News tagged with photovoltaic solar panels

Solar installations doubled last year, with California leading the way

The amount of photovoltaic solar panels installed in the United States more than doubled from 2010 to 2011, representing a historic year for the American solar industry.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Mar 19, 2012 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (2) | comments 5

New approach aims to slash cost of solar cells

Solar-powered electricity prices could soon approach those of power from coal or natural gas thanks to collaborative research with solar start-up Ampulse Corporation at the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) ...

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Mar 06, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 2

In solar cells, tweaking the tiniest of parts yields big jump in efficiency

(PhysOrg.com) -- By tweaking the smallest of parts, a trio of University at Buffalo engineers is hoping to dramatically increase the amount of sunlight that solar cells convert into electricity.

Nanotechnology / Nanophysics

created Jan 20, 2012 | popularity 4.6 / 5 (11) | comments 27 | with audio podcast

Oerlikon Solar works to pull down PV costs in 2014

(PhysOrg.com) -- Switzerland-based Oerlikon Solar, kingpins in thin film silicon solar module equipment, has announced that it has reached a milestone in reducing the cost of production for its thin-film silicon ...

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Dec 07, 2011 | popularity 4.1 / 5 (8) | comments 25 | with audio podcast report

Affordable solar: It's closer than you think

It's time to stop thinking of solar energy as a boutique source of power, says Joshua Pearce.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Dec 01, 2011 | popularity 4.2 / 5 (31) | comments 59 | with audio podcast

LIPA, BP Solar and Brookhaven National Lab flip the switch at the Long Island solar farm

Officials from the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), BP Solar International, Inc. (BP Solar), Brookhaven National Laboratory and a host of government officials and environmental leaders today celebrated ...

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Nov 21, 2011 | popularity 4 / 5 (2) | comments 1

France launches vast solar panel array

France on Thursday launched its largest-ever solar energy farm, with an array of panels spread over about 200 hectares (500 acres) in the mountainous southern Alpes-de-Haute-Provence region.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Oct 13, 2011 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (9) | comments 11

Solar-powered air-conditioning system for vehicles

Great news for drivers! They can now continue to keep the air-conditioning system on during the hot sunny days even when they stop the vehicle and switch off the engine. In collaboration with Green Power Industrial ...

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Oct 11, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (4) | comments 10

Colored solar cells could make display screens more efficient

(PhysOrg.com) -- A new kind of screen pixel doubles as a solar cell and could boost the energy efficiency of cell phones and e-readers. The technology could also potentially be used in larger displays to make ...

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

created Oct 07, 2011 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (6) | comments 3 | with audio podcast

Calif. solar-power rebates might scorch lease market

Abundant sunshine has made Southern California one of the brightest markets for residential solar power in the country. Some might say too bright.

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Aug 31, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 3

Solar panels keep buildings cool

Those solar panels on top of your roof aren't just providing clean power; they are cooling your house, or your workplace, too, according to a team of researchers led by Jan Kleissl, a professor of environmental ...

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Jul 18, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (6) | comments 7 | with audio podcast

Polymer scientist is laying groundwork for next-generation flexible photovoltaics

University of Massachusetts Amherst polymer scientist Ryan Hayward recently received a five-year, $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to improve understanding of the fundamentals for the next generation of lightweight ...

Chemistry / Polymers

created Jul 12, 2011 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Cheap, abundant cathode material found for producing hydrogen fuel (w/ video)

(PhysOrg.com) -- By replacing catalysts made of expensive noble metals like platinum with cheaper, earth-abundant materials, researchers have taken a step toward enabling the large-scale production of hydrogen ...

Chemistry / Materials Science

created May 10, 2011 | popularity 4.4 / 5 (22) | comments 60 | with audio podcast feature

High-efficiency solar power that floats in water

Sometimes you encounter an idea so seemingly brilliant you wonder why you didn't think of it yourself. OK, here goes: Utility-grade "concentrating" solar power ... in water. You're not applauding - what's going on?

Technology / Energy & Green Tech

created Apr 25, 2011 | popularity 4 / 5 (6) | comments 7

New ways to harvest light with low-cost photovoltaic materials

The direct conversion of sunlight into electricity using photovoltaics is becoming an increasingly important technology for renewable energy generation as a replacement for fossil fuels, with applications ...

Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials

created Apr 14, 2011 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (3) | comments 0