Black Silicon for Solar Panels Efficiency

Black Silicon for Solar Panels Efficiency? Of course you have noticed that, for example a black car is hotter than a white car or light colors. So do the clothes, when we are in the sun on the beach or try to use white or light colors, and a black T-shirt is hotter.

What happens is that the objects reflect light receiving more or less depending on the color.

The objects white or light colored reflect nearly all the light they receive, instead of black or dark colors that absorb it.

That is why it is expected that the black silicon solar panels will be more efficient solar panels that will absorb more light than other colors of silicon. So if more light that can be absorbed by black silicon it would increase the efficiency of conversion of light energy.

It's simple, solar panels currently have a silver or gray and black colors, it would look black. It is believed that this manner the solar panels will have an efficiency of 25%, unlike the current panels that not exceeding 18%.

That sounds positive, but there is a "but" black silicon is not new, it has been known for a long time, the disadvantage is that it is very expensive. We know that many companies around the world work in the development of black silicone to improve imperfections and reduce manufacturing costs.

The latest advance was made known by a group of researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratoy where involved in the process of chloroauric acid (derived from gold), which is more economical to use it instead of gold, reducing costs black production convenient, but it's not enough.

Origins of Solar Energy

Solar energy is simply the conversion of sunlight into electricity. This can be done directly, or through the use of photovoltaic (PV) or indirectly by the concentrated solar energy (CSP). Photovoltaic energy is created when sunlight strikes the protons of a solar panel that is produced electrical currents. Concentrated power (also known as thermal energy), on the other hand, extracted directly from the sun emits heat. This solar energy is also popularly known as "green energy" due to the fact that it is driven by nature and the environment. It is also the safest way of resources to date and truly renewable, but solar technology is still not very popular in some places.


Leonardo Da Vinci in the 15th century, one of the biggest brains in the design of industrial use of the sun. Da Vinci came to design a system to heat the water in the concave mirrors. In 1954 by Bell Labs, were discovered the photovoltaic properties of certain silicones. Were subsequently developed the first functional photovoltaic panels, for use in satellites. Later, the solar energy was first used in Australia. Since then, more than 60,000 installations have been successful.

Albert Einstein is famous famous scientist, who has experienced the photoelectric effect. He won the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for their outstanding contributions to solar energy and photovoltaic. In the 1950s the first true solar panels were working. Furthermore, in 1954 Bell Labs found silicon photovoltaic properties determined. A remarkable fact of solar energy is that all communications and satellite television are also powered by solar energy with photovoltaic cells.

Solar energy is measured in kilowatt-hours. Briefly, 1 kilowatt = 1,000 watts. Furthermore, it is estimated that about 1366 watts of direct solar radiation per square meter reaches the atmosphere, about 1000 watts per square meter per hour reaches the earth. This is a fascinating fact and a lot of energy, to be precise. Another example of the fact that the solar energy is, on average, would use a normal domestic 860 kilowatts per month.

This energy goes into effect when the light of solar energy systems, such as solar panels, is converted into heat. However, sunlight, can be reduced when there is a blockage of the wind and solar contamination.La clouds can be used for different purposes such as heating water, providing a household lighting, as well as feeding a number of drivers to cook . Solar energy is also free, but the installation cost is high.
To facilitate this would require the purchase of solar energy systems, which consist mainly of investors, solar panels, the structure of the battery, charge controller, wiring and support.

In recent years, the cost of energy were down, and in order to make them accessible to everyone. One of the most popular in recent years to reduce the high cost, have been guides DIY solar and wind power and success was huge, with many thousands in savings over 50% or more in energy costs, or to be completely off the network.

However, solar technology has come a long way. Instead, a world record was set in his favor around 1990 when a solar powered plane flew 4,060 kilometers across the U.S., without fuel. Likewise, solar energy systems such as racing engines have been in use since 1985. In fact, for the promotion of this initiative, World Solar Challenge race, held annually in Australia and the USA. In these races, it is reported that the engines of solar technology, a speed exceeding 90 kilometers per hour.

Apple invests in solar energy

Apple will use only solar power in the three servers that consume more energy. According to the company explained, these measures will be implemented by the end of the year. These are part of the sustainability strategy and environmental responsibility implemented in recent years.

The brand that sells products like iPod, iPhone or iPad revealed that SunPower will purchase equipment and startup Bloom Energy and build two new solar installations in North Carolina, near its largest data center.

Once built, the facility will produce 84M kWh of annual energy in a space of about 100 hectares, one of the largest of the industry.

Apple's CFO, Peter Oppenheimer, said the strategy is to stop using electricity generated by coal in its three main data centers by the end of 2012.

"I know of no other company that is producing energy at this scale," said Oppenheimer. Apple had already lifted the veil on this project, but the CFO of the company ensured that the solar parks will be double the size originally planned.

In recent weeks, several environmental activists protested the use of "dirty" energy from Apple, Amazon and Microsoft.

Solar cells made ​​from plastics

A process that is already used in organic solar cells and OLED sheets available on some mobile phones, which must be protected by glass against oxygen and moisture. Now a group of researchers from Georgia Tech, led by Bernard Kippelen, has achieved a new way to reduce the work of a conductor, and thus have achieved what would be the first plastic solar cell.

The team used an inexpensive material, ecological, and readily available: a polymer. After processing and spreading it on a thin layer (10 nm) on a driver, they saw that the interaction became stable in air. The reactive metal replacement polymer completely changes the requirements for producing electronic components, making it possible to lower costs. Therefore, the advantage of a solar cell is plastic that can be manufactured at a lower cost than conventional crystalline silicon.

