Latest Stories in Solar Technology
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SunWater is developing a "radically affordable" solar water pump for poor farmers
One way that subsistence farmers can break out of the poverty cycle is through growing cash crops, and this low-cost solar pump could help make that happen.
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Researchers nuke up new solar cell material in microwave that used to make lunch
Scientists up-cycle the microwave that used to make lunch to develop a cheap method using more abundant and less toxic materials to make nanocrystal semiconductors.
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Moth eyes inspire more efficient thin-film solar cells
Moth eyes have evolved to cut out light reflection so that it can see well at night. Scientists have created a nanofilm that mimicks the moth's eye to enhance solar cell efficiency.
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The Mwezi Light: Illuminating new job opportunities in Africa
It’s a unique approach solving both micro and macro level problems with a scalable and sustainable solution.
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Build a solar cooker for just $5
Learn how to turn posterboard, aluminum foil, a shoelace, and a few binder clips into a solar cooker capable of reaching 375° F
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Solar project development: There's an app for that.
With an increasing number of people confessing to being "solar curious", quotes for solar PV systems may be in higher demand, and toward that end, solar professionals have a new tool at their disposal for project development.
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Solar cells made from trees are easily recyclable
The cells easily seperate apart for recycling by being submerged in room temperature water.
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Philadelphia's solar-powered trash cans: Great green idea or flawed design?
Are solar-powered trash cans a fuel-saving, money-saving way to keep the streets clean? Or are they worse than regular trash cans?
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Solar technology for farming and urban gardening
Solar power has a place in farms and gardens, with devices designed to do everything from heating water to powering tractors.
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A social network for the solar-curious consumer
The Sustainable Energy Network is an online tool that provides advanced simulations and social encouragement for the adoption of solar power and energy efficiency.
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Pay as you go solar power systems turn lives on in Guatemala
Instead of having to come up with the full amount for a small home solar system, Guatemalans will soon be able to pay as they go, using their mobile phones.
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Graphene could offer 60% solar cell efficiency!
The best known material used in solar cells is silicon, but that might change in the future; graphene, the wunderkind material for which we keep finding new uses, is proving to have very promising qualities for converting light into electricity.
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Pay as you go solar power systems provide clean, affordable lighting in Kenya
The estimated 80% of Kenyans that are not on a grid rely solely on kerosene to light their homes. But a pay-as-you-go home solar system promises to deliver clean, affordable lighting to rural areas.
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NASA to Launch World's Largest Solar Sail Next Year
The largest solar sail ever built will be launched into space in 2014, in a continued bid by NASA to explore options for "propellantless propulsion".
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New Silicon Crystal Process Could Be Breakthrough for Cheaper Solar Energy
A new method of producing crystalline silicon at low temperatures has been developed at the University of Michigan, using a process similar to making rock candy from sugar.
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9 Crowdfunded Solar Powered Gadgets: Where Are They Now?
We like to feature innovative ideas for solar powered gadgets that are crowdfunded on sites such as Kickstarter and IndieGoGo, but do you ever wonder what happens after the campaign is over? Let's take a look at how nine are doing now.
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New World Record Set for Solar Cells: 44% Efficiency
Scientists at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Solar Junction have set a new record for high-efficiency solar cells with an unprecedented 44% efficiency rate.
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Stanford Develops Peel-and-Stick Solar Cells
The solar cells can be applied to surfaces just like a decal which means they're suited for areas big or small, rigid or flexible.
