Tag: Solar Power
-
Energy Harvesting Tree for the Home
In January 2015, the Finnish VTT Technical Centre introduced decorative organic photovoltaic cells (OPV), which can be inexpensively mass-produced, and which can easily be incorporated into the design of any home. These cells are capable of capturing energy from interior lighting and generate enough power to run small devices and sensors. Since the OPVs they…
-
California Nearing Huge Milestone in Solar Deployment
WASHINGTON, D.C. – California has cemented its place as America’s solar leader, according to the recently-released U.S. Solar Market Insight 2014 Year in Review, and stands poised to become the first state in the nation to have 10 gigawatts (GW) of installed solar capacity, enough to power nearly 2.5 million homes.Read More — Solar Builder magazine
-
Stacking Solar Cells Could Vastly Improve Their Efficiency
Harvesting solar energy is a great way to generate sustainable power, but unfortunately solar cells are far from being as efficient as they might be. Currently, commercially available solar cells can convert about 25 percent of sunlight into electricity, and scientists have been trying to create better solar cells for years. One milestone they have…
-
More Environmentally Friendly Solar Cells
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new solar cell that uses tin instead of lead perovskite as a collector of solar energy. This cheap and environmentally-friendly solar cell can therefore be made without any high-tech equipment or hazardous materials. The new solar cell developed by the team uses a structure called a perovskite and…
-
Innovative Ways of Using Solar Panels
Photo: Mineirão stadium in Belo Horizonte The photovoltaic technology is frequently used to obtain energy these days. Since it was discovered in the 19th century that it is possible to get energy from sunlight, the ways of harnessing solar energy went through many different stages. The first prototype of solar cells was, for example, used…