http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/matter_energy/solar_energy/ Solar Energy Information. Read the latest news and techniques for efficient solar photovoltaic power, new solar energy systems and more. en-us Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:05:01 EST Wed, 10 Feb 2010 11:05:01 EST 60 http://www.sciencedaily.com/images/logosmall.gif http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/matter_energy/solar_energy/ For more science articles, visit ScienceDaily. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100209111755.htm A newly developed 9 cubic millimeter solar-powered sensor system is the smallest that can harvest energy from its surroundings to operate nearly perpetually. Mon, 08 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100209111755.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100202103446.htm Scientists in Germany have succeeded in developing a method for treating the surface of nanoparticles which greatly improves the efficiency of organic solar cells. The researchers were able to attain an efficiency of 2 percent by using so-called quantum dots composed of cadmium selenide. These measurements, well above the previous efficiency ratings of 1 to 1.8 percent, were confirmed. Sun, 07 Feb 2010 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100202103446.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100204101734.htm Smart control units that learn householders' energy habits and provide immediate feedback on consumption could give home energy savings of up to 20 percent without compromising comfort. Thu, 04 Feb 2010 00:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/02/100204101734.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100105170942.htm Ecosystems of terminus lakes around the world could benefit from a new system being developed to desalinate water using a specialized low-cost solar pond and patented membrane distillation system powered by renewable energy. Wed, 06 Jan 2010 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100105170942.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100104151923.htm Solar-powered drip irrigation systems significantly enhance household incomes and nutritional intake of villagers in arid sub-Saharan Africa, according to a new study. Tue, 05 Jan 2010 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100104151923.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222105441.htm Scientists have developed tiny glitter-sized photovoltaic cells that could revolutionize the way solar energy is collected and used. Wed, 23 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091222105441.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091215112045.htm Adding cerium oxide to phosphate glass rather than the commonly used silicate glass may make glasses that block ultraviolet light and have increased radiation damage resistance while remaining colorless, according to researchers. These cerium-containing phosphate glasses have many commercial applications for use in windows, sunglasses and solar cells. Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091215112045.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091211074427.htm Harnessing the power of "hot" electrons for solar energy has been held as a theoretical possibility. Now researchers report observing the hot electron effect in an ultra-thin solar cell for the first time and collecting the elusive charges, which are typically lost in less than one-trillionth of a second in traditional solar cells. Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091211074427.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091206184628.htm A team of academics and students has begun work on a solar-electric powered boat which they claim will be one of the most sophisticated to enter the annual Solar Splash competition so far. Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091206184628.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091203132159.htm Researchers have developed a method to control the atoms and molecules of peptides so that they "grow" to resemble small forests of grass. These "peptide forests" repel dust and water and can also serve as high-density battery capacitors. Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091203132159.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091201100553.htm Scientists have developed an innovative way to boost the output of the next generation of solar cells. They have produced tandem dye-sensitized solar cells with a three-fold increase in energy conversion efficiency compared with previously reported tandem dye-sensitized solar cells. Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091201100553.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091123152222.htm Researchers have developed a technique for fabricating 3-D, single-crystalline silicon structures from thin films by coupling photolithography and a self-folding process driven by capillary interactions. Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091123152222.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104122522.htm New scientific discoveries are moving society toward the era of "personalized solar energy," in which the focus of electricity production shifts from huge central generating stations to individuals in their own homes and communities. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 17:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091104122522.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091112095042.htm In the quest to make hydrogen as a clean alternative fuel source, researchers have been stymied about how to create usable hydrogen that is clean and sustainable without relying on an intensive, high-energy process that outweighs the benefits of not using petroleum to power vehicles. New findings however, show that photosynthesis may function as that clean, sustainable source of hydrogen. Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091112095042.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091111122320.htm Nanophysicists have developed a new method for manufacturing the cornerstone of nanotechnology research -- nanowires. The discovery has great potential for the development of nanoelectronics and highly efficient solar cells. Fri, 13 Nov 2009 08:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091111122320.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091105132454.htm Scientists are making progress toward development of an "artificial leaf" that mimics a real leaf's chemical magic with photosynthesis -- but instead converts sunlight and water into a liquid fuel such as methanol for cars and trucks. Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091105132454.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091102172517.htm Converting sunlight to electricity might no longer mean large panels of photovoltaic cells atop flat surfaces like roofs. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091102172517.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091102171724.htm Dust samples collected from the stratosphere have yielded an unexpectedly rich trove of relics from the ancient cosmos, scientists report. The dust includes presolar grains and material from interstellar molecular clouds. This "ultra-primitive" material likely wafted into the atmosphere after the Earth passed through the trail of an Earth-crossing comet in 2003, giving scientists a rare opportunity to study cometary dust in the laboratory. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/11/091102171724.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091021144249.htm Researchers released a new study on the installed costs of solar photovoltaic (PV) power systems in the US, showing that the average cost of these systems declined by more than 30 percent from 1998 to 2008. Within the last year of this period, costs fell by more than 4 percent. Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091021144249.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091013205958.htm Scientists in Spain are working on optimizing a type of photovoltaic cell (Grätzel cell) that artificially mimics photosynthesis. Grätzel cells are photovoltaic devices that take advantage of the interaction of a structured semiconductor less than a nanometer in size and an organic dye that acts as a solar collector. Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091013205958.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091008142959.htm Chemists have pioneered a method to tease out promising molecular structures for capturing energy, a step that could speed the development of more efficient, cheaper solar cells. Mon, 12 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091008142959.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091006104500.htm IMEC and BP Solar have demonstrated a 18% conversion efficiency for silicon solar cells made of BP Solar’s newly developed Mono2 silicon. By combining IMEC’s advanced processing techniques with BP Solar’s high-quality low-cost substrates, the companies demonstrated that Mono2 TM has a good potential to become a new base material for low-cost highly-efficient solar cells. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091006104500.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091008091241.htm After two years of design, experimentation, fund-raising and building, the University of Arizona's Solar Decathlon team has completed construction of its 800-square-foot solar-powered house on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Wed, 07 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091008091241.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091005181721.htm Small bits of metal may play a new role in solar power. Researchers are experimenting with polymer semiconductors that absorb the sun's energy and generate electricity. The goal: lighter, cheaper, and more-flexible solar cells. They have now discovered that adding tiny bits of silver to the plastic boosts the materials' electrical current generation. Tue, 06 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091005181721.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091006104312.htm Researchers have demonstrated a fully solution-processed organic solar cell with a spray-coated active layer and a metal top contact spray-coated on top. The resulting cell shows power conversion efficiencies above 3%, a performance comparable to organic solar cells produced by spin coating of the organic layer and vacuum evaporation of the top contact metal. This is an important step towards producing organic solar cells with cheap and large-area processes. Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/10/091006104312.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090916123521.htm Chemical engineers have invented a new technology to deposit "nanostructure films" on various surfaces, which may first find use as coatings for eyeglasses that cost less and work better. Ultimately, the technique may provide a way to make solar cells more efficiently produce energy. Tue, 29 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090916123521.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090921092049.htm Researchers in Europe have presented a mechanically-stacked GaAs/Ge multijunction solar cell. This is the first promising demonstrator of a novel technology to produce mechanically stacked, high-efficiency multijunction solar cells, aiming at efficiencies above 40%. Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090921092049.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090921092045.htm Researchers in Europe are presenting a large-area solar with a conversion efficiency of 18.4%. Compared to the standard i-PERC cell process, the new solar cell features a shallow emitter and advanced front metallization using copper plating. The results were obtained on large-area cells, proving the industrial viability of the process. Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090921092045.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090917144123.htm Researchers have discovered an unusual kind of meteorite in the Western Australian desert and have uncovered where in the Solar System it came from, in a very rare finding. Sun, 20 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090917144123.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090913134032.htm Researchers have made the first high-resolution 3-D images of the inside of a polymer solar cell. This gives them important new insights in the nanoscale structure of polymer solar cells and its effect on the performance. Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090913134032.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090910091333.htm In a development that holds much promise for the future of solar electricity and fuel, researchers used gold tips grown in solution to increase the electrical conductivity of cadmium-selenide nanorod crystals by 100,000 times. Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090910091333.