According to Bernard Kippelen, this technology will eliminate certain restrictions so far imposed on electronics, but there is still a long way to go before it reaches commercial production.

How to Maximize Solar Panel

The efficiency of a solar panel depends on the material used to make the solar cells that are placed on the surrounding frame.

What is a solar cell?

A cell is part of a solar panel which collects solar radiation light overhead sun, and then converted into electrical energy.

The main materials found inside a cell that performs the actual creation of electricity are called semiconductors.

In general, the effectiveness of any given cell is measured by the total amount of radiation / sunlight falling on it.

Conventional silicon solar panels

In just over 90% of photovoltaic panels that are located at the top of the roofs of today, the semiconductor is called crystalline silicon. This is a very efficient cell. Silicon is one of the highest degrees of conversion efficiency. Convert 15-20 percent of the light reaches its cell.

Thin film solar panels

The new wave of the future is coming into the world of solar panels, and is called thin film. The cost to manufacture these panels is much lower than the crystalline silicon panels, but the problem with these is that even closer to the silicon solar panels, in terms of conversion efficiency.

Cadmium telluride (CdTe) and cadmium, indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS) solar panels are the two main leaders of the thin film solar technologies, with an average around 11 percent efficiency. This remains substantially surprising since most of the thin film solar cells lie in the range of 4 percent to 10.

The fill factor

When power is measured, the fill factor is defined as the ratio between the real power and the product maximum attainable open circuit. This is a very important parameter to consider when analyzing and evaluating the performance of solar cells. A typical commercial solar cell has a fill factor greater than 0.70.

Grade B cells have a filling factor typically between 0.4 and 0.7. Another important consideration is that the factor is undoubtedly one of the most important parameters for energy. The solar cell containing an element of high see much less loss of power when it is purchased. Briefly, the higher the filling factor of energy, the solar to be generated.

Cheaper solar power as an energy study

Although in most countries generate electricity from renewable sources is expensive, high energy costs on the island, supported by the dependence on oil-production allows alternative technologies like solar photovoltaics, cost the same or less than crude oil and other fossil fuels.

An analysis prepared by the electrical engineer Agustín Irizarry revealed even now a photovoltaic system installed on a Puerto Rican home generate electricity cheaper than selling the Electric Power Authority (ESA).

In reaching this conclusion, Irizarry, who is an expert in electric power systems, considered the most recent audited financial statements of ESA and quotes from installers of photovoltaic systems.

"In Puerto Rico, photovoltaic electricity is cheaper than the EEE sell us oil. Why people think it is more expensive? I can not understand, "he explained.

According to the financial statements at the end of fiscal year 2010-2011, the cost per kilowatt hour (kWh) of a residential customer was of 23.5 cents.

According to quotes, a photovoltaic system in a residence is $ 5 per installed watt. Therefore, a two-kilowatt photovoltaic system costs $ 10,000 and the solar panels are guaranteed for 20 years.

Considering that the PV system receives only four hours of sun during the next 20 years would produce 58.400 kilowatts (eight per day). If those 58.400 kilowatts are divided between the $ 10,000 initial investment, the cost per kWh would be 17 cents.

Irizarry said the cost per kWh of a photovoltaic industry would be lower (13.7 cents). The kWh cost of 28 cents round today.

Less "externalities"

But gave no numbers, the electrical engineer Efrain O'Neill also noted that large wind farms (wind) are already competitive with fossil fuel systems.

O'Neill noted that although in principle prove expensive renewable energy, environmental and social costs, known as "externalities" are much more expensive than fossil fuels.

"The United States accounted for external use of coal at $ 63 million annually ... And that study, commissioned by the 'National Research Council', only focused on health costs, so we have to estimate the environmental costs, "said the Puerto Rico clarify that no such analysis.

'Bitter' experience in Spain

In economic terms, the use of renewable energy in Spain has not had the expected results because the government chose to subsidize companies that installed technologies and the cost per kWh has not fallen as much as anticipated.

The subsidy-50% - amounting to $ 31.000 million. To pay that debt, the Spanish government plans to increase birth rate by 20%, said Fermin Peace, Secretary General of the International Association for Energy Law, based in Paris.

He explained that in Spain, unlike here, the price of electricity generated from fossil fuels is lower than that of renewable energy. This led the Spanish government to subsidize companies to alternative technologies. But apparently there was a "premium" on the promise to sell to these companies and so is on the table a possible rate increase.

"Renewable energy sources have their problems: some polluters, no continuity, are costly and face technical problems. So far, not replace conventional energy, "said Paz.

Solar Cells Consisting of Nanocrystals

Still working on improving solar technology, a group of scientists from the University of Southern California, created a new solar cells built by Nanocrystals looking liquid and could be used to print or paint any plastic surface or color.

The design of new cells is small enough to fit 250 million head of a pin. The manufacturing process is much cheaper than the current silicon solar cells, but the efficiency is much poorer, so we can see this technology in the market will be much improved.

That is why the technology will take many years to reach the market. Scientists are still working to the next step which is to replace this with another harmless compound.

Concept car with integrated solar panel Mazda wins contest

Always looking to the future and the use of renewable and clean energy vehicles, Mazda in partnership with the Aurora Vehicle Association has chosen as winner of Survivor Aurora 2050 model developed by designer Ali Jafari, Solaris Concept Car.

