Solar
California's largest single solar installation powers-up
In March this year Gizmag reported on Southern California Edison’s (SCE) plan to create the State’s largest single solar photovoltaic installation. The company has now announced that the first of its major commercial rooftop solar installations is complete, and powering homes in Southern California. Read More
Meraki Solar powered Wi-Fi
Meraki, a company whose aim is to ‘bring affordable Internet access to the next billion people’, is hoping their solar-powered Wi-Fi unit will do just that. The Meraki Solar is designed to provide wireless coverage over large outdoor areas with a minimum of fuss by removing the need to run power cables. Each unit is self-contained and ready to mount on roofs, poles, or anywhere the sun shines and is designed to provide 24/7 uptime in most locations worldwide by running on its own solar charged battery. Read More
The solar powered submarine
Image Gallery (3 images)
It's an idea we've seen applied to motoryachts, trimarans and even speedboats, but until now, using solar power as an energy source for submarines wasn't on our radar. Swiss energy company BKW has aims to make this scenario a reality with Project Goldfish, a tourist attraction planned for Lake Thun that would see a 20-30 meter long submarine carry groups of visitors on tours of the underwater landscape. Read More
European researchers achieve solar efficiency record
Image Gallery (3 images)
Scientists from the EU funded FULLSPECTRUM project have developed solar cells which are able to convert 39.7 percent of the energy of sunlight into electricity. The result represents the highest percentage ever reached in Europe and is more than double the efficiency of most conventional silicon-based PVs in production today. Read More
New Solar Messenger Bag added to Eclipse range
Image Gallery (3 images)
Every owner of a personal electronic device knows the frustration of running out of battery power when out and about. Solar bags offer a great solution and a growing number of shapes and sizes (even golf bags) are hitting the market. The new Fusion Messenger Bags by Eclipse Solar Gear further adds to the options. Read More
Hybrid yacht combines diesel, solar and wind power
Image Gallery (8 images)
Island Pilot has used this year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show to debut its new hybrid motoryacht - the DSe Hybrid12m. Combining diesel, solar and electric power (hence "DSe") and with wind-power to be added to the production model, the 40ft vessel can take advantage of a sunny day by cruising at speeds of up to six knots indefinitely using only solar power. Not only does this save fuel, it eliminates the rumble of diesel engines to bring one of pure-sailing's greatest attractions to the motoryacht format - silence. Read More
Solar Power Satellites could broadcast energy to Earth
Image Gallery (3 images)
Dusting off an old renewable energy proposal, president of the National Space Society Ben Bova recently published an article in The Washington Post calling for the next president of the United States to commission a US$1 billion solar power satellite from NASA before the end of their second term. The satellite would harness energy directly from the sun and broadcast it back to a receiver on Earth using microwave frequencies. Read More
Robot swarms could help colonize Mars
Image Gallery (3 images)
Hundreds of micro-robots will work together to carry out repairs inside machinery, explore deep-sea environments, and even colonize Mars according to predictions from the EU-funded I-SWARM project, which is developing centimeter-scale autonomous robots that co-operate like a colony of ants and therefore can compensate for the failure of individual members. Read More
Paris round-up: Nissan's compact future
Image Gallery (8 images)
In addition to the futuristic Nuvu concept car premiered in Paris, Nissan also provided a taste of what's in store for the more immediate future with the new Pixo - a five-door, four-seater that boasts very low fuel consumption and emissions - a revised version of the Note compact car and the introduction of an all-new combined satellite nav and infotainment system known as Nissan Connect. Read More
Cool Earth Solar: pursuing a viable alternative to fossil fuels
Image Gallery (3 images)
There is no doubt that mankind stands at a pivotal point in our history in relation to our consumption of global resources and the resultant impact on the planet on which we live. By far the biggest concern is our ever-growing appetite for energy to power the lifestyles we have grown not only accustomed to, but also dependent upon. Solar is one answer with great potential, but economics and the amount of power it can produce in comparison to fossil fuel power stations has held it back so far. Now new approaches like Cool Earth’s collectors are becoming advanced enough to effectively tackle these problems with technology that relies on inexpensive and free materials, is scalable, able to compete economically with fossil fuel power plants and is capable of delivering not just megawatts, but gigawatts of clean power. Read More
Solar-powered G-Shock Rose Gold Series watches launched
Image Gallery (3 images)
Casio has added to its well-known G-Shock collection with the introduction of its premium Rose Gold series. The new line of watches combine shock-resistance characteristics with self-adjusting atomic timekeeping technology and a mini solar panel for extended battery life. Read More
HP plots course for doubling renewable power use
Image Gallery (3 images)
HP has announced details of renewable energy initiatives within its facilities, research and products with the aim of doubling the company’s global purchase of renewable power by 2012. Currently using under 4% renewable energy, the global technology giant hopes to increase its use to 8% within the next four years. Read More
