Tuesday, 20 December 2016

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7 SECRET Super Weapons That Actually Exist Both the military and the police are always looking for new, non-lethal ways to take down an opponent. Partly because interrogating a corpse is notoriously difficult, but mostly because huge piles of dead bodies don’t look so good on the evening news bulletin. It’d be great if all those racist cops shooting black kids to death could have their guns replaced by non-lethal weapons. I mean, it’d be better if they weren’t racist in the first place, but we can’t have everything can we. The Active Denial System is an interesting name, because when it is fired in your direction what it denies you is the ability to not cook like popcorn in a microwave. The ADS uses directed energy to heat the surface area of anything in its targeting range, whether that’s a fried egg, a minute steak, or a human being’s skin. In our list of the top 5 mysterious diseases we briefly touched upon the US Military’s experiments in the first Gulf War at using high-power sound waves to control or attack soliders. But this technology has come on a lot since the 1990s, and there are weapons out there right now which can reduce human beings into a blubbering, defecating mess quicker than an Oscar winner’s acceptance speech. If you’re going to recruit one of the X-Men to help your military cause you could do far worse than Storm. Not only is she capable of controlling the weather, but she’s also super-hot. Sadly for humanity the real-life Laser Induced Plasma Channel is just as destructive but nowhere near as pretty to look at, especially if you’re on the end of its wrath. If you’re a first person shooter fan there’s nothing better than hitting a killstreak which grants you an airstrike. You can flatten five of the enemy’s guys and probably a few of your own in one fell swoop within moments of calling it in. But in real life airstrikes don’t work that fast…at least, not yet. Sorry Judge Dredd, that name doesn’t belong to you anymore because you are nowhere near as scary as the DREAD gun. This is a centrifugal gun which was first developed by Charles St George in 2006, and has been in development ever since. Rather than using gunpowder a centrifugal weapon works by firing projectiles using centrifugal force, and in the case of the DREAD gun that force is pretty spectacular. In 2013 BAE systems developed a tank which could sneak up on unsuspecting enemies more stealthily than a guy taking a dump round his new girlfriend’s house. The ADAPTIV technology used uses infra-red and electronic frequencies to not only blend the tank into the background, but it can even make it appear as if it is something else entirely, such as a regular road car, a cow, or a little girl with a lemonade stand…probably. Remember Robert Patrick as the T-1000 in Terminator 2? Of course you do, he’s one of the greatest movie villains of all time. Way better than the girl in Terminator 3 who mostly used her liquid metal form to grow bigger tits. Although admittedly they were distracting, so perhaps in the future breasts will be the most destructive super weapon of all? Sorry Waldo, you’ve been bumped.

Wednesday, 22 June 2016

Novel solar absorber to improve efficiency of concentrating solar power technology READ MORE

Novel solar absorber to improve efficiency of concentrating solar power technology: Researchers have discovered a novel way to significantly increase the amount of sunlight that a solar absorber can convert into heat. By converting more of the solar energy that reaches Earth’s surface into heat in a low-cost way, the solar absorber can help make sustainable technologies that rely on solar heat, like solar thermal technologies, more efficient and affordable.

New method can make cheaper solar energy storage READ MORE

New method can make cheaper solar energy storage: Building on a unique idea, scientists have developed a cost-effective new method for converting and storing solar energy into hydrogen.

Bionic leaf turns sunlight into liquid fuel: New system surpasses efficiency of photosynthesis

Bionic leaf turns sunlight into liquid fuel: New system surpasses efficiency of photosynthesis: Scientists have created a system that uses solar energy to split water molecules and hydrogen-eating bacteria to produce liquid fuels. The system can convert solar energy to biomass with 10 percent efficiency, far above the 1 percent seen in the fastest-growing plants.

India Opens World's First Ever Solar-Powered Airport

India Opens World's First Ever Solar-Powered Airport: Cochin International airport, the fourth-largest airport in India in terms of international traffic, now runs entirely on solar power. (Not the planes, though). The move will make the airport completely power neutral, and is a stride towards significantly reducing India's emissions, one of the world's largest polluters.

France Set To Install 1000 Kilometers Of Solar-Paneled Roads By 2020

France Set To Install 1000 Kilometers Of Solar-Paneled Roads By 2020: Following on from last year’s historic climate change deal, in which 195 nations promised to mitigate man-made greenhouse gas emissions, France has demonstrated that it is beginning to pull its weight.

Germany Just Produced So Much Renewable Energy That It Had To Pay People To Use It

Germany Just Produced So Much Renewable Energy That It Had To Pay People To Use It: Electricity bills are often ludicrously high thanks to our energy-intensive modern world, but every now and then, thanks to the forces of nature, a metaphorical miracle takes place. As reported by Quartz, Germany just experienced such a phenomenon when a particularly bright and sunny day supercharged their solar and wind power sectors.

Solar Roads Could Power An Entire Country

Solar Roads Could Power An Entire Country: A small US-based company called Solar Roadways are developing a solar road surface that, if installed nationwide, has the potential to produce more renewable energy than the entire country uses. In fact, they’ve actually already developed a working prototype that’s been installed in a parking lot, and they’re now crowdsourcing funds in order to tweak the design and move towards production.

Morocco Just Switched On The World's Largest Solar Plant

Morocco Just Switched On The World's Largest Solar Plant: When completed, the site will cover an area larger than the country's capital, Rabat, and will make Morocco’s solar plant the largest in the world. It is hoped that it will eventually produce so much electricity that the nation will not only be able to meet its own energy needs, but also export the excess to Europe. The first section of the plant was turned on this afternoon by Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, and is expected to start churning out 160 megawatts.

Spray-On Solar Power Turns Your Car Roof Into Photovoltaic Cells click to READ MORE

Spray-On Solar Power Turns Your Car Roof Into Photovoltaic Cells: Researchers have developed a clever way to turn everyday surfaces into solar panels: Just cover them in a flexible film treated with spray-on solar cells.