The car which resembles the visual used by Luke Skywalker on Tatooine (Star Wars) is the result of a project team inicado Aurora in 2010.  In addition to focusing on the use and conversion of solar energy into electricity, longed for a Project pragmatic and feasible for use in a few years. It's quite different from what normally occurs in the universe of concepts.

Design and potential

The design of the Aurora Solaris comes from a partnership between staff and students of the Aurora design course at Monash University. The result is a car with a futuristic aesthetic and optimized for solar energy. Its surface is also used for absorption and can be lifted up and placed on top position for capture.

Solaris is able to reach a speed of 150 km / h. In its initial design was intended to allocate up to four passengers. It hampered the performance of the vehicle in terms of speed and useful area of ​​sun exposure, making researchers decided so far put only one seat.

Even with this temporary limitation on the project, those involved in research at the Aurora Car Solaris intend to expose it in the 2013 World Solar Challenge, an event in which scientists from around the world gather to show their inventions powered by solar energy.

Aurora accepts suggestions

If you are interested in the project and would not want to wait until 2013 to see it live, you can know where the car will be updates on the official website of Aurora Team. And if you have suggestions about design and technology that could be used in Solaris Aurora, the Aurora team Team is open to suggestions which can be sent by the same site.

Fully Covered Building with Solar Panels

The Tokyo Institute of Technology, decided to bet big on solar power, and the boy had shown the idea of ​​solar panels cover the entire building. I guess I do not care how vertically, horizontally, trapped, and so on.

Building all covered by solar panel

No matter where they come from the sun, the building of 7 floors and two underground floors take them in one way or another to generate solar power. This building is a major technology development centers Nippon that has hundreds of offices and equipment that consume large amounts of energy. This feature allows them to generate half of the energy they consume.

To cover the construction of panels needed 4,500 units with a capacity of 650 kW with an additional 100 kilowatt fuel cell.

How do you like the look of the building?

Solar power plant in the window?

The German startup Heliatek, which has among its investors giants BASF and Bosch, announced this week the creation of an innovative technology, a very thin and light solar panel that can be applied over the windows to produce electricity.

There are already similar technologies, but most of them proved to be inefficient and not very durable. Since the panels and flexible superfinos developed by the company Dresden are made with oligomer, a type of plastic by scientists considered more stable than other polymers. Therefore, they would be more efficient and have longer life.

Imagine large buildings covered by these panels and electricity generating power? For now, the product of Heliatek is still more expensive than its competitors. But the owners of the startup said in a report by the magazine Technology Review, MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), the large-scale production within five years, should reduce the price of the investment up to 40 cents per watt, would make the product competitive.

Solar energy in three dimensions

The trees need the sun's energy to live, but do not put their leaves scattered on a plane.

Knowing this, Marco Bernardi and his colleagues at MIT in the United States, decided to question the efficiency of solar panels, flat structures, usually installed on the rooftops.

Although much is being done in an attempt to improve the efficiency of the cells individual solar, the only innovation in the field of solar panels themselves have been the installation of motorized systems to keep the cells always pointed at the sun - expensive equipment and require little maintenance.

But, after testing several structures, Bernardi found that the construction of cubes or towers, solar cells that extend upward and not sideways, it is an extremely effective option.

3D Solar Panels

Solar panels 3D also improved yield ranging from 2 to 20 times the yield of the same amount of solar cells placed in flat panels.

The gains were greater when the inclination of the sun is highest, ie in the temperate regions, away from the equator.

On the scale average earnings are the winter months and cloudy days, precisely those moments where the efficiency of solar generation is lower.

Another advantage is to obtain a more uniform energy intensity during the day and during the season.

This is because the vertical surfaces of the three-dimensional solar panel collect more sunlight in the mornings, afternoons and winter, when the sun is closer to the horizon.

Concertina

The construction of a 3D solar panel will do well more expensive than a flat panel, but researchers estimate that the largest initial investment will pay for itself quickly with the largest power generation.

Moreover, they claim that the 3D panels can be manufactured and transported folded, and espichados, like an accordion, only on-site, reducing labor costs.

Samsung NC215-AD1BR Solar Netbook

The hype and flurry were releases in the past, but netbooks survive. The newest Samsung is innovative photovoltaic solar panel installed on the lid. The goal? Increasing the energy charge of the battery without the jack. Its configuration is in the category average. Only owes HDMI output. In Infolab, the model performance was satisfactory.

But as in any netbook, the answers are not always instant. The highlight of the NC215 is the battery life, which reached 4 hours and 15 minutes in heavy use. This efficiency has nothing to do with the help of sunlight. According to Samsung, after two hours in the sun, the NC215 gain an extra hour of battery life. We left off the netbook frying in the sun from 12 to 14 hours. Once connected, the load increment was only 2%, a gain of autonomy equivalent to 5 minutes. It's about time we hope to get the machine to cool handle it again.

Battery life in intensive

Samsung NC215-AD1BR
4h15min

Asus Eee PC Seashell 1215B
3h43min

MSI U270-101BR
1h25min



If the only problem of the solar panel was the fact that the energy gain is almost irrelevant, there would be no reason to criticize this solution. But there is an intolerable contradiction in the design of this notebook: it activates the sunlight heats up the solar cell battery. It is not merely a matter of comfort, the heat is very harmful to battery life in the long run. The process which generates electric current inside the machine is essentially the result of two chemical reactions: the reduction and oxidation. The principle of Arrhenius accelerate chemical reactions as the temperature increases, which leads to a faster depletion of cycles of the battery. In other words, the longer the stay NC215 roasting in the sun, the shorter the battery life. The NC215 would be better without the solar panel? Not necessarily. But it also can not say that the solar panel adds something desirable to the NC215.

