Articles tagged with Solar Energy
Walter Kohn predicts a new era in human history where solar and wind power dominate global energy, driven by growing alternative energy production and declining oil and gas reserves. International cooperation is crucial to addressing the challenges of a rapidly changing energy landscape.
Researchers have discovered a method to improve the performance of organic solar cells by modifying an interface between an organic polymer and an inorganic oxide layer. This breakthrough could significantly enhance the industry's prospects for producing efficient and environmentally friendly electricity.
A team at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found that adding just 9% selenium to zinc oxide boosts the material's efficiency in absorbing light. This breakthrough potentially addresses both cost and efficiency needs for sustainable solar power conversion.
A new solar energy conversion process called photon enhanced thermionic emission (PETE) has the potential to surpass existing photovoltaic and thermal conversion technologies. The process excels at higher temperatures, making it ideal for use in solar concentrators.
The University of California, Riverside's Southern California Research Initiative for Solar Energy (SC-RISE) has been recognized as a leading example of international collaboration for sustainable energy. The city of Riverside will receive an award from Sister Cities International for its role in launching SC-RISE.
Professor Michael Graetzel receives Millennium Technology Prize for his groundbreaking work on dye-sensitized solar cells, a cost-effective and versatile form of solar energy. The award recognizes his contributions to developing this technology and unlocking safer, more efficient batteries and carbon-free energy storage.
The Australian government is funding a project to develop renewable energy technologies for the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory and the Pawsey High-Performance Computing Centre. The Sustainable Energy for SKA facility will support solar and photovoltaic technology and direct heat geothermal demonstrator to cool supercomputers.
Researchers at Michigan State University discovered that shiny black solar cells lure water insects away from critical breeding areas. Applying white grids or other methods can break up polarized reflection of light, making it less attractive to mayflies and other aquatic insects.
The Office of Naval Research has selected nine researchers to receive funding for their innovative energy projects, aiming to help the Navy decrease its reliance on fossil fuels. The winners will use up to $100,000 to develop technologies such as solar power and microbial energy generation.
A Spanish-German partnership has created a virtually invisible solar film, Evalon Solar, which is integrated into the building rather than superimposed on it. The film, made from flexible silicon cells, can be used on vertical surfaces and retains only about 8% of energy captured from the sun.
The inaugural issue of OSA's Energy Express highlights research on solar concentrators, which aim to increase the efficiency of solar energy generation. New devices and technologies are being developed to concentrate sunlight, making solar power more economical and efficient.
Researchers at Oregon State University have made an important breakthrough in producing thin film absorbers for solar cells using continuous flow microreactors. This innovative technology could significantly reduce the cost of solar energy devices and material waste, making it a game-changer for sustainable solar cell manufacturing.
Two studies by Queen's University researchers suggest southeastern Ontario has enormous solar energy potential, producing nearly as much power as the US nuclear grid. The studies, led by Professor Joshua Pearce, estimate 95 gigawatts of potential power in the region.
Professor Benoît Marsan's research solved two long-standing issues in solar cell development: a corrosive electrolyte and expensive platinum cathode. His innovative solutions use new molecules and cobalt sulphide, increasing photovoltage and stability.
Researchers create artificial leaf-like structures that can harness sunlight and water to produce hydrogen fuel, increasing activity by a factor of ten compared to commercial photo-catalysts. The 'Artificial Inorganic Leaf' (AIL) mimics natural leaves' structural features for improved light harvesting efficiency.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have created a semi-tropical frog-inspired foam that converts solar energy into sugars. The foam, which uses plant, bacterial, and fungal enzymes, can produce fuels like ethanol without diverting energy to other functions.
A new, inexpensive method for solar energy storage has been developed, enabling personalized solar energy at the individual or home level. This innovation uses a practical catalyst to split water molecules into hydrogen, producing clean electricity in a fuel cell.
Researchers at Monash University have developed a new way to increase the output of next-generation solar cells, achieving a three-fold increase in energy conversion efficiency. The breakthrough uses a new, more efficient type of dye that enables the operation of inverse dye-sensitised solar cells.
The symposium focused on four main topics: mimicking photosynthesis using synthetic materials, production and use of biofuels, developing innovative solar cells, and storage and distribution of solar energy. Scientists have been successful in mimicking the fuel-making process of photosynthesis but must now find ways to do so commercially.
Engineering students at UC San Diego helped streamline the application process for federal Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, securing $154 million for 192 solar projects. The students developed an analytical tool to calculate energy output and payback time, allowing applications to be completed in 10 minutes.
The University of Central Florida has received a $7.5 million research grant to enhance the efficiency of hybrid photovoltaic solar cells. Researchers will focus on increasing the absorption capability of organic materials to capture a broader spectrum of sunlight, leading to more flexible and efficient solar panels.
Stanford University researchers propose that transitioning to renewable energy could reduce global power demand by 30%, making it cheaper than fossil fuels or nuclear energy. The study finds that wind, water, and solar energy can meet the world's power demands with minimal land area required.
Concordia University will construct an Environmental Chamber with a solar simulator to test innovative building-integrated solar systems and materials. The facility aims to develop solar buildings with net-zero energy, generating as much electricity as they use.
The US Department of Energy has awarded $377 million to fund 46 new energy frontier research centers, aiming to accelerate scientific breakthroughs in clean and renewable energy. The centers will focus on advancing solar energy, biofuels, transportation, energy efficiency, and nuclear energy.