Monday, 16 May 2016

This Swallowable Origami Robot Can Retrieve Stuff From Your Stomach

This Swallowable Origami Robot Can Retrieve Stuff From Your Stomach: A new mini-robot could be our best hope to putting an end to the problems caused by children’s favorite pastime: swallowing random crap. This tiny “origami” robot developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is able to travel down into your stomach, unfold, and retrieve objects that have become stuck there.

Monday, 9 May 2016

How Much Room Do We Need To Supply The Entire World With Solar Electricity? READ MORE

How Much Room Do We Need To Supply The Entire World With Solar Electricity?: In 2009, the total global electricity consumption was 20,279,640 GWh. The sun creates more energy than that in one hour. The tricky part is collecting that energy and converting it into useful electricity with solar panels. How much area would need to be covered with solar panels in order to capture enough energy to meet global demand? Actually, it’s not as much as you’d think.

Houseplants could one day power TVs, computers, and more READ MORE

Houseplants could one day power TVs, computers, and more: Plants are able to create energy from sunlight through the process of photosynthesis. Manmade solar panels were created to do the same thing, though it turns out they are much better at it than plants, as some solar panels are about ten times more efficient at generating electricity. However, the process isn’t perfect. One lab decided to blend nature and modern scientific advances and has actually extracted energy straight from plants by interrupting photosynthesis to create truly green energy.

Google Makes Massive Renewable Energy Deal To Power Data Centers READ MORE

Google Makes Massive Renewable Energy Deal To Power Data Centers: In one of the biggest renewable energy deals made by a non-utility company, your cat videos and Internet searches could soon be carbon neutral as Google has just announced that it has increased the amount of green energy powering its data centers and buildings.

World's First Solar Cycle Path Installed In Amsterdam READ MORE

World's First Solar Cycle Path Installed In Amsterdam: Earlier this year, we heard of a dynamic duo’s ambitious project, Solar Roadways, which wants to replace concrete roads, driveways and parking lots in the US with their innovative solar panels. But it turns out that they’re not the only ones that think this green idea is a smart idea, as a group in the Netherlands has just designed and installed the world’s first solar cycle path.

Thursday, 5 May 2016

Should You Get Solar Panels? Ask Google READ MORE

Should You Get Solar Panels? Ask Google: There are a lot of things to take into consideration if you want to put solar panels on your roof. If you’re unsure about what to do next, why don’t you Google it? Using its high resolution satellite imagery and huge trove of mapping data, Google has created a tool to help you determine whether you should get solar panels. All you need to do is enter your address into Project Sunroof.

Solar Fuels: How Planes And Cars Could Be Powered By The Sun READ MORE

Solar Fuels: How Planes And Cars Could Be Powered By The Sun: Solar energy is the world’s most plentiful and ubiquitous energy source, and researchers around the world are pursuing ways to convert sunlight into a useful form. Most people are aware of solar photovoltaics that generate electricity and solar panels that produce hot water. But there is another thrust of solar research: turning sunlight into liquid fuels.

Japan Begins Construction On World's Largest Floating Solar Farm READ MORE

Japan Begins Construction On World's Largest Floating Solar Farm: What happens when a country wants to boost their generation of solar power, but doesn't have enough land for the number of panels needed? Well, the Japanese, among a few others, have been developing a novel solution: float them on large reservoirs.

Wednesday, 4 May 2016

Can We Expand Solar Power Dramatically Without Damaging Protected Lands? READ MORE

Can We Expand Solar Power Dramatically Without Damaging Protected Lands?: California has seen a rapid expansion of large-scale renewable energy development in the past decade, part of a state policy to lower pollution from power generation. Yet, our current power plant siting practices could dramatically alter our energy, agricultural and natural landscape. Can this be avoided or minimized?

Solar Roads Could Power An Entire Country READ MORE

Solar Roads Could Power An Entire Country: A small US-based company called Solar Roadways are developing a solar road surface that, if installed nationwide, has the potential to produce more renewable energy than the entire country uses. In fact, they’ve actually already developed a working prototype that’s been installed in a parking lot, and they’re now crowdsourcing funds in order to tweak the design and move towards production.

New Solar Farm Produces Enough Electricity for 140,000 Homes READ MORE

New Solar Farm Produces Enough Electricity for 140,000 Homes: The world’s largest solar farm, the Ivanpah Solar Electricity Generating System, opened earlier this year in California’s Mojave Desert.

Sunday, 1 May 2016

This Solar-Powered Device Could Deliver Clean Water, Electricity, And Internet To Africa READ MORE

This Solar-Powered Device Could Deliver Clean Water, Electricity, And Internet To Africa: It’s no secret that many parts of the world lack water, electricity, and Internet. At least one in 10 don’t have access to clean water, and 17 percent of the world lack access to electricity.

Saturday, 30 April 2016

Researchers Develop Solar Cells From Old Car Batteries READ MORE

Researchers Develop Solar Cells From Old Car Batteries: When clean energy is involved, there’s nothing quite as sweet as killing two environmentally-hazardous birds with one stone. Scientists at MIT have developed a technique that can create a solar cell from old car batteries. Not only are car batteries a great source of the materials needed to create the solar cell, but repurposing them also prevents toxic chemicals like lead from entering the environment when the batteries are thrown away.

New Solar Panels Can Generate Energy From Rain Drops READ MORE

New Solar Panels Can Generate Energy From Rain Drops: Most of the bad press solar panels get has to do with their limited efficiency in bad weather. Sure, they might be great in New Mexico, but you wouldn’t use them as much in England. Well, a new innovation might soon change that. Chinese scientists have developed a way for solar panels to produce electricity using rain water. They coated the bottom side of the solar cell with a thin layer of graphene, which interacts with the positively charged ions found in rain drops. On rainy days, the solar cells can be reversed with the graphene pointing upwards.