Regardless of the solar panel, this machine was designed with the battery life and, by extension, with the ease of transport in mind. Like any netbook, the NC215 carries within itself a set of circuits that do not demand a lot of electricity. Hardware found in the center of an Atom processor N455, whose single core runs at a frequency of 1.66 GHz This is a processor with low power dissipation, no L3 cache and master of a small population of transistors. That is, nothing beyond expectations. Still, by today's standards of computing in general, according to which a system-on-chip dual-core ARM is already commonly seen, this processor is somewhat deficient. He does not disappoint when it comes to use Office and surf the internet, but do not expect much.

In the field of graphics features of this machine are even scarcer. He relies on an integrated GPU that runs at a base frequency of 200 MHz Since the bitrate is not high, the NC215 is able to play videos at 720p without much trouble. The library of games is also severely limited, but one must consider that the goal of those who buy a netbook these days should not involve entertainment.

The HD of this machine is spacious but the average runs with its 500 GB of storage. As for RAM, there is a free 2 GB which, incidentally, is the maximum that the processor is capable of. Understandably, the results in the benchmarks are far from impressed. PCMark 7, dedicated to measuring the performance of the machine to run Windows 7, the NC215 evaluated in 383 points, a low mark for the category. In graphics processing, as measured by 3DMark06, the score was closer to the average: 163 points.

Benchmark PCMark 7 (in points)

Asus Eee PC Seashell 1215B
719

MSI U270-101BR
679

Samsung NC215-AD1BR
383



3DMark06 benchmark (in points)

Samsung NC215-AD1BR
154

Samsung NF110-AD2
151

Dell Inspiron Duo
143



Turning to the connections, there is nothing that deserves a very severe criticism, but there is nothing that deserves mention. The physical ports include three USB 2.0 port, one Fast Ethernet, a card reader (compatible with SD, SDHC, SDXC and MMC) and a D-sub. Wireless networks are due to the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The absence of a Gigabit Ethernet is the more serious offense of this selection. Considering the meager graphical configuration of the NC215, we can say that he would not benefit much from a HDMI. USB 3.0, in turn, is not a basic requirement of the category.

As stated earlier, netbooks are not a priority of who is in search of a platform for entertainment. The NC215 is a good example to support this claim. The display of 1024 x 600 is the average of the class but does not impress in a world where tablets and, more recently, even smartphones screens offer superior quality. Moreover, the audio system deserves some compliment. The volume is relatively high and, even more than the sound does not distort greatly. However, the NC215 is a tendency to exaggerate treble.

The physical construction of the machine is not surprising: anyone who has seen a netbook ever seen (almost) everyone. Despite the lack of nobility of the plastic, the finish is tough. The keyboard, which follows the pattern ABNT2, is as comfortable as a netbook 10.1 "can be. The keys are soft, but reduced in size. The slight tilt of the panel caused by the battery, to help type. The touchpad, in turn, is relatively large and supports acts over a finger.

Researchers develop solar panels thinner than a hair

Researchers from the Universities of Austria and Tokyo have developed an ultra-thin solar panel that capable of engaging in a complete different types of objects and to promote better driving solar energy devices.

The cell developed measuring just 1.9 micrometers thick. To get an idea of how thin it is, a human hair is about 20 times thicker than the new panel. The new very flexible solar panel developed by researchers is composed of electrodes mounted on a thin plastic film, replacing the glass film.

The development of ultra-thin solar cell is mainly intended to replace conventional batteries in the field of medical equipment, allowing the development of smaller products and greater ability to accurately and transportation.

Initially, the new cell is not designed to be used in conventional electronic devices such as smartphones, tablets and notebooks. From this technology, however, alternatives or solutions based on that cell can emerge.

According to the researchers, the development of the solar panel is well advanced. That is, the cells may be used for such purposes within five years.

World's first solar hydrogen station

The Japanese company Honda has recently launched the first solar hydrogen station, located in Tokyo. The station will serve as a platform for producing, storing and distributing hydrogen fuel. The company expects to be able to provide renewable energy for the future.

The solar hydrogen station is the first of its kind in the world. Nowhere has done so much for this fuel. The station uses a pressurized water system that was developed by Honda. The system does not generate noise and highly efficient. It is powered by solar energy and produces about 1.5 kg of fuel in 24 hours. Over time is expected to produce clean energy to the mass.

The station is part of the electric car project, which are the next generation of cars

The carriage is equipped with a connector 9kW to function as a power source. It uses the chemical reaction between water and hydrogen to produce electricity. With this additive, the car can act as a generator mobile zero emissions.

The car is available in places like USA, Japan and Europe, this has not been mass produced due to the lack of charging stations, however, is expected to build more stations in the future of hydrogen vehicles more affordable.

Solar Gadgets from Apple and Samsung

The companies Apple and Samsung are already planning to offer gadgets that are charged by solar energy. That would be wonderful, as a way to save energy by using solar energy is also saving is a way of caring for the planet.

These devices are available to everyone, even take some time. According to the above companies, although they are ready to design and manufacture the devices featuring solar power market, but solar products are not yet ready to make devices that have energy system in full.

Although the intention of Apple and Samsung is producing these devices and even talk about it could produce for a small niche market. Companies are responsible for the development of solar energy devices. They comment that "these niche markets need to develop a long period ".

Although we have to wait these solar devices, but remember that Samsung already has a laptop that works with solar energy, the CN-215S. Apple is developing a project to put a solar panel behind the LCD to recharge through solar energy.

