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solar energy

10/09/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Silicon-based solar panels convert sunlight to electricity at higher efficiency, new research finds

Arizona-based researchers evaluated the cost vs. enhanced efficiency of the newest development in solar technology. They indicated that tandem photovoltaic modules made from silicon materials will be the next big thing in the U.S. solar energy industry. In the study, the researchers compared the newly developed solar panel designs with existing photovoltaic technology. Their results showed […]

09/23/2018 / By Janine Acero

One step closer to decentralized renewable energy? New magnetic floating flywheels may provide the storage solution

The use of alternative energy sources has become increasingly important as energy costs have been rising and fossil fuels such as coal and gas have contributed greatly to environmental pollution. One solution is to save energy from wind turbines and solar cells; however, to store energy when sunlight and wind are not available can be […]

09/21/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Researchers demonstrate efficient solar energy storage in a chemical liquid

One of the big challenges for solar energy systems is finding an efficient and cost-effective means of storing excess electricity that can be supplied whenever and wherever it is needed, instead of being limited to daytime. An article in Chalmers Chemistry and Chemical Engineering News stated that the latest version of a Swedish-designed, liquid-based energy […]

09/11/2018 / By David Williams

Researchers create new “smart windows” that block out the sun and turn sunlight into electricity

Have you ever heard of windows that can turn from transparent to opaque, and thereby block out light from the sun? So-called smart windows have been around for quite some time now. Now one research team says they have made a quiet breakthrough that will allow for the construction of highly efficient smart windows that […]

08/29/2018 / By Edsel Cook

New technology enables scientists to generate energy from live bacteria

Researchers have come up with a new and natural way to harvest energy from the sun. Instead of creating a more efficient solar panel or photovoltaic material, they devised a means of getting electricity from photosynthetic cyanobacteria, an article in News Wise reported. This family of microorganisms is often found in lakes, seas, and other areas that […]

08/21/2018 / By David Williams

Solar-powered car that can go for months on track to arrive by 2019

If you take a look at some of the latest headlines under the Technology or Future categories in any prominent news publication, you’ll find that any mention of futuristic cars will mostly be filled with all sorts of buzzwords. All-electric, self-driving, and driverless are among those most commonly used, to name a few. But there’s […]

08/12/2018 / By Zoey Sky

Battery breakthrough – Scientists have developed a thermal battery that can gather and store solar heat for use on demand

Batteries keep all sorts of gadgets up and running. Now, a group of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has discovered a way to create a “battery” that can store and release heat “on command—at the flip of a light switch.” The system in the battery works by gathering solar heat or waste heat from the […]

08/12/2018 / By Frances Bloomfield

“Magic” alloy will allow solar cells to capture near-infrared light

A team of researchers from the University of Michigan has taken the next step in solar energy technology. Specifically, they’ve developed a new semiconductor alloy that can capture near-infrared light. In addition to being easier and cheaper to manufacture, ScienceDaily.com reported that the semiconductor alloy is also compatible with the semiconductors utilized in concentrator photovoltaics. […]

06/21/2018 / By Edsel Cook

New nanoscale coating for solar cells able to absorb 20 percent more sunlight

You may have heard of whispering galleries like the National Statuary Hall in the Capitol Building, where you can hear what’s being said on the other side of the half-dome. Maryland researchers created a nanoscale coating that traps light in a similar way, an article in Science Daily states. When applied on a solar cell, the […]

05/23/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Solar power, rain or shine: Hybrid solar cells can generate power from raindrops

Solar power has finally come across a way to overcome one of its greatest weaknesses: Rain. In a Science Daily article, Chinese researchers presented a hybrid solar cell that can produce electricity even when it is raining cats and dogs. In addition to gathering power from sunlight, the new cell can also harvest electrical power from rainwater […]

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