How A Global Solar Alliance Can Help Developing Countries READ MORE

How A Global Solar Alliance Can Help Developing Countries: The International Solar Alliance announced by India at the Paris climate conference invites together 120 countries to support the expansion of solar technologies in the developing world.

Friday, 29 April 2016

One Quarter Of The World Will Be Powered By Renewable Energy By 2020 READ MORE

One Quarter Of The World Will Be Powered By Renewable Energy By 2020: Climate change action has just been given an official round of applause: the International Energy Agency (IEA) has declared that over 26% of the world’s energy supply will come from renewable energy sources by the end of the decade.

Solar Plane Is About To Embark On A Round-The-World Trip READ MORE

Solar Plane Is About To Embark On A Round-The-World Trip: During the summer of 2013, two Swiss pilots embarked on a record-setting journey across the United States in a solar-powered airplane. The plane, Solar Impulse, was the first solar-powered aircraft capable of flying day and night without requiring so much as a drop of fuel. The ambitious duo made it from coast-to-coast, starting near San Francisco and ending in New York City.

Your Devices' Latest Feature? They Can Spy On Your Every Move READ MORE

Your Devices' Latest Feature? They Can Spy On Your Every Move: We now have dozens of smart devices in our houses and even on our bodies. They improve our lives in so many ways – from lowering energy consumption in our homes to egging us on to be active.

How The Power To Control Objects With Our Minds Stopped Being Science Fiction READ MORE

How The Power To Control Objects With Our Minds Stopped Being Science Fiction: The recent announcement that a young paralysed man in Ohio in the US named Ian Burkhart managed to regain the use of his fingers after having a chip implanted in his brain is an exciting step forward for science and healthcare. In fact, you may now be wondering how long it will be before we can unlock a door, turn on a kettle, or even send an email simply by thinking about it?

The World's First Solar-Powered Sports Car Could Drive Forever READ MORE

The World's First Solar-Powered Sports Car Could Drive Forever: Can a road-legal car be powered by the Sun alone? One company thinks so, and they’re planning to unveil a scaled-down version of their proposal later this year.

Tuesday, 26 April 2016

Ban open FIELD animal grazing in Nigeria

Monday, 25 April 2016

Hot solar cells are the cool way to water and power READ MORE

Hot solar cells are the cool way to water and power: Techniques designed for cooling computer chips make for more efficient photovoltaic cells and provide cheap energy for desalination

Bitcoin: How its core technology will change the world READ MORE

Bitcoin: How its core technology will change the world: The virtual currency is about more than money – the real innovation is what people are doing with the technology it is based on

Japan could become second biggest solar power nation READ MORE LINK

Japan could become second biggest solar power nation: A mega solar park planned just 10 kilometres from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant trumpets new Japanese investment in solar power

I want to build solar cells thinner than a human hair READ MORE ON LINK

I want to build solar cells thinner than a human hair: Materials called perovskites will transform the way we build and use solar cells – by making them bendy, says the researcher behind the idea

Brain implant lets paralysed man move his hand with his thoughts READ MORE LINK

Brain implant lets paralysed man move his hand with his thoughts: Ian Burkhart is the first paralysed person to regain control of his own hand and fingers using a mind-reading device implanted in his brain

Wednesday, 13 April 2016

What did Abraham Lincoln invent? READ MORE

What did Abraham Lincoln invent?: Well before becoming the 16th president of the United States, the young Abraham Lincoln was known for his interest in engineering and mechanics. What patent does Lincoln hold, and was his invention ever made?

10 Awesome New Inventions You'll Never Hear About READ MORE

10 Awesome New Inventions You'll Never Hear About: Despite all the Slinkies, Band-Aids and BIC pens out there, many patented inventions that push the boundaries of innovation will likely never see widespread use, like this car that’s grown organically and emits pure oxygen.

Australian firm brings floating solar plant technology to the U.S.READ MORE

Australian firm brings floating solar plant technology to the U.S.: Solar technology from Down Under will soon be providing power in California, as the company behind the world’s first-ever floating solar plant just exported its technology to the U.S.

How to keep an old home warm with modern technology READ MORE

How to keep an old home warm with modern technology: Cast Iron Radiators 4u's infographic offers help advice on how to keep an old home warm by investing in energy-efficient technology.

Tuesday, 12 April 2016

New General Motors System Would Use Smart Phone Technology To Help Drivers Avoid Pedestrians READ MORE

New General Motors System Would Use Smart Phone Technology To Help Drivers Avoid Pedestrians: General Motors has announced that it is developing a new pedestrian detection system that relies on Wi-Fi Direct technology to detect pedestrians and bicyclists on congested streets or in poor visibility conditions before the driver notices them.

U.S. Army develops new solar cells that are 1,000 times thinner than current technology READ MORE

U.S. Army develops new solar cells that are 1,000 times thinner than current technology: The United States Army has patented new solar cell technology that is 1,000 times thinner than current solar panels on the market, as well as being stronger and more efficient at converting sunlight to electricity.

New Technology Harvests Electricity From Railroad Train Track Vibrations READ MORE

New Technology Harvests Electricity From Railroad Train Track Vibrations: Researchers at Stony Brook University have developed the MMR based Railroad Energy Harvester which captures electricity from the vibrations from train tracks.

Solar-powered Watly provides internet, energy, and drinking water for Ghana residents READ MORE

Solar-powered Watly provides internet, energy, and drinking water for Ghana residents: The Watly 3.0 system is a solar powered machine that stores electricity, creates clean drinking water, and provides internet connectivity in developing nations.

VIDEO: How to install Voltaic solar panels on your car READ MORE

VIDEO: How to install Voltaic solar panels on your car: This DIY video shows how easy it is to install 17 watt solar panels on your car, for off-grid living and working.

