Solar Shield Experiment Aims to Keep the Power On: related news

Solar Shield Experiment Aims to Keep the Power On

Solar activity the source of all space weather affects Earths magnetosphere and upper atmosphere. During a space storm high-power transmission lines are at risk for damage and power outages. Credit: NASACCMC

Researchers Improve Solar Cell Performance

Vegematic writes "Researchers at MIT have improved solar collectors using dyes. They just increased their performance results by a factor of 4. These paint-on materials can increase the power obtained from existing solar cells by a factor of over 40 without needing to track the sun. 'By collecting light over their full surface and concentrating it at their edges, these devices reduce the required area of solar cells and consequently, the cost of solar power. Stacking multiple concentrators allows the optimization of solar cells at each wavelength, increasing the overall power output.' There is also a shorter FAQ available."

Solar Shield Experiment Aims to Keep the Power On

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Switching To Solar Power - One Month Later

ThinSkin writes "After an interesting article on solar panel installation for the home, Loyd Case at ExtremeTech has written a follow-up after about a month of normal use. Posting an $11.34 electric bill (roughly 3% of previous months), Loyd shares his experiences using solar power and how it can be fun for the geek, with computer monitoring services and power generation data. Of course, solar power isn't all fun and games, given the amount of required maintenance - even unpredictable maintenance like wiping off accumulated ash from fires in Northern California."

Solar Power Hits Home

There were limits to how green Bruce Letvin was willing to go. For years, the 53-year-old anatomy professor had wanted to install solar panels on his Manhattan Beach, Calif., home. But the up-front installation costs always outweighed the benefits for the environment and his conscience. This spring, however, he managed to work out green financing with the help of solar company SunPower. After determining that his electricity bills and roof exposure were large enough to make him a good candidate for its solar panels, the company, based in San Jose, Calif., helped him find a 15-year loan for the $64,500 system. Yes, his $550 loan payment is more than the $300 or so he used to spend each month on electricity bills--so far, he has generated enough solar power that he doesn't need to take any juice from the grid--but after he pays off the loan

First Solar (FSLR): Encourage profit taking/shorting here - FBR

FBR is out with a negative call on First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) and SunPower (NASDAQ: SPWR) after Solar Electric Power Association (SEPA), an industry association bridging the solar and utility industries, announced yesterday theresults of its survey of utility companies (titled:"Utility Solar Electricity Market Survey"). Summary: (a) projected PV installations of ~2 GW, on aggregate, over the next three to five years in solar portfolio, versus >3 GW for CSPs across the U.S. utilities; (b) possible paradigm shift, with utilities owning the plants and PV suppliers becoming only turn-key provider (if ITC is given to utilities instead of third parties).

World's Largest Solar Plants Planned In California

Pickens writes "Two photovoltaic solar power plants will be built in San Luis Obispo County in California, covering 12.5 square miles, that together will generate about 800 megawatts of power, the latest indication that solar energy is starting to achieve significant scale. 'If you're going to make a difference, you've got to do it big,' said Randy Goldstein, the chief executive of OptiSolar. OptiSolar will employ enough of its amorphous silicon thin-film solar panels at its Topaz Solar Farm project to generate 550 MW. Meanwhile, SunPower will install mechanical tracking for its more expensive 250 MW-worth of crystalline silicon photovoltaics at High Plains Ranch II in a bid to boost their efficiency by 30 percent from following the sun across the sky.

Swiss companies to build world's highest solar power station

A solar thermal electric power plant seen in February 2008 in Sanlucar La Mayor Spain. Swiss companies are planning to build the worlds highest solar power station in the countrys southern Alpine region one of the project developers electricity group ...

Ingres Open Source Lights the Way at SunPower

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- The sun is shining brighter than ever at SunPower. Ingres Corporation, a leading provider of open source database management software and support services, announced today that its open source technology will support the manufacturing of solar power energy. SunPower Corporation, known for its high-efficiency solar power systems, which include solar cells, panels, roof tiles, and multi-megawatt solar power systems, relies on Ingres as the backbone of three mission critical applications, including its manufacturing execution system (MES). The MES manages all of SunPower's production lines within its factories in the United States and Europe. All total, Ingres will support company revenue at SunPower projected to exceed $1 billion in 2008.

NASA Set For Solar Sail Test

Solar sails have featured in various sci-fi mediums for a good while now, but NASA are planning to make the technology a reality in a mission which could launch as early as the 29th of July. An earlier 2005 launch of a solar sail craft by The Planetary Society was deemed unsuccessful, so if NASA's experiment fairs better it could be the first step to enabling space exploration powered by the sun's energy. The solar sail, dubbed the NanoSail-D is made up of aluminium and space age plastic and measures 100 square feet when unfurled. A sail of that size isn't enough to carry a craft of any significant size, but sails of thousands of square feet could open up some interesting possibilities. In theory, solar sails would be a better choice than conventional rockets for longer missions.

