.
The study reveals that the formation of planetary systems was full of violence and drama, but our solar system required conditions to be just right. The researchers ran over 100 simulations, showing that an average planetary system's origin was dramatic, with planets being flung into space or crowded together.
MIT scientists have overcome a major barrier to large-scale solar power by developing an inexpensive and highly efficient process for storing solar energy. Inspired by plant photosynthesis, they've created a system that can split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases, producing carbon-free electricity.
The newly established Solar Power Laboratory aims to advance solar energy research and development while improving the efficiency of solar electric power systems. Researchers will collaborate with industry partners to accelerate the expansion of Arizona's renewable energy economy.
A new solar concentrator design developed by MIT engineers could significantly increase the efficiency of solar panels and reduce their costs. By using a mixture of dyes to concentrate sunlight, the system can boost electrical power obtained from each solar cell by a factor of over 40.
Researchers created a sophisticated method to turn ordinary glass into a solar concentrator, boosting solar panel efficiency. The technology uses dye-coated glass to collect and channel photons, reducing the need for semiconductor material and increasing energy output.
Researchers use twin STEREO spacecraft to detect neutral atoms and map the energized particles at the edge of the solar system. The findings clear up a discrepancy in energy dumped into space by decelerating solar wind, and provide new insights into the heliosheath and its structure.
Researchers at Delft University of Technology have demonstrated the avalanche effect in semiconducting nanocrystals, which could lead to higher output and lower manufacturing costs for solar cells. The findings show that specific crystals can release two or three electrons per photon, potentially increasing output to 44%.
Researchers at Eindhoven University of Technology and Fraunhofer Institute achieved an unprecedented 6% improvement in solar cell efficiency by depositing a thin layer of aluminum oxide on the front of a silicon solar cell. This breakthrough brings the industrial application of high-efficiency solar cells closer, with costs expected to...
Researchers at UC San Diego have created experimental solar cells with nanowires that show promise as efficient thin-film solar cells of the future. The new design increases electron transport and reduces recombination, leading to a significant boost in efficiency.
The Solar Probe mission will study the streams of charged particles emitted by the sun, exploring the processes that heat its corona and produce solar wind. The spacecraft will zip past the sun at speeds up to 125 miles per second, gathering data on magnetic fields, energy flow, and energetic particle formation.
Researchers at the University of Washington have created a dramatic improvement in dye-sensitized solar cells by using a popcorn-ball design, which manipulates light to convert solar energy into electricity more efficiently. The new approach doubles the efficiency of converting solar energy to electricity, outperforming previous records.
A Penn State researcher is developing solar cells with titanium dioxide nanotubes and organic semiconductors for efficient and low-cost large-scale solar energy conversion. The goal is to achieve photconversion efficiencies of 6-8% and commercialize the technology.
PTL will test concentrator PV systems and work with manufacturers to certify products, develop warranty information, and measure up against industry standards. The goal is to fill a need for reliability tests, subjecting modules to extreme conditions to simulate operational lifetimes.
The University of Delaware's Institute of Energy Conversion will receive $3.75 million from the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar America Initiative to continue researching photovoltaic-based solar cells, aiming to produce high-efficiency solar cells and expand its expertise in new areas.
Asteroid researchers used telescopes to identify three ancient asteroids that date back to the Solar System's formation. These 'prime candidates' contain calcium and aluminum-rich inclusions, providing insights into the earliest stages of the Solar System.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new anode coating strategy that significantly enhances the efficiency of solar energy power conversion. The breakthrough could lead to cheaper, more manufacturable, and easily implemented solar cells, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and carbon dioxide emissions.
Nikolai Pogorelov, a UC Riverside researcher, has been awarded 850,000 processor hours on the seventh fastest computer in the world to study the outer heliosphere and its interaction with interstellar medium. The research will help plan future space missions and analyze fluxes of galactic cosmic rays.
Arizona State University has received two grants from the U.S. Department of Energy's Solar America Initiative to develop new materials for solar cells, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The grants will focus on exploring photovoltaic potential of new materials that were originally developed for laser applications.
The MIT Energy Initiative has partnered with Eni to develop novel photovoltaic materials and design solar power plants. The five-year collaboration will focus on six areas of research, including nano-structured thin film photovoltaics and water splitting.
The four-year project aims to make thin-film light absorbing cells for solar panels from sustainable and affordable materials, reducing costs by one millionth of a metre. Researchers will experiment with low-cost materials and nanotechnology to capture increased amounts of energy from the sun's rays.
Researchers have developed a new type of solar cell that uses a binary ionic liquid electrolyte, achieving a record 7.6% light-conversion efficiency and stability in warm climates. The solvent-free design also enables the construction of flexible and lightweight devices.
A new 11-year solar cycle is expected to bring increased risks for power grids, communications, GPS signals, and cell phones. The first sunspot appeared in the Northern Hemisphere, marking the beginning of Solar Cycle 24.
Researchers at University of Copenhagen have discovered a new material that can convert up to 30% of solar energy into electricity, twice the current conversion rate. The use of nanotechnology reduces production costs and minimizes energy loss in solar cell transportation.
Voyager 2 has entered the heliosheath, a vast region at the edge of our solar system where the solar wind meets interstellar space. The spacecraft's Plasma Science instrument provided direct measurements of the solar wind, revealing an unusual shock wave with lower temperatures than predicted.
Hinode satellite data sheds light on sun's magnetic field and solar wind formation, revealing Alfvén waves play a critical role in driving the solar wind. Magnetic reconnection and convective motions also contribute to its creation.