Sunday, 10 April 2016

Panasonic to Donate 100,000 Solar Lanterns to Nations Without Electricity READ MORE

Panasonic to Donate 100,000 Solar Lanterns to Nations Without Electricity: Solar Sister distributes solar-powered devices in rural Africa through a network of women to bring reliable electricity to the area.

Solar Sister Empowers Women to Bring Solar Energy to Rural Africa READ MORE

Solar Sister Empowers Women to Bring Solar Energy to Rural Africa: Solar Sister distributes solar-powered devices in rural Africa through a network of women to bring reliable electricity to the area.

Saturday, 9 April 2016

SPARK designs solar-powered beach huts made from discarded ocean trash READ MORE

SPARK designs solar-powered beach huts made from discarded ocean trash: SPARK proposes recycling trash from the South Pacific Garbage Patch into permanent palm tree-like beach huts for Singapore’s East Coast Park.

SPARK designs solar-powered beach huts made from discarded ocean trash READ MORE

SPARK designs solar-powered beach huts made from discarded ocean trash: SPARK proposes recycling trash from the South Pacific Garbage Patch into permanent palm tree-like beach huts for Singapore’s East Coast Park.

Las Vegas gambles on green with world's first solar-kinetic street lights READ MORE

Las Vegas gambles on green with world's first solar-kinetic street lights: Las Vegas is installing solar-kinetic street lights thanks to a partnership with NYC-based EnGoPLANET (formerly Volta Group), a clean tech startup with a focus on off-the-grid lighting solutions and portable solar devices.

Hybrid solar and biofuel plane to attempt first zero-carbon trans-Atlantic flight READ MORE

Hybrid solar and biofuel plane to attempt first zero-carbon trans-Atlantic flight: Raphael Dinelli, a former solo sailing champion, plans to make the first zero-carbon trans-Atlantic flight in a hybrid solar and biofuel plane.

Thursday, 7 April 2016

Australian firm brings floating solar plant technology to the U.S. READ MORE

Australian firm brings floating solar plant technology to the U.S.: Solar technology from Down Under will soon be providing power in California, as the company behind the world’s first-ever floating solar plant just exported its technology to the U.S.

Semprius' Stacked Solar Cells Could Make Solar Energy Cheaper Than Natural Gas READ MORE

Semprius' Stacked Solar Cells Could Make Solar Energy Cheaper Than Natural Gas: Semprius, a startup company from Durham in North Carolina, believe that by stacking solar cells (which can be done both cheaply and quickly), they can produce high efficient solar panels

Tuesday, 5 April 2016

Elon Musk's idea for powering the entire U.S. with solar energy holds a lot of water READ MORE

Elon Musk's idea for powering the entire U.S. with solar energy holds a lot of water: Elon Musk suggested that the entire United States could be powered with solar energy using a very small portion land and, as it turns out, he's probably right.

Solar Energy Reaches Grid Parity in India and Italy READ MORE

Solar Energy Reaches Grid Parity in India and Italy: Deutsche Bank finds that solar power in India and Italy cost the same as traditional grid electricity.

America's first offshore wind farm to be completed by the end of this yearREAD MORE

America's first offshore wind farm to be completed by the end of this year: Deepwater Wind and General Electric announced that the Block Island offshore wind farm near Rhode Island should be complete by the end of 2016.

How to live comfortably without power if an emergency forces you off grid READ MORE

How to live comfortably without power if an emergency forces you off grid: What would you need to do to live comfortably off the grid? Consider these basic systems and make your power outage as comfortable as your regular life.

Monday, 4 April 2016

World is embracing clean energy, says expert READ MORE

World is embracing clean energy, says expert: An expert argues that investment in renewable electricity now outstrips that in fossil fuels, and that increasing numbers of policies to improve the efficiency of energy use and to make energy systems more flexible are pointing to a global momentum in the adoption of sustainable energy systems.

Renewable energy investments: Major milestones reached, new world record set: For first time, developing world investments in renewables (up 19 percent in 2015) topped developed nations' (down 8%); World record total of $286 billion invested in renewables last year, makes $2.3 trillion over 12 years READ MORE....

Renewable energy investments: Major milestones reached, new world record set: For first time, developing world investments in renewables (up 19 percent in 2015) topped developed nations' (down 8%); World record total of $286 billion invested in renewables last year, makes $2.3 trillion over 12 years: Coal and gas-fired generation attracted less than half as much capacity investment as renewables last year; Renewables added more to global energy generation capacity than all other technologies combined; For first time, developing world investments in renewables (up 19 percent in 2015) topped developed nations' (down 8 percent); and world record total of $286 billion invested in renewables last year; makes $2.3 trillion over 12 years.

'Community solar' systems may add savings to local, cooperative energy projects READ MORE

'Community solar' systems may add savings to local, cooperative energy projects: Part of the future of solar energy, especially for residential use, may be small'community-based' systems in which neighbors join together in the construction and use of solar systems to optimize the energy produced in their neighborhood -- and share in the benefits. Increases of 5-10 percent in the energy produced are possible, say experts.

Saturday, 2 April 2016

Solar and wind power will be the cheapest forms of energy in the future READ MORE

Solar and wind power will be the cheapest forms of energy in the future: A new study demonstrates that an energy system based completely on renewable forms of energy will be economically viable in the future. Within ten years, solar and wind power will be the cheapest forms of energy production for Asia's largest energy markets.

Solar cells as light as a soap bubble: Ultrathin, flexible photovoltaic cells could find many new uses.READ MORE

Solar cells as light as a soap bubble: Ultrathin, flexible photovoltaic cells could find many new uses.: Imagine solar cells so thin, flexible, and lightweight that they could be placed on almost any material or surface, including your hat, shirt, or smartphone, or even on a sheet of paper or a helium balloon. Researchers have now demonstrated just such a technology: the thinnest, lightest solar cells ever produced.