Most efficient solar panel created

 Solar panel efficiency is a key word in the development of photovoltaic panels and many companies are focused on research to improve it. Solar panels have a maximum current efficiency of only 16%.

Now, the company Semprius based in North Carolina, United States, in collaboration with Siemens multinational have managed to make the most efficient solar panel which able to take 33.9% of the light falling on it.

The tests were supervised by the Solar Energy Institute of the Polytechnic University of Madrid (IES-UPM). Semprius announced last year that they had achieved a record efficiency of 41% in a solar cell. It is to be taken into account that the efficiency of a single cell is always greater than the efficiency of the panel that is a part.

Some may not represent much, but for companies that struggle every day to increase only 1% is a great achievement. The Siemens has 16% share of Semprius.

It is likely that in the coming years and as materials engineering progress is going to increase the efficiency of solar panels. But for now, we can say that 33.9% solar panel efficiency is set the record.

Serbian students create solar public battery charging

You were away from home, desperate for your cell phone battery is empty and you have several pending calls. The citizens of Belgrade and need not worry: you can load it for free on the street with a device that works with solar energy.

What mystery keep the Belgrade streets? Host a "Strawberry tree" (strawberry tree), a brainchild of a group of young people who devised and built a public charging phones, tablets, MP3 players, cameras and other handheld devices powered by solar energy.

The invention was awarded last year in Brussels in the competition "EU Sustainable Energy Europe" on the reduction of public consumption of energy, and has achieved a number of national awards.

"Our goal was to bring renewable energy to all people, closer to all," said Milos Milisavljevic Efe, the main inventor of the "Strawberry tree", an energetic and ambitious student of electrical engineering 22 years.

The operation of the system sounds simple. "The sun comes to us becomes the solar panels into electricity, which passes through the 'strawberry tree' and enters the cell," he explains.

"The energy that is generated during the day and not eaten, is stored in the storage battery so the system can work even at night, when it is cloudy, when it snows," he says.

The magazine, inspired by the tree as an important ecological design and understated elegance, consists of a metal trunk, wooden benches that surround it, cables for different types of portable devices, and a metal roof on which are placed solar panels.

"The basic idea is derived for the tree, and hence its name. The tree uses sunlight to produce oxygen, and our tree used to generate the energy," he said.

The mobile phone was the key, because "everybody has," and only in Serbia, a country of some 7.5 million inhabitants, there are 10 million.

Consumption are small, but if you add the energy of moving 5,000 million, estimated in the world, is no longer enough, says.

The "Tree of strawberries" reaches an energy efficiency of 80% and ordinary carriers only 20%.

It also has an educational aspect because the users about the concept of sustainable energy and social one, because all three in the country have been installed in streets or places frequented its banks and people meet, chat and exchange views while waiting Batteries can be charged.

In Serbia, the charger has been installed also in the northern city of Novi Sad, in Obrenovac, 35 kilometers east of Belgrade where the largest thermal power station in the Balkans.

"By 2012, we intend to export shippers, install at least one, modestly, for starters, out of our country, and hope that come true," said Milisavljevic.

The team of eight students of electrical, mechanical, architectural and colleagues say they want to make the world a better place by contributing what they can, and ask everyone to give a small contribution because it "may come up with something great."

"What matters is that people understand, because you think you just can not do anything and therefore does not have enough motivation," he explains.

New Techniques in Solar Energy

The most common form of solar PV is not the only they are constantly developing new ways to get renewable energy from the sun, but sometimes even with higher incomes.

There are for example, the "artificial leaf" Daniel Nocera, a MIT scientist who created this sheet made ​​from materials which are abundant and low cost. You can split water into hydrogen molecules (H2) and oxygen (O2). A procedure similar to photosynthesis in plants.

This process will be tested within a short period of time in the houses of India. It sinks in water and when it illuminated by the sun,it will produces a reaction capable of breaking the bonds of water molecules. It also produces bubbles of hydrogen and oxygen. Hydrogen is stored and can be used in a fuel cell to generate electricity.

It is also the mechanism of "ionic salts" that is being investigated by the team of Richard Masel and Paul Kenis.

Furthermore, the system will become carbon dioxide (CO2) in carbon monoxide (CO) is the first step in a sequence that would produce hydrocarbon fuels. Although its original post burn CO2 be the same quantity used in the first fuel can therefore be a reuse of CO2, which prevents further generated.

New system of solar powered greenhouse

A group of scientists and researchers in the Basque Country, Spain, have developed a new system that combines solar greenhouses that be able to get the crops receive optimal conditions.

The new technology was developed in conjunction with Agricultural ULMA Tecnalia. The scientists have proved the greenhouse of tomatoes and peppers in Vizcaya, while controlling the humidity, radiation and temperature.

The results were positive, food production in this test exceeded conventional greenhouses and solar panels fixed inclination.

The new system uses lenses to direct sunlight in winter. The system allows maximum input of sunlight in the summer, when radiation is very intense. The system redirects the light to solar panels that generate electricity for cooling and prevent overheating of the greenhouses.

All tests were positive and the final results will be announced in March, finished look to an intention to market in late 2012.

Super protective case for iPhone with solar panels

A case for smartphone among other things is to serve as extra protection against possible accidental drops and bumps of all kinds. Even so it turns out, there are times when a single case does not serve as sufficient protection. For example if the blow is too strong or if the drop occurs in a puddle of water on the street or in the sink.