NASA launches Interstellar Boundary Explorer
Image Gallery (3 images)
NASA has launched the Interstellar Boundary Explorer, which will observe the edge of our solar system from a 200,000-mile Earth orbit and determine whether or not we’re... err, doomed. Over the next two years, the 23-inch high octagonal craft will study the area of space where solar wind hits the wider galaxy – hopefully it will also find out why the solar wind, which shields us from harmful cosmic rays, has decreased by 25% in the last ten years. Read More
French skyscaper puts focus on renewable energy
Image Gallery (3 images)
Extensive use of solar and wind power plus a healthy dose of CO2 munching foliage will mark the slim, 318 meter tall Generali Tower when it becomes a fixture of the Parisian skyline from 2012. The design from Valode & Pistre was selected in an international competition and will form a key plank in the nine year plan to revamp the La Défense business district first announced by the Public Body for the development of La Défense (EPAD) in 2005. Read More
Largest Solar Deployment on a Corporate Campus in US now online
Image Gallery (3 images)
Two new solar power installations totaling 2.1 megawatts are now online at Applied Materials' corporate research facilities in Sunnyvale, California. The systems, which include a 950 kilowatt SunPower PowerGuard installation and a 1.2 megawatt SunPower Tracker installation atop an elevated parking canopy, represent the largest solar power deployment at a corporate facility in the US. Read More
Evergreen Solar introduces new String Ribbon panels
Image Gallery (2 images)
Evergreen Solar has introduced a new line of solar panels manufactured using its String Ribbon technique which offer several consumer friendly design innovations as well as being the most powerful products the company has ever produced. Read More
NuVu: Nissan's compelling urban EV concept
Image Gallery (44 images)
Nissan has produced some very interesting concept cars in recent years – the Denki Cube, Pivo, Mixim and Pivo 2 just to name a few. Shown in Paris for the first time last weekend, the NuVu is a compact electric car specifically designed to make traveling comfortable in a gridlocked city. The idea is one of a moving urban oasis, with its own tree inside which provides shade for the interior, and generates solar energy via its ‘leaves.’ By-wire steering, unique 2+1 seating, a fast-charging Li-Ion battery system and a rear-mounted electric motor delivering a range of 125 kms and top speed of 120 km/h are among the key features of the Concept which, while not destined for production in its current form, is intended to showcase how a Nissan EV might look and what technology it might contain beyond 2010 when the company begins rolling-out electric cars in Japan and the US. Read More
Google's vision for a greener planet
Image Gallery (2 images)
While the current Wall Street financial crisis has many on edge in regard to the short term future of the economy, Google has displayed some far-sighted corporate leadership in releasing its plan for how to reduce fossil fuel use by 2030. "Clean Energy 2030" is designed to stimulate debate on a range of energy consumption issues and includes proposals to slash vehicle oil consumption and CO2 emissions by 38% and reduce US reliance on fossil fuel-based electricity generation by 88% through a significant boost to solar, wind and geothermal output. Importantly, the report also focusses on the "win-win" potential for this aggressive attack on climate change, citing a figure of $1.0 trillion net savings over the 22-year life of the plan. Read More
Biosolar announces further improvements to solar backsheet process
Image Gallery (2 images)
A little under two months ago, Biosolar unveiled its BioBacksheet, an innovation which reduces the cost of solar cells by replacing traditional petroleum-based components with materials derived from renewable plant sources. The company has now announced details of improvements to the solar backsheet manufacturing technique that will help to further reduce the cost of production. Read More
LifeVillage modular housing solution for remote communities
Image Gallery (2 images)
Designed to address the problem of access to critical utilities in remote areas and developing nations that lack the necessary infrastructure, Envision Solar's modular self-contained LifeVillage integrates clean power and water treatment into buildings and communities, no matter what the location. Read More
Solar brick provides integrated outdoor lighting solution
Image Gallery (2 images)
Sunrise Solar Corp has unveiled a new building brick that integrates solar technologies into traditional construction materials. The Solar Light "Bric" is able to capture the sun’s rays and convert them to energy to power an embedded light without the need to connect to the electrical grid or flick a switch. Read More
Solar Stik portable solar generator
Image Gallery (4 images)
Portable solar panels are popping up at an increasing rate in campgrounds and caravan parks where they are an environmentally friendly and mercifully silent alternative to fuel burning generators. This example from Solar Stik offers rugged solution that can be used in conjunction with a wind generator and adapted for a variety of applications on land and water. Read More
BioSolar's renewable backsheet for solar panels
Image Gallery (2 images)
Currently, photovoltaic modules in solar panels employ petroleum-based plastics as a protective backing, increasing their overall carbon footprint and maintaining a reliance the fossil fuel economy. To free solar power from the uncertainties of oil prices, and to help make them a truly green power source, BioSolar has developed bio-based components that are ready to replace the backsheet, substrate and superstrate components of solar panels. The materials have a lifespan of 20-25 years, and, most importantly, they are 25% cheaper to manufacture than the plastic alternative. Read More