Wednesday, 30 March 2016

China plans to meet 2020 emissions goal by tripling solar power capacity READ MORE

China plans to meet 2020 emissions goal by tripling solar power capacity: China unrolled a plan this week to add new solar power installations each year for the next five years, more than tripling the nation's capacity by 2020.

Green-roofed Villa K offers amazing valley views with a minimal environment footprint READ MORE

Green-roofed Villa K offers amazing valley views with a minimal environment footprint: Richard Murphy of Richard Murphy Architects played both client and architect for his self-designed Murphy House on Hart Street in the New Town of Edinburgh.

New method could unleash solar power potential

New method could unleash solar power potential: New measurement and data analysis techniques could provide insight into performance-robbing flaws in crystalline structures, ultimately improving the performance of solar cells.

Wednesday, 23 March 2016

Solar-thermal flat-panels that generate electric power: Researchers see broad residential and industrial applications READ MORE

Solar-thermal flat-panels that generate electric power: Researchers see broad residential and industrial applications: By using a nanostructured material with improved thermoelectric properties inside a vacuum-sealed flat panel, researchers report adding the capacity to generate electricity to solar-thermal energy technology.

Decorative and flexible solar panels become part of interior design and the appearance of objects READ MORE

Decorative and flexible solar panels become part of interior design and the appearance of objects: Scientists have developed and utilized a mass production method based on printing technologies allowing the manufacturing of decorative, organic solar panels. Design freedom improves the range of applications of the panels on the surfaces of interior and exterior building spaces. Researchers are also studying the feasibility of printing technology in the mass production of solar panels made from inorganic perovskite materials. The new mass production method enables to create interior design elements from organic solar panels (OPV, organic photovoltaics) harvesting energy from interior lighting or sunlight for various small devices and sensors that gather information from the environment. The panels can, for example, be placed on windows and walls and on machines, devices and advertisement billboards.

Solar cells that can face almost any direction and keep themselves clean READ MORE

Solar cells that can face almost any direction and keep themselves clean: In recent years, a complicated discussion over which direction solar cells should face -- south or west -- has likely left customers uncertain about the best way to orient their panels. Now researchers are attempting to resolve this issue by developing solar cells that can harvest light from almost any angle, and the panels self-clean to boot.

Solar fuels: A refined protective layer for the 'artificial leaf'

Solar fuels: A refined protective layer for the 'artificial leaf': Researchers have developed a process for providing sensitive semiconductors for solar water splitting ('artificial leaves') with an organic, transparent protective layer. The extremely thin protective layer made of carbon chains is stable, conductive, and covered with catalyzing nanoparticles of metal oxides. These accelerate the splitting of water when irradiated by light.

Sunday, 20 March 2016

Advances in Solar Cell Manufacturing
Another area that has made solar PV technologies cost prohibitive compared to traditional fuel sources is the manufacturing process. Scientists are also focused on ways to improve the efficiency of how solar components are manufactured.
Magnesium Chloride. While over ninety percent of solar panels on the market today are comprised of silicon semiconductors, the key ingredient to converting sunlight into electricity, many believe the next generation of solar panels will be made of a thin film technology that uses narrow coatings of cadmium telluride in solar cells - this technology promises to be a much cheaper and more efficient way to engage the photovoltaic process. One major obstacle for cadmium telluride thin film cells is that they become highly unstable during the manufacturing process, which currently uses cadmium chloride. Researchers have devised a new, safe and seemingly low cost way to overcome this hurdle by using a material called magnesium chloride in replace of cadmium chloride. Magnesium chloride is recovered from seawater, an abundant resource, which makes the resource very low cost, as well as non-toxic. Replacing the manufacturing process with this material promises to increase the efficiency of these solar cells from two percent to up to fifteen percent.
New Solar Applications
When most people think of solar PV systems they think of them atop roofs or mounted for industrial scale use. But researchers are exploring a number of unconventional solar applications that could promise to transform the industry.
Solar Roadways. Scientists are exploring ways to actually line highways and roads with solar panels that would then be used to deploy large amounts of electricity to the grid. This would help overcome a major barrier to industrial scale solar, which opponents say threatens to take up too much land. Solar roadways have already popped up in the Netherlands.
Floating Solar. Another way to address land use concerns associated with wide scale solar is to erect solar plants on the water, since over 70% of the Earth's surface is covered in water. Some researchers, including a French firm called Ciel et Terre, are experimenting with this technology. The company has projects set up in France, Japan, and England and other parts of the world are also piloting projects including a project in India and California in the U.S.
Space Based Solar. Scientists are resurrecting a technology that was first tested over forty years ago in which space-based satellites capture sunlight and convert it into microwave energy that is then beamed back to earth. This type of technology promises to capture significant more amount of sunlight (nearly ninety percent) since satellites can be positioned to optimize light capture round the clock. India, China and Japan are investing heavily in these technologies right now

Friday, 18 March 2016

Solar Water Pumping / Irrigation - Energy MattersREAD MORE....

Solar Water Pumping / Irrigation - Energy Matters: Solar powered bore water pumps are widely used on farms and outback stations in Australia to supply water to livestock and general irrigation. Learn more about solar water bore pumps and view our wide range of pumping solutions

Thursday, 17 March 2016

Off grid solar power components - Energy Matters READ MORE...

Off grid solar power components - Energy Matters: We supply a full range of solar power equipment for off grid use - the best brands at the very best prices.

Case Studies - Home Solar power - Energy Matters READ MORE

Case Studies - Home Solar power - Energy Matters: Video and case studies of some of what our many thousands of customers have to say about their solar power experience and Energy Matters. Electricity bills causing you heartache? Like these Australians, reduce or even wipe out your power bill by joining the rooftop solar revolution – get an instant online solar quote!

Solar Home Battery Energy Storage - Energy Matters READ MORE.....