The Aqua Tek S is a housing designed for your smartphone to survive extreme situations such as submerged under 5 feet of water or receive a strong impact. It also includes a small solar panel on the back to make sure that the battery will always have enough energy to perform at least one emergency call.

The only downside is that the look of your phone. It seems to radically change it back to where you found the 90 phone designs that looked like real bricks, but everything is for protection. Ideal if you tend to move in dangerous work environments. This is one Kickstarter of those projects , if they get enough money. Eventually become a real product and it seems they are about to get it.

Future Solar Park in Israel

Israel is the next country that plans to build a solar park to bring more clean energy for all its citizens, Israel is a country that ditch with a solar radiation thus have great potential.

The company responsible for building the solar park is Solaer. The construction will begin in the coming months and in the end will have a capacity of 35 megawatts. The energy produced by the solar park will be connected to the network. The solar park will be one of the largest parks in the region and the ability neighbors.

Solaer Spanish company specialized in renewable energy announced that the plant cost is estimated at about 400 million shekels (80 million) and its operation would amount to NIS 7.8 million per year (1.6 million).

AUO adquiere 9 MW Solar Power Project of Pennsylvania School District

The leading global provider of sample and solar, announced that it is prepared to provide its customers with solar solutions manufactured in the U.S. Progress serves to enrich the global solar module capacity of AUO covering Europe, America and Asia.

It will also ensure that AUO is one of the few major international cable providers offering solar solutions manufactured in the U.S. Future development within the U.S. market was marked by the acquisition of a 9 MW Solar Power Project in Pennsylvania School District, will be the largest solar power plant in Pennsylvania, and one of the major projects of the school district in the nation. AUO will continue to provide customized solar solutions to customers at major U.S.

"The U.S. market is a very important solar market. AUO The high efficiency solar modules and high quality are not only highly acclaimed for his performance in residential and commercial markets, but also successfully acquired large projects through government and public service, "said James Chen, AUO Vice President Solar Business Group. "We continue to develop advanced technology and improving our local services to provide solar modules manufactured in the U.S. for utility customers, commercial and residential solar products to expect the best high efficiency."

AUO adopts the strategy of "global operations and local supply" and is now a Taiwanese developer with the largest capacity PV solar modules world *. By getting the full capacity of its factory in the Czech Republic, AUO has used his exceptional ability in the global operations, passing the U.S. market to provide its customers with solar modules manufactured in the U.S. and personalized services. AUO solar modules meet the guidelines of the American Federal Acquisition Regulation's BAA (Buy American Act) and the TAA (Trade Agreements Act). The high-efficiency solar modules and high quality of AUO also been listed in the CEC (California Energy Commission). Providing stable and reliable solar products, AUO will be devoted actively to the U.S. solar market to achieve an even higher presence.

The area of ​​solar energy project in Pennsylvania that has recently achieved a AUO is 62 acres, equivalent to 87 football fields. The project is the largest solar plant in Pennsylvania and one of the greatest among the school districts of America. By using the 37,500 pieces of high-efficiency solar modules for AUO, solar power plant is expected to be completed by September 2012. The power plant will generate 0,880,000 kWh of electricity per year for about 5,000 daily so students in 5 nearby schools. It may reduce some 6,663 oneladas CO2 emissions.

Solar panels with paint grass roofs

Currently, solar panels would be a great idea to get electricity to your home for free and unlimited if it were not for its price is still relatively high, counting here to buy the panels and installation.

However, in future it is possible that the issue was resolved very easily by simply painting your roof and exterior walls of your home with a special paint.

The painting in question is being developed by researchers at MIT and the funny thing is that it is composed of plant debris. Scientists have managed to use a chemical extracted photosynthetic molecules from plants, once you have these molecules coated with paint mixtures of titanium dioxide that makes the role of 'sponge' that absorbs photons and somehow makes them electrons.

The idea seems quite interesting and promising but for now is a limit of efficiency is low at 1%, still very low so you can have practical use, however could be the first step in getting electric power wherever it need ... just with a brush and a paint bucket.

Solar powered insect killer

New campers solves the problem that usually face, which is the lack of power grid to power your gadgets.

Camping is a great way to stay in touch with nature. However, the insects tend to mess up a bit these tours. Therefore, the U.S. company Gotcha, created a lamp to kill insects solar-powered.

The novelty solves another problem that campers often face, which is the lack of power grid to power your gadgets or batteries of electrical and electronic equipment. The solar-powered insect killer is equipped with small photovoltaic panels that absorb sunlight and transform it into electricity to keep it running.

As the equipment is used at night, you must leave it exposed to direct sunlight during the morning, until the internal battery is fully charged and it can work effectively in the fight against mosquitoes nocturnal.

To attract the mosquitoes, the solar-powered insect killer uses an LED light. Thus, insects are attracted by light to the high voltage network, just as occurs with the "kill insects" traditional. With a fully charged battery autonomy of the Killer is about five hours.

The unit can be installed anywhere, for it comes with a bracket that allows it to be placed on a flat surface, a ground spike to anchor it to the ground and a handle, which facilitates the transport, but can also be used to hang it.

The solar-powered insect killer is for sale on the internet.

Amazing solar power project

Fifty-two homes, including residential and commercial neighborhood anchored form in Freiburg, Germany, which became a reference in a good life and minimal environmental impact. Situated in one of the sunniest regions of the country, the village of sun ship is capable of producing four times more energy than it consumes.

Self-sufficiency is achieved through it's solar power project, which uses photovoltaic panels strategically positioned to take full advantage of the incidence of sun rays. Besides taking advantage of natural light, with wide openings to let the sun go indoors in the homes also have green technology to save water.