Sollight's portable and environmentally friendly lighting systems
Image Gallery (9 images)
Sollight's LightCap and LightShip solar-powered lights are designed for camping, boating holidays or to use around the home. The LightCap fits on to a standard water bottle and turns it into a portable lantern whilst the LightShip can be conveniently attached just about anywhere for charging during the day and becomes a portable flashlight at night. Both products are perfect in an emergency situation, are weather-proof and importantly, environmentally friendly. Read More
Aquarius: intelligent automated sprinkler design
Image Gallery (4 images)
Looking more like an alien spacecraft than a sprinkler, Aquarius is an irrigation control system designed by Aydin Oztoprak and Ozgur Ruhi Ulvan. Solar powered and remote managed, Aquarius automatically adjusts its water flow depending on the soil, crop and weather conditions, making it one very intelligent piece of eco-friendly water design. Read More
Sharp's solar LED street lights incorporate seismic detection
Image Gallery (4 images)
The argument for switching to solar-powered street lighting seems very clear cut: they run on sunlight, emit no CO2 emissions, provide an off-the grid source of lighting during in an emergency situation and use efficient LED-based light which tends not to attract insects. Sharp Corporation has announced plans to roll-out two new models of solar-powered LED street lights in the Japanese market and these have the added bonus of in-built Seismic Motion Sensors which detect earthquakes of five or greater on the Japanese seismic scale and respond by switching to full illumination for two nights. Read More
Solar trees take root at the University of California
Image Gallery (2 images)
The University of California in San Diego (UCSD) is undertaking an unusual forestry project on the roof of two of its parking garages. The “Solar Trees” being constructed on the roofs will comprise steel components fitted with a canopy of Kyocera photovoltaic modules to provide solar energy for the university. Read More
US Airways Center announces solar installation
Image Gallery (2 images)
The US Airways Center in Arizona, home to NBA team the Phoenix Suns, will soon be going green with the announcement of a new solar power project. The system is expected to be operational in 2009 and will utilize 1,125 Suntech panels, cover approximately 18,000 square feet and produce 331,233 kilowatt-hours of clean energy each year. Read More
Greencore's solar powered air conditioner
Image Gallery (3 images)
It's an idea that makes perfect sense - when it's hot, the sun is out, so why not utilize that energy to help cool down. Californian based Greencore has developed a hybrid solar-powered air conditioning system for both fixed and mobile applications which can cool a room up to 600 square feet in size using a single 170 watt solar panel, or switch to using power from the grid when necessary. Read More
QinetiQ's Zephyr breaks world record for longest unmanned flight
Image Gallery (4 images)
Qinetiq’s Zephyr solar powered high-altitude long-endurance (HALE) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has flown a world-beating three and a half day flight at the US Army's Yuma Proving Ground in Arizona. The solar powered plane flew for 82 hours 37 minutes, exceeding the current official world record for unmanned flight which stands at 30 hours 24 minutes set by Global Hawk in 2001 and Zephyr's previous longest flight of 54 hours achieved last year. Read More
Solar powered tie charges your mobile phone
Image Gallery (3 images)
It might not be the most chic of clothing items, but form takes a back-seat to function with this solar powered necktie. Designed to charge a mobile phone, the concept tie was created by researchers at Iowa State University (ISU) whilst experimenting with uses for photovoltaic (PV) textiles to create smart garments. Read More
Clinton Foundation considers 5,000MW solar station in India
Image Gallery (3 images)
August 14, 2008 According to Treehugger and The Business Standard, the US-based Clinton Foundation is currently in talks with the Indian government to undertake the world’s largest single location solar project. Costing around US$475 million and with an estimated output of 5,000MW (5 gigawatts), the Gujurat-based “Integrated Solar City” would rival even the biggest coal-fired power stations. Read More
Solar energy system goes to market
Image Gallery (3 images)
SolarCraft has completed a 35.4 kilowatt solar energy system at the new Hamilton Marketplace Complex in Novato, California. The system will enable the new shopping center to generate enough clean electricity to spare the air nearly 31 tons of harmful greenhouse gases annually, equivalent to the air filtering of 6.2 acres of trees. Read More
Windowpanes that generate solar power, charge USB devices
Image Gallery (3 images)
July 28, 2008 While rooftop solar panels have understandably been the main focus for household solar energy breakthroughs, Tokyo-based Nihon Telecommunication System Inc. has given householders another option to do their bit to help the planet by developing windowpanes with built-in photovoltaic cells. Read More
geos zero energy residential community launches in Colorado
Image Gallery (2 images)
Colorado will be home to the largest net-zero energy, master-planned community in the US after plans were announced for 250 residences to be built. Construction of the Geos Neighborhood will begin this fall and, once complete, will generate enough renewable energy to offset 100% of the annual energy needs of the entire community. Read More