The NASA SORCE mission is tracking regional variations in the sun's warming impact on Earth, with possible implications for global climate patterns. The study found that while the sun's brightness affects Earth's temperature modestly, regional temperature changes can vary by a factor of eight.
Scientists analyzed neon and argon samples from NASA's Genesis mission to determine the isotopic composition of noble gases in the sun. The results show that the isotopic composition is consistent across different regimes of solar wind, indicating that measuring solar wind samples can represent the solar corona.
Researchers at Durham University are developing light-absorbing materials for thin-layer solar photovoltaic (PV) cells to convert light energy into electricity. The goal is to make solar panels more affordable and increase the use of solar power.
Silicon nanoparticles can significantly enhance the performance of solar cells by improving power output and reducing heat. By integrating a high-quality film of silicon nanoparticles onto silicon solar cells, researchers achieved a 60% improvement in power performance in the ultraviolet range of the spectrum.
Scientists assess natural variation in solar irradiance's impact on Earth's temperature. Early humans' adaptability to high northern latitudes is also studied, indicating a prominent presence around 1 million years ago.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed new pink dye-sensitized solar cells with half the efficiency of commercially available silicon-based solar cells, but at one quarter of the cost. The new materials use complex metals and novel particle shapes to boost electricity production.
A University of Delaware-led team achieved a record-breaking combined solar cell efficiency of 42.8 percent from sunlight, surpassing the current record of 40.7 percent. The innovative technology incorporates spectral splitting optics with high-performance crystalline silicon solar cells.
A new tandem organic solar cell has been developed with increased efficiency of six and a half percent, marking the highest level achieved for solar cells made from organic materials. The discovery utilizes semiconducting polymers recognized by the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, which promises to be less expensive to produce.
Researchers at the University of Warwick have found fractal patterns in the solar wind that correspond to the Sun's 'storm season', indicating complex magnetic field activity. This discovery could improve our understanding of space weather and its impact on cosmic ray flux, as well as inform the development of fusion power.
Scientists forecast a moderately strong or weak solar storm cycle starting in March 2008 and peaking in October 2011 or August 2012. The panel's predictions are evenly split on the intensity of the cycle, with some expecting a record-breaker.
Researchers have pushed the efficiency of plastic solar cells to over 6%, a significant milestone in developing sustainable energy solutions. The new record is attributed to creating nano-filaments within light-absorbing plastic, allowing for thicker absorbing layers and increased sunlight capture.
Researchers in Manchester and London are working on a £1.5m project to create more efficient solar cells using inexpensive materials and novel fabrication methods. The goal is to produce demonstration hybrid solar cells with the potential to be mass-produced and achieve an energy conversion efficiency of ten percent.
Researchers analyzed dust fragments from Comet Wild-2 to gain insights into the early Solar System's formation. The study found diverse mineral compositions in the comet dust, indicating extensive mixing before planet formation, and evidence of surprising variety in cometary composition.
Scientists have discovered material in comets that originated from the sun's inner solar system, defying a popular notion. The Stardust mission found particles with extreme properties, including one made of calcium-aluminum inclusion and another composed of magnesium olivine.
Arizona State University has received a $1.1 million grant from the National Science Foundation to develop innovative nanotechnology solutions for solar energy. The team aims to create tiny devices that can harness light energy more efficiently and convert it into electricity.
Researchers at Iowa State University are working on a project to improve the performance of thin-film solar cells by 40-50% using non-crystalline silicon wafers. The discovery could result in several patents and give companies like PowerFilm Inc. a significant advantage in the market.
Researchers have made significant breakthroughs in improving the efficiency of solar cells, including plastic solar cells with efficiencies up to 15% and ultrathin dye-sensitized solar cells reaching 11%. Carbon nanotubes could also boost efficiency by doubling photoconversion rates.
Research papers predict increased solar flares and storms due to enhanced solar radiation. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current is expected to strengthen with climate change induced by increasing greenhouse gases. Deep atmospheric convection enhances natural greenhouse gas feedbacks, leading to an amplified positive water vapor effect.
RIT scientist Ryne Raffaelle's $847,109 grant will develop nanostructured materials to enhance solar cell absorption and conversion rates. The project aims to improve current technology and lay the foundation for long-term improvement in solar energy use.
Researchers at Penn State have developed titania nanotube dye sensitive solar cells with a 3% initial conversion rate, which they aim to increase to 15% through optimization. The cells use an easier fabrication system than conventional silicon solar cells and have shown promise in producing more electrons that do not recombine.
Researchers at UCLA have developed a new type of solar cell made from plastic that is cheaper to produce than traditional silicon-based cells. The cell has an efficiency rating of 4.4% and aims to reach 15-20% efficiency in the future.
A team of scientists from New Mexico State University and Wake Forest University has achieved a 5.2% solar energy efficiency level in organic solar cells, a significant improvement over previous attempts. This breakthrough could lead to the development of cheaper, flexible plastic-based solar panels within four to five years.
Researchers have developed a novel solar antenna that combines antenna functions and solar cells on a single surface, reducing weight and increasing efficiency. The technology has the potential to power homes and send/receive signals, improving data gathering capabilities in remote regions.
The report identifies key areas of focus for improving solar energy technologies, including artificial molecular machines, smart materials, and nanotechnology-based solar cells. It also highlights the importance of basic research in addressing the nation's energy security needs.
A massive solar flare on January 20, 2024, produced the largest solar radiation signal in nearly 50 years, tripping radiation monitors worldwide and scrambling spacecraft detectors. The event challenged traditional theories about proton storms at Earth, suggesting that protons may have originated from the sun itself.