The roofs have systems to capture rainwater, which is then used for watering gardens and toilet flushing, reducing further the impact on the environment.

Maracana to become solar power plant

Besides being a milestone in the history of football, the Maracana is about to become a reference in the production of clean energy. The works to be made in the stadium to host the World Cup 2014 include placing photovoltaic panels on any surface that covers the bleachers.

The project will be financed by two energy companies, the Light, which coordinates the production and distribution in Rio de Janeiro, and EDF (Electricite de France). Together they will install a plaque on the surface of 2.5 square meters, which will be capable of generating 670,000 kW / h per year.

Production would be enough to supply 25% of the energy needed to operate the Maracana. However, this is not what will happen at least during the first five years of operation of this "solar power plant." The investment is the result of a partnership between the two companies and the State Government, therefore, they have the right to sell the energy produced in the first year to offset the $ 6 million spent on technology deployment.

It is estimated that the electricity produced in the Maracana to meet the demand of 240 homes. But the company also has the appeal generated by the whole tradition of the Maracana, clean energy to market with higher values.

After five years, the electricity from the Maracana is owned by the government, but still can not be used directly in the stadium. "The greater use of the stadium is at night, on game days, and not at the time that the system will produce more energy during the day. Therefore, it will generate energy and inject it into the network and at night he gets back, "said Evandro Vasconcelos, director of energy of Light.

The utility projects do not end at the Maracana. Light still intends to spend $ 15 million to deploy photovoltaic cells in other sports centers of Rio de Janeiro, as the Julio de Lamare Aquatic Park, Maracanãzinho Athletics Stadium and Celio de Barros.

Emep solar system for farm families

The Emep are presenting to farm families and rural producers, a technology that uses solar energy for irrigation of fruits and vegetables. It is a form of exploitation of energy that uses an electric pump, powered by solar panels, for pumping water for irrigation.

The technology is quite simple and can be used in remote locations, and has low maintenance cost and cause no environmental impact. The system was developed by researchers at the Experimental Station of Aparecida, in Aparecida municipality (backlands of Paraiba), and has been providing excellent results in the production of vegetables.

"Solar energy is an alternative for producers to improve their income and quality of production, allowing a cleaner production," said researcher Euzeli of Saints Cyprian. According to him, in the first year of cultivation due to lack of spending power, the producer a profit higher than expected.

He also said that the system can be extended to other cultures and used in the operation of wells. "The electric pump allows the rational use of Amazons or tubular wells with flows in excess of one thousand liters per hour, as well as water surface," he said.

As the researcher, the electric pump can also be used effectively by the Food Purchase Program (EAP) and the National School Feeding Program (PNAE).

SolarKindle by SolarFocus presented at CES 2012

Accessory also functions as cover for the e-reader Amazon By Fernanda Morales

For you who loves to read their e-books on your Kindle and do not want to worry about recharging your battery, you'll love the new release of SolarFocus: a solar-powered cover that will keep your reader always stocked, the SolarKindle.

Solarkindle acts as extra battery for e-reader
The SolarKindle is the first cover for Kindle solar-powered world and promises to keep your device charged, without you having to plug it into an outlet for up to three months.

The case features a built-in solar panel and two batteries that store solar energy and allow the Kindle never runs out of power.

SolarKindle also has an LED reading lamp, which allows the user to make the reading of their titles even in low lighting. The company ensures that the lamp has a range of up to 50 hours of reading, using solar energy stored in batteries.

The case has been presented at the 2012 CES (International Consumer Electronic Show), which take place between January 10 and 13  in Las Vegas, United States, and should reach the consumer SolarKindle for $ 79.99.

Solar panels transform umbrella in charger

Very interesting project developed by a trio of product designers, Joseph Vincent of Lisbon, Andrew and Elizabeth Castro Remelgado, both of Montreal. Useful for those who use the electronics to keep informed or just want to stay connected while enjoying the sun on a website, club, resort or beach, but it is even more useful if it is embedded, for example.

The umbrella titled Solaris consists of photovoltaic solar panels that allow you to recharge any electronic equipment with solar energy. The "blades" are retractable and can be stored easily. The electrical outlets are at the base of the equipment and carry computers, cellphones and other electronic devices.

The group's goal was to facilitate people's lives by encouraging home working, reducing CO2 emissions, creating a new work environment and leisure and also using the system of solar panels to recharge laptops, cell phones and other electronics use basic day by day.

Solar energy helps speculators

Favored by lucrative government subsidies, the Czech market of photovoltaics is in full swing. Investors from around the world have clashed over whether to take advantage of this manna, little concerned about the ecological aspects.

A guaranteed investment at 100%, with an annual yield of 15%. A dream? No way! Thanks to these conditions that the Czech market of photovoltaics can attract investors from around the world. "Israel, Germany and the U.S. dominate the market," said Jaromir Rehàk, president of the Czech Photovoltaic Industry Association. French investors, directly supported by its government, is also installed in the Czech market.

Given the proliferation of speculative investments, the Czech government decided to reduce the price at which electricity companies are obliged to purchase energy for individuals and producers - more than double the value of electricity charged to customers. But the amendment that this low slow to be adopted by the Czech solar business remains today one of the most profitable in Europe. And this in spite of taking into account that the photovoltaic panels placed in the country are less efficient than the Spanish or the South of France, because there are fewer days of sunshine. And like France, Germany and Spain will soon have to download the purchase price of solar electricity, the Czech market should continue to be very advantageous.