Solar Home Battery Energy Storage - Energy Matters: The second residential solar revolution is happening - home battery energy storage. Solar + storage will be a common sight on Australian homes soon.

How Grid Connect Solar Power Works - Energy Matters READ MORE

How Grid Connect Solar Power Works - Energy Matters: Thinking solar power for your home? Think grid connect - a system that gives you the best of both worlds. Reliable, economical electricity - here's how solar power works

Solar Water Pumping / Irrigation - Energy Matters READ MORE

Solar Water Pumping / Irrigation - Energy Matters: Solar powered bore water pumps are widely used on farms and outback stations in Australia to supply water to livestock and general irrigation. Learn more about solar water bore pumps and view our wide range of pumping solutions

Wednesday, 16 March 2016

Chemists devise technology that could transform solar energy storage READ MORE .....

Chemists devise technology that could transform solar energy storage: Chemists have developed a major improvement to capture and retain energy from sunlight, where the stored energy can last dramatically longer than current solar technology allows -- up to several weeks, instead of the microseconds found in today's rooftop solar panels.

Record-breaking solar flight reaches Hawaii after 5 nights and days airborne without fuel: Unlimited endurance is now proven thanks to clean technology READ MORE

Record-breaking solar flight reaches Hawaii after 5 nights and days airborne without fuel: Unlimited endurance is now proven thanks to clean technology: The longest and most difficult leg of the Round the World Solar Flight attempted since last March by Swiss explorers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg ended successfully in Hawaii. At the controls of Solar Impulse 2, pilot André Borschberg landed safely in Hawaii after flying 117 hours and 52 minutes over the Pacific Ocean from Japan powered only by the sun.

Heating with the sun: Solar active houses put to the test READ MORE

Heating with the sun: Solar active houses put to the test: Solar-Active-Houses heat themselves using heat collectors and water tanks. However, no one had conducted an objective assessment of how efficiently they do so. Now researchers have put some of these solar houses to the test, and have identified where there was room for improvement and laid the scientific groundwork for this housing concept.

Monday, 14 March 2016

New storage cell for solar energy storage, nighttime conversion: Environmental impact

New storage cell for solar energy storage, nighttime conversion: Environmental impact READ MORE: A materials science and engineering team has developed a new energy cell that can store large-scale solar energy even when it's dark.

Sunday, 13 March 2016

Solar water-splitting technology developed: Process uses light-harvesting nanoparticles, captures energy from 'hot electrons'

Solar water-splitting technology developed: Process uses light-harvesting nanoparticles, captures energy from 'hot electrons': Researchers have demonstrated an efficient new way to capture the energy from sunlight and convert it into clean, renewable energy by splitting water molecules. The technology uses sunlight-harvesting gold nanoparticles.

Green storage for green energy: Rechargeable battery to power a home from rooftop solar panels READ MORE

Green storage for green energy: Rechargeable battery to power a home from rooftop solar panels: Researchers have demonstrated a safe and affordable battery capable of storing energy from intermittent sources -- like rooftop solar panels -- that is suitable for the home.

Cooling the air with sunlight READ MORE

Cooling the air with sunlight: A firm has developed an evaporative cooler that has an integrated photovoltaic system isolated from the electrical network, which enables to refresh an area of ??approximately 200 square meters.

The 5 best solar chargers for every kind of traveler READ MORE........

The 5 best solar chargers for every kind of traveler: From super-lightweight solar chargers for light packers to heavy duty chargers for extreme adventure lovers, here are our picks of the 5 best solar chargers for travel.

Wednesday, 9 March 2016

Solar vehicle charging at home READ MORE

Solar vehicle charging at home: Owners of home photovoltaic systems will soon be able to make their households even more sustainable, because PV power is also suitable for charging personal electronic vehicles. A home energy management system recently created incorporates electric vehicles into the household energy network and creates charging itineraries.

Simplifying solar cells with a new mix of materials: Research team creates a high-efficiency device in seven steps READ MORE

Simplifying solar cells with a new mix of materials: Research team creates a high-efficiency device in seven steps: An international research team has simplified the steps to create highly efficient silicon solar cells by applying a new mix of materials to a standard design. Arrays of solar cells are used in solar panels to convert sunlight to electricity.

Thin film solar cells: New world record for solar cell efficiency READ MORE

Thin film solar cells: New world record for solar cell efficiency: In a remarkable feat, scientists have developed thin film solar cells on flexible polymer foils with a new record efficiency of 20.4% for converting sunlight into electricity. The cells are based on CIGS semiconducting material (copper indium gallium (di)selenide) known for its potential to provide cost-effective solar electricity. The technology is currently awaiting scale-up for industrial applications.

Claims for solar cell efficiency put to the test READ MORE

Claims for solar cell efficiency put to the test: The sheet of paper taped to the door of Keith Emery's office tells the story. On the paper is a simple fever chart showing the improvements made in increasing the efficiency of two dozen types of solar cells. Some of the lines marking record efficiencies date to the mid-1970s. Others start much more recently, with the advent of newer technologies.

Storing solar energy underground for a cloudy day: US electrical grid can't affordably store enough standby electricity to keep the system stable, says researcher READ MORE

Storing solar energy underground for a cloudy day: US electrical grid can't affordably store enough standby electricity to keep the system stable, says researcher: A common criticism of a total transition to wind, water and solar power is that the US electrical grid can't affordably store enough standby electricity to keep the system stable. Now a researcher proposes an underground solution to that problem.

Tuesday, 8 March 2016

Researchers make key improvement in solar cell technology: Low-cost alternative boosts maximum voltage

Researchers make key improvement in solar cell technology: Low-cost alternative boosts maximum voltage: Researchers have reached a critical milestone in solar cell fabrication, helping pave the way for solar energy to directly compete with electricity generated by conventional energy sources.