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090910151927.htm Using a carbon nanotube instead of traditional silicon, researchers have created the basic elements of a solar cell that hopefully will lead to much more efficient ways of converting light to electricity than now used in calculators and on rooftops. Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090910151927.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090908125139.htm Researchers in Israel have developed thin films that exhibit carrier multiplication. This development is of great interest for future solar cells. The team demonstrated that for a given photon energy, carrier multiplication occurs more efficiently in bulk PbS and PbSe films than in nanocrystalline films of the same materials. Wed, 09 Sep 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/09/090908125139.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090720134556.htm Americans used more solar, nuclear, biomass and wind energy in 2008 than they did in 2007, according to the most recent energy flow charts. Mon, 07 Sep 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090720134556.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090831130658.htm Researchers have found what could be the signal of ideal wave "surfing" conditions for individual particles within the massive turbulent ocean of the solar wind. The discovery could give a new insight into just how energy is dissipated in solar system sized plasmas such as the solar wind and could provide significant clues to scientists developing fusion power which relies on plasmas. Tue, 01 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090831130658.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090824115907.htm Solar cells could soon be produced more cheaply using nanoparticle "inks" that allow them to be printed like newspaper or painted onto the sides of buildings or rooftops to absorb electricity-producing sunlight. Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090824115907.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090818182004.htm Expansion of renewable energies should appreciably improve the health status of the 700,000 US workers employed in the energy sector, according to one expert. Wed, 19 Aug 2009 20:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090818182004.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090804114106.htm Researchers have found a way to measure exactly how much electrical current is carried by tiny bubbles and channels that form inside nanoscale solar cells, paving the way for development of more efficient materials. Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/08/090804114106.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090728123045.htm With a sustained national commitment, the United States could obtain substantial energy-efficiency improvements, new sources of energy, and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through the accelerated deployment of existing and emerging energy technologies. Sat, 01 Aug 2009 05:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090728123045.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090729121704.htm A new class of economically viable solar power cells has come a step closer to reality. Scientists have deepened their understanding of the complex organic films at the heart of the devices. Fri, 31 Jul 2009 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090729121704.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090714211527.htm A student is combining engineering and nature to design a more affordable and more sustainable lighting source for those living without electricity. Thu, 30 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090714211527.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090714124954.htm Dye-sensitized solar cells are expected to power Air Force unmanned aerial vehicles in the future because they are an optimum energy harvesting source that may lead to longer flight times without refueling. Mon, 27 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090714124954.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090727080836.htm The most important way to reduce carbon dioxide from transport is to get the transport sector integrated into the overall energy system, according to experts. Mon, 27 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090727080836.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090723201446.htm Scientists have produced thin film solar cells made from compound semiconductors which are already reaching a 12 percent efficiency. Thin film solar cells are considered the next generation of solar cells and are expected to be considerably cheaper because they need much less material and energy in their production than today’s photovoltaic modules. Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090723201446.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090724124134.htm Concerns about dwindling fossil fuel resources, current levels of petroleum consumption, and growing pressure to shift to more sustainable energy sources are among many factors prompting the transition from our current energy infrastructure to one that uses less carbon and requires the efficient conversion of energy. Fuel cells have the potential to replace the internal combustion engine in vehicles and provide power in stationary and portable power applications, as they are energy-efficient, clean and fuel-flexible. Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090724124134.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090713085451.htm Photovoltaic and wind energy plants, hydroelectric power stations and biogas plants supply energy without polluting the environment. However, they are complex to design and maintain. Virtual reality (VR) makes planning and operation easier. Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090713085451.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090709205950.htm Four newly designed highly efficient solar power collection dishes will be used in commercial-scale deployments beginning in 2010. Fri, 17 Jul 2009 14:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090709205950.htm http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090707131901.htm Material science specialists and engineers have developed a low-cost solution processing method for their CISS (copper-indium-diselenide) solar cells which have the potential to be produced on a commercial scale. Sat, 11 Jul 2009 11:00:00 EDT http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/07/090707131901.htm