"It's the ecology that motivates us, are the numbers"

Czech companies are essentially to ensure the construction of photovoltaic plants. Its leaders are not environmentalists, but financial managers: "I will not pretend that we are guided by ecological interests. We are particularly interested investors and we are just the numbers," admits Ondrej Valnicek, Global Solar society. However, the ecological sensitivity of governments is important for business because it is in itself a guarantee, at least in today's world, that the states will continue to support renewable energy. The photovoltaic business has also become a major provider of jobs in the Czech Republic. Indeed, the country is one of the most important suppliers of solar technology in the world.

Almost 2,000 people work for companies specialized in the production of photovoltaic panels. The research and development sector employs one hundred people and wholesalers of about 400. In total, it is considered that solar energy "employs" more than 4,000 people in the country. Martin is Director of Somar Schoot Solar, the Czech company that leads the photovoltaic sector: "The Spanish market, the second in Europe in terms of importance, has collapsed. The financial crisis put a brake on investment in major projects." But despite this, says it was convinced that the strong growth of solar energy has barely begun: "The European countries all have very ambitious objectives with respect to increasing renewable energy in the overall energy production."

Stealing solar panels is a new niche of activity

"Current developments in photovoltaics is absurd," he says Jiri Kveton, chairman of the Czech Energy Photovoltaics. Think of the enormous power, capable of generating annual profits of hundreds of millions of crowns, part of which comes from public funds and that have absolutely nothing to do with the original concern of preserving the environment. Not to mention the fact that some of these plants to be installed on old farmland, that small municipalities are quick to turn into "industrial zones" in order to sell them to investors interested in installing solar panels. Not only are the speculators who are interested in this: the thieves gained an enormous appetite for the panels, unscrew it from the rooftops, and even assaulting photovoltaic.

"In the past, situations happen very caricatured," says Zdenek N., manager of a security company that is dedicated to the sector since there is little protection for photovoltaic power plants: "The thief was introduced into a central support strips the aluminum panels solar panels and out leaving, he did not know could be of value. One more or less since the beginning of last year we went to have thefts of solar panels. "

Nanoscale antennae could make solar panels more efficient

Scientists at the University of Tel Aviv are creating nanoscale antennae that could be much more efficient than solar panels.

Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic wave, and when they are picked up by traditional metal antennas, the collision of the photon wave may for the photovoltaic effect, generate electrical current. Since the waves are also electromagnetic optics, and they are also carriers of energy, a team of scientists at the University of Tel Aviv wondered whether they could also be converted into electricity through an antenna. It turns out that they can - if the antenna is very, very short. They could replace the silicon semiconductors of solar panels, harvesting more energy from a wider spectrum of sunlight than is currently possible.

The nanoscale antennas are constructed from small amounts of aluminum and gold, and is less than one micron (a millionth of a meter) long - because the light has a wavelength short compared to radio waves, short antennae provide optimal absorption. Once created, the nanoscale antennae were exposed to light, to determine how well they can receive and transmit light energy. According to initial tests, 95% of the power is absorbed by the antennas.

The researchers believe that a panel containing a variety of lengths nanoscale antennas can collect energy from a solar spectrum much broader than is currently allowed by semiconductor technology.

Although silicon is not a particularly expensive material, scientists believe that the superior efficiency of their panels would allow them to be smaller than the photovoltaic panels, and therefore more profitable.

Nokia has completed their solar phone tests

Nokia has presented the results to the tests made ​​with their mobile phones equipped with solar panels. Unfortunately the result is not favorable to find models with this type of attachment.

The cell used is a modified version of the C1-02 (the picture shows another variation of the C1, very similar to that used in the tests). The mobile units were sent, with solar panels on the back, for many people around the world for testing during the daily use of the device. As expected, the results were better in areas of high sun exposure, other places with lower intensity of sunlight to charge gadget suffered.

Nokia also had trouble with people who charge into and out of enclosed spaces such as offices. In these cases the solar panel had no utility. Even with negative results, which gave up the possibility of finding cell panels on the shelves. Nokia did not end their research to find sustainable ways to charge their mobile phones. A most viable solution is an external battery that could be loaded in this way.

Logitech solar keyboard also work in dark

We can enjoy the first solar Logitech K750, is a way to spend a lot less power as millions and millions of people around the world use a computer.

The solar keyboard is also wireless and joining with solar panels that capture solar energy and to work well, solar panels also have a system that allows the conservation and solar energy in the house so that it can be used or without light.

Also gutter with a warning system that indicates the battery level and alerts you when you need to be loaded and re-sources that is more appropriate to do so.

The design is conventional sense, nothing new to what we already know, but it is very thin, with rounded tips.

To all who are committed to ecology is an excellent proposal and a good way to help a bit for the environment. It's time to replace all of our common sections for which they are a little greener solar keyboard like this.

Google's new investment for Solar Energy

During the 2011 Google invested more than U.S. $ 880 million in various renewable energy projects and has become one of the companies that has driven these energies in recent years.

Not content with this announced an investment of over 100 million dollars in four solar projects. A wizard named Axel Martinez wrote in the Google company blog: "We believe that investment in renewable energy makes sense and we look forward to clean energy projects to attract new sources of capital to help the world toward a more sustainable energy future. "

This new project will have high expectations because Google seems to have become experts in solar energy, the last project that brought solar panels worked 10,000 homes in the United States through the facilities on the roofs.

In this new investment Google has partnered with Suntap Energy, a KKR company that provide the remaining capital as part of the company's first investment in the U.S.