Solar energy turns organic

(Nanowerk News) Cheap and efficient conversion of solar energy into electricity could help combat global warming and the shortage of fossil fuels. However, the high production cost of electricity from silicon-based solar cells has limited the use of the technology. Low cost solar cells with high cell performance are highly desirable and organic solar cells could be the answer. They are easy to make from inexpensive organic materials and, unlike inorganic solar cells, are lightweight, flexible and colourful.

DIY Solar Resources?

TihSon writes "I'm building a large shed out back and I want to power the lighting using a surplus solar panel. In searching for information on how to go about this, I have found a lot of rough DIY guides for various projects that are close to my goal. But none seem to explain the reasoning and theory behind using solar panels, so hacking their project to suit my own needs could be pretty much hit-and-miss. I don't want to do a hacked-up job, and future solar projects are not out of the question, so something a bit more in-depth is required. Do you have suggestions for books or Web sites you have used to learn the ins and outs of using solar panels? Something that starts with basic theory and ends with the ability to wire a house would be perfect.

Our Solar System: An Island of Calm in a Violent Universe (and it's special, too)

We humans like to think we're special, but astronomically speaking we've been shot down quite severely and humbly put in our place. We're not at the center of our solar system, nowhere near the center of our galaxy and certainly not at the center of the universe. But now comes great news for the human psyche from scientists trying to explain solar system formation. As far as solar systems go, we have thought ours was just average and that all solar systems were like ours. But in looking at the 300 plus extrasolar planets that have been discovered and the systems they are in, none so far are anything like our home solar system. In fact, say scientists at Northwestern University, we may be special after all. In a study using computer simulations (this is the week for computer simulations, see here and here), researchers ran more than a hund

Photo: Engineering Students Create Solar Power Car

A solar power car created by engineering students is being road-tested in preparation for this summer's North American Solar Challenge.

LDK Solar gets 440 MW solar wafer contract

Chinese solar product maker LDK Solar Co. Ltd. said Friday it will supply about 440 megawatts of solar wafers to South Korea's Hyundai Heavy Industries Co. Ltd., the world's largest shipbuilder.

Prototype power plant shatters solar record

On a perfect New Mexico winter day—with the sky almost 10% brighter than usual—Sandia National Laboratories and Stirling Energy Systems (SES) set a new solar-to-grid system conversion efficiency record by achieving a 31.25% net efficiency rate. The old 1984 record of 29.4% was toppled Jan. 31 on SES’s “Serial #3� solar dish Stirling system at Sandia’s National Solar Thermal Test Facility.

ASU creates Solar Power Laboratory to boost renewable energy industry, improve environment

Tempe, AZ – Arizona State University is strengthening its commitment to boost Arizona's economic development prospects in the renewable energy industry by establishing the Solar Power Laboratory to advance solar energy research, education and technology.

JCPenney Launches Solar and Wind Power Projects

(Prudent Press Agency)---PLANO, Texas--Demonstrating its commitment to adopting renewable power sources that deliver both environmental and business benefits, J. C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE:JCP) today announced plans for solar and wind power projects that will supply electricity to 10 stores and one distribution center. The pilot projects represent the next step for JCPenney in its efforts to leverage new technologies and engage its 155,000 Associates in innovative energy programs. In conjunction with these initiatives, JCPenney also announced plans to obtain ENERGY STAR certification for at least 200 stores.

Estimating The Potential of a Building for Generating Solar Power Using RoofRay and Google Maps

RoofRay is a solar array modeling service and community determined to help consumers evaluate solar for their home or business and to create greater awareness for solar overall.

Arizona State University Creates Solar Power Laboratory

Tempe, AZ - Arizona State University is strengthening its commitment to boost Arizona's economic development prospects in the renewable energy industry by establishing the Solar Power Laboratory to advance solar energy research, education and technology.

Arizona State University creates Solar Power Laboratory

(Nanowerk News) Arizona State University is strengthening its commitment to boost Arizona’s economic development prospects in the renewable energy industry by establishing the Solar Power Laboratory to advance solar energy research, education and technology.

Luigi Bandera: Nanotech division to produce solar power films

Extrusion machinery producer Luigi Bandera (Busto Arsizio / Italy; www.luigibandera.com) has established a nanotech division centred on polymer sheets for solar power installations. The formation of the division stems from a new patent for films with up to 12 layers, designed for applications in the solar industry. Bandera expects the technology to cut production costs and offer the industry an alternative to the more commonly used silicate glass. It is currently investigating the use of nanomaterials, for example nano clay and other fillers, to improve the mechanical properties of the sheets.

Califoria to build world's biggest solar power plants

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- California's largest utility company has signed deals to build the world's two biggest solar plants that would supply electricity to 250,000 homes and reestablish the United States as the global leader in solar power, officials said Friday.

Califoria to build world's biggest solar power plants

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- California's largest utility company has signed deals to build the world's two biggest solar plants that would supply electricity to 250,000 homes and reestablish the United States as the global leader in solar power, officials said Friday.

Trina Solar raises full-year revenue outlook

Solar power company Trina Solar Ltd. raised its full-year revenue forecast Monday, saying it expects to sell more solar modules.

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