Researchers have developed a new design for solar cells using arrays of nanoscale pillars, each a single crystal, to efficiently convert light into charge-carrying electrons. The efficiency of the test device was measured at six percent, which is higher than most photovoltaic devices based on nanostructured materials.
Recent studies suggest tidal stream devices could supply up to 5% of the UK's electricity needs, offering a solution with minimal environmental impacts. Collaborative projects are developing more fatigue-resistant materials and improved design techniques for wind turbine blades and solar energy converters.
Researchers at SRNL are investigating nanostructured coatings to enhance the efficiency of solar cells by reducing reflection. These coatings have shown promise in mimicking nature's ability to absorb light, with potential applications in commercial, home-based, and space-based solar cells.
The US Department of Energy has announced a $777 million initiative to fund 46 Energy Frontier Research Centers, including one at Caltech led by Harry Atwater. The center will focus on understanding light-material interactions for optimal solar energy conversion.
The University of Texas at Austin is receiving $30 million in funding from the US Department of Energy to develop innovative nanomaterials for solar energy and batteries, as well as study the movement of greenhouse gases in geological systems. This funding will support research into new paradigms for achieving U.S. energy security.
The Arizona State University EFRC will pursue advanced research on solar energy conversion based on photosynthesis principles. The goal is to design a synthetic system that uses sunlight to convert water into hydrogen fuel and oxygen, providing a renewable source of clean energy.
A new multi-million-dollar Energy Frontier Research Center announced by the White House will focus on understanding gas-liquid interactions at solid surfaces. This research has potential applications in developing more efficient batteries, solar and electrical energy conversion into fuel, improved fuel cells, and enhanced corrosion res...
The study found that solar lanterns significantly reduced kerosene and electricity costs, with annual savings ranging from $150 to $250. Solar lanterns also improved household work efficiency for women and increased school hours for children, benefiting rural Indian communities.
The new California Solar Energy Collaborative aims to establish consensus among key stakeholders, develop efficient solar technologies, and create an ambitious energy policy for the state. UC San Diego and UC Davis will utilize the grant to collect existing research, facilitate gap areas, and track evolving solar technology development.
Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a new way to create dye-sensitized solar cells using ancient diatoms, which can potentially triple the electrical output. The technology uses environmentally benign materials and works well in lower light conditions, offering advances in manufacturing simplicity and efficiency.
Scientists at Queen's University have detected giant twisting waves in the lower atmosphere of the Sun, known as Alfvén waves. These waves transport energy into the Corona or outer layer, carrying heat and explaining why it reaches temperatures of over a million degrees.
Researchers from the University of Sheffield and Queen's University Belfast have made a groundbreaking discovery about the Sun's corona. They found evidence for the existence of Alfvén waves, which transport energy to heat the Sun's outer atmosphere, reaching temperatures of over a million degrees.
A solar water-heating system has a payback period of just two years and effectively pays for itself five times over within its twenty-year lifespan. Researchers found that solar heating is 57% of the internal rate of return compared to electrical energy approaches.
The study found that average installed costs of US solar PV systems decreased significantly from $10.50 to $7.60 per watt between 1998 and 2007, with a 3.5% annual reduction in real dollars.
Researchers at Iowa State University are working on a three-year project to improve the efficiency of thin film solar cells, with a goal of boosting efficiency to around 10%. The project aims to develop new silicon alloys and organic semiconductors for improved performance.
Researchers identify 12 abundant materials with potential to meet global energy demand, offering a cost-effective alternative to traditional silicon-based solar cells. The study suggests that these new materials could significantly reduce the cost of solar photovoltaics and accelerate the transition to low-carbon energy.
Researchers developed a new process to capture light energy with nearly equal efficiency by connecting molecular wires to biological photosynthetic systems. This approach improves the transfer of electrons, achieving high quantum yields similar to natural photosynthesis.
Solarmer Energy Inc. is working on a new plastic solar cell technology that achieves 8% efficiency and has a lifetime of at least three years. The invention, PTB1, converts sunlight into electricity using a semiconducting material with a thickness of just 100 nanometers.
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 at Idaho National Laboratory developed a way to produce plastic sheets containing billions of nanoantennas that collect heat energy generated by the sun. The technology has potential to be mass-produced on flexible materials, powering devices with higher efficiency than traditional solar cells.
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.
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 have discovered that the coronal heating mechanism is highly impulsive and can be explained by the acceleration of particles or direct heating. The study also suggests that energy release happens gradually close to the sun's surface, causing thermal nonequilibrium.
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 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft have developed a new lithium-ion battery with non-flammable polymer electrolytes, enhancing safety and increasing conductivity. The improved batteries are expected to compete with lead batteries in cars within 3-5 years.
Renowned chemist Harry Gray foresees a 10-year period of research and development to reduce the cost of solar energy, making it competitive with petroleum. The goal is to harness sunlight to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, providing a clean fuel source.
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.
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.
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.
Researchers created a triple port system for efficient energy transfer between different sources. The new converter transforms energy in a single step, making it more cost-effective and flexible.
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 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.
Researchers uncover the mechanism of photoprotection in plants, enabling them to convert excess light energy into harmless heat. This discovery could lead to more resilient crops and improved solar energy technology.