Technological breakthrough for cheaper lighting, flexible solar cells

Technological breakthrough for cheaper lighting, flexible solar cells: In more than three years of work, European scientists have finally made future lighting technology ready to market. They developed flexible lighting foils that can be produced roll-to-roll – much like newspapers are printed. These devices pave the path towards cheaper solar cells and LED lighting panels.

Tuesday, 1 March 2016

The Race Is On For New Solar Power Technology
The world demands new solar power technology in order to slow the effects of deadly global warming. Not only are activists, the common people and scientists calling for it, so are investors and technology companies. New solar power technology is coming into our lives all of the time in bits and pieces, which all add up to help put us on the path to renewable energy sources. 
A Brief Look At The Past
The human race grows, matures and changes priorities. When the priorities change, that's where the money, resources and idea makers go. Perhaps first these were fire makers. Then they were boat-builders and sailors, farmers and herders. In the Industrial Revolution, the priorities went to bringing mass manufacturing to the masses. In the last twenty years, the home computer industry has been the primary focus of the world's financial and scientific attention. In fact, with the help of computers, we might never have known about global warming until it was way too late.
PC Parallels
There are many things about the solar power industry that are paralleling the personal computer industry. The first computers filled entire office buildings and did little more than crunch numbers. But now you can get a tiny cell phone with a screen just a tad bigger than a gnat's behind which can pretty much run every aspect of your entire life. What made computers smaller yet more powerful? Silicon chips.
The new solar power technology is also using silicon for solar power panels. The cells in the panels are usually crystalline silicon cells. They are gradually getting smaller and rapidly becoming cheaper. There are also new ways to store these solar power panels. Tiny rows of solar power cells can run a retail store's calculator for an entire work day. Solar power cells can be laid onto a rollable mat and rolled out only when you need it, then rolled up and stored away for when you don't.
Both of these devices are not science fiction. They are commonly in use today. New solar power technology is being integrated into our lives and homes to keep us from total future shock. With each use of the new solar power technology, we are that much closer to keeping this planet from going belly up. As more and more consumers demand renewable energy, there should be dizzying advances in the new solar power technology as there has been for personal computers.@ EZEIGBO - BLOSPOT


Saturday, 20 February 2016

AFRICA - Which country boasts the world's fastest growing clean energy investment? Germany? No. United States? Think again. Jumping from a few hundred million dollars to $5.7 billion, South Africa recorded last year the world's highest growth in renewable energy investment, according to the U.N. Environment Program (UNEP). The spectacular surge, led largely by investments in solar power projects, comes as South Africa moves to reduce its dependency on coal, which accounts for around 86% of its energy. To achieve that, the country has set the ambitious target of generating 18 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy by 2030. As a result, a series of investments have trickled into the country, including Google's first foray into Africa's solar power market. The internet giant, which has spent more than $1 billion in renewable energy projects in the United States and Europe in recent years, announced in late May its decision to back the Jasper Power Project, a 96 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) plant in Northern Cape, with a $12 million investment. "We only pursue investments that we believe make financial sense," said Rick Needham, Google's director of energy and sustainability. "South Africa's strong resources and supportive policies for renewable energy make it an attractive place to invest." Abundance of sun Once completed, Jasper is expected to be one of the biggest solar installations in the continent, capable of generating enough power for some 30,000 homes. It's no secret that Africa has plentiful sunshine, with many parts of the continent enjoying daily solar radiation of between 4 kWh and 6 kWh per square meter. But it's no secret, either, that Africa has the world's lowest electricity access rates, with more than half of its countries experiencing daily -- and costly -- power outages. Amid such conditions, experts say investments in large-scale solar power projects could transform a continent faced with fast-rising populations and increasing demand for energy to support its economic growth. "Six out of the 10 fastest economies in the world (over the past decade) were in Africa, and that requires much more energy, at a faster-growing pace than we've seen before," says Frank Wouters, deputy director-general of the International Renewable Energy Agency. Ambitious projects And some countries have already taken notice. While South Africa is clearly setting the pace, projects are being announced across the continent as more countries look to unlock their massive solar potential. In late April, Mauritania launched what's described as Africa's biggest solar PV plant so far, a 15 MW facility that is designed to account for 10% of the country's energy capacity, according to its developers. In early May, Morocco began the first phase of the construction of a 160 MW concentrated solar power technology plant near Ouarzazate as part of the country's efforts to produce 2,000 MW of solar energy by 2020.

Sir Edwin Aligwo(EZEIGBO) Powering Technology Across Africa

Friday, 5 February 2016

The Race Is On For New Solar Power Technology The world demands new solar power technology in order to slow the effects of deadly global warming. Not only are activists, the common people and scientists calling for it, so are investors and technology companies. New solar power technology is coming into our lives all of the time in bits and pieces, which all add up to help put us on the path to renewable energy sources. A Brief Look At The Past The human race grows, matures and changes priorities. When the priorities change, that's where the money, resources and idea makers go. Perhaps first these were fire makers. Then they were boat-builders and sailors, farmers and herders. In the Industrial Revolution, the priorities went to bringing mass manufacturing to the masses. In the last twenty years, the home computer industry has been the primary focus of the world's financial and scientific attention. In fact, with the help of computers, we might never have known about global warming until it was way too late. PC Parallels There are many things about the solar power industry that are paralleling the personal computer industry. The first computers filled entire office buildings and did little more than crunch numbers. But now you can get a tiny cell phone with a screen just a tad bigger than a gnat's behind which can pretty much run every aspect of your entire life. What made computers smaller yet more powerful? Silicon chips. The new solar power technology is also using silicon for solar power panels. The cells in the panels are usually crystalline silicon cells. They are gradually getting smaller and rapidly becoming cheaper. There are also new ways to store these solar power panels. Tiny rows of solar power cells can run a retail store's calculator for an entire work day. Solar power cells can be laid onto a rollable mat and rolled out only when you need it, then rolled up and stored away for when you don't. Both of these devices are not science fiction. They are commonly in use today. New solar power technology is being integrated into our lives and homes to keep us from total future shock. With each use of the new solar power technology, we are that much closer to keeping this planet from going belly up. As more and more consumers demand renewable energy, there should be dizzying advances in the new solar power technology as there has been for personal computers.

Solar Panel Documentary - HISTORY MOVIES Solar panel refers to a panel made to take in the sunlight's rays as a source of power for creating electricity or home heating. A PV component is a packaged, connected assembly of normally 6 × 10 solar batteries. Solar PV panels make up the solar array of a photovoltaic system that produces as well as supplies solar electricity in business and also domestic applications. Each module is ranked by its DC outcome power under typical examination problems, as well as typically varies from 100 to 365 watts. The efficiency of a component identifies the location of a component given the exact same rated result-- an 8 % efficient 230 watt module will have two times the location of a 16 % reliable 230 watt component. There are a few photovoltaic panels offered that are exceeding 19 % performance. A single solar component could generate just a limited amount of power; many installations include several modules. A photovoltaic system normally includes a panel or an array of solar components, a solar inverter, and also sometimes a battery and/or solar tracker as well as interconnection wiring. The rate of solar power, together with batteries for storage, has actually remained to fall so that in several nations it is much cheaper compared to common fossil fuel electrical power from the grid (there is "grid parity"). For instance in 2015, an ordinary home in Europe or the United States can use around 3,000 kilowatt-hour (kWh) in power yearly. Twelve 280 watt solar PV components (each generating 250 kWh each year) would certainly generate at least 3,000 kWh each year, even in a cloudy country like the UK. An example market price would certainly have to do with ₤ 8,000 in the UK, $12,000 in the US, or EUR10,000 in the Eurozone in 2015, which is particular to continually drop, enabling irreversible power independence for each house. A lot of governments have feed-in toll systems that allow property owner to offer surplus energy back right into the grid, and also make a future revenue on their financial investment.

Solar RevolutionMichio Kaku: I believe in solar power, but there are problems that we have to face, and one of them is low efficiency. Michio Kaku: Some people think that the time is right for the solar revolution, that one day solar power will replace oil and we'll all live in a world that is clean and renewable. Well, not so fast. I believe in solar power. However, there are problems that we have to face, and one of them is low efficiency. The other one is lack of a storage facility like a battery. That's' the weak link. We simply don't have the efficiency of solar cells necessary to make it economical and competitive today, and the ability to store the energy for long periods of time when the sun is dark, when there are clouds and your solar panels don't work.So my point of view is this: I think in the coming decade, as oil prices start to rise and as the cost of wind and solar and renewables start to drop, the two currents will probably cross in maybe ten years. So in ten years it will be the marketplace which then begins to drive the whole thing forward because of the dropping cost of solar cells and rising efficiency and the rising price of oil. Now, why do I believe that oil prices will rise? Because of something called Hubbert's Peak. Hubbert was a Shell Oil engineer way back in the 1960s who predicted that we would hit the halfway point for the production of oil in the United States and after that the bell-shaped curve would curve the other way and we would become an importer of oil. Well, people laughed at him because they said that, "Well, wait a minute. We have Alaska. We have Texas. We have lots of oil fields, and so we're not going to hit the 50% point. America will always export oil." Well, wrong. Hubbert hit it right on the nose to within the year at which US oil supplies peaked and then it went to the other side of the bell-shaped curve. That's called Hubbert's Peak, when we hit the 50% point. Now we know that Hubbard was right and the next big question is, are we hitting Hubbert's Peak for world oil production? That is the $64,000 question. Many people that I've talked to, senior oil analysts, energy analysts, say that we are either at Hubbert's Peak or within ten years of hitting Hubbert's Peak. Now some people say, "Well that's stupid. We discover new oil deposits all the time. Look at Canada. We have tar sands of Canada, right?" Wrong. It turns out that we will always have oil. We will never run out of oil, except oil will become more expensive as we go down the other side of Hubbert's Peak. We would have to discover a new Saudi Arabia every five to ten years in order for this curve to simply go on forever. That's not going to happen. I don't care how many tar sands you're talking about in Canada. You're not going to create a new Saudi Arabia, which produces very clean, very cheap oil, oil that is prized by the oil companies because it is relatively less polluting and has tremendous amounts of profits associated with it. So we do know that oil prices will fluctuate because of politics, but on average it will start to rise because we will be hitting Hubbert's Peak. Meanwhile, solar power is going to become cheaper and in 10 years or so the two curves could actually cross, and in 20 years a new game changer arrives and that is fusion power. The Europeans are betting the store on the ITER fusion reactor to be built outside Cadarache, France in Southern France, and if we have the power of the sun on the earth then sea water could drive all our machines. So if this scenario plays out as I predict, it means that global warming could actually be a problem only for the next several decades as we enter the solar era and the fusion era. The problem is we have already lofted so much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, and we will continue to do so for decades to come, that even before we enter the solar age and the fusion age we will have so much carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that we will really screw up the weather. But on a long-term basis I think that solar energy and fusion power will be the solution, the ultimate solution, for the greenhouse problem. Directed / Produced byJonathan Fowler & Elizabeth Rodd

EZEIGBO JOINS AMAZON AFILIATES MARKETING

Thursday, 14 January 2016

The solar energy of the Solar panels promise to lower your electricity bill by supplementing the energy you buy from the local power companies.That is good, but choosing and installing solar panels can be an overwhelming task. Solar cells, which are linked together in a panel, convert sunlight into electricity via photovoltaic materials, such as silicon. When sunlight hits these materials, the light's energy is absorbed, and that energy causes electrons within the material to escape from their position in the atom of silicon or other photovoltaic material. These released electrons are captured to produce an electric current.