Saturday, September 3rd, 2011

Fascinating Study On Solar Panel Structure by 13 Year Old Boy

A kid from New York studied leaf placement on trees, and how they relate to Fibonacci sequences, in order to make more efficient solar panel arrays. Very cool. http://www.amnh.org/nationalcenter/youngnaturalistawards/2011/aidan.html

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Sunday, November 29th, 2009

Underground Solar Panel: So Crazy It Just Might Work

Two new solar photovoltaic technologies. New and exciting, but not on the market yet. Underground solar panels, and Fiber Optic Photovoltaics.  Read the article here.

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Thursday, November 5th, 2009

New Technology May Lead to More Efficient Solar Panels

Those crazy scientists!  I’m telling ya. Researchers at Oregon State University have developed a nanostructure film that may help solar panels reach new levels of efficiency by trapping more photons and letting less energy escape from reflection.  This could be a big deal.  Any gain in effieciency matters, and if we string enough of them [...]

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Saturday, March 21st, 2009

Cylindrical Solar Cell Maker Gets First Green Federal Loan Guarantee

The company that makes a new type of solar cell that is cylindrical, instead of the classic flat-panel, has received the first Federal Loan Guarantee for an alternative energy company. These new solar panels are expected to produce 20% more electricity than flat panels, and offer better performance on overcast days. Read the article here.

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Sunday, September 16th, 2007

Convert Your VW Into an Electric Vehicle!

Yes it’s true! You can convert your VW into an electric car with the kits available at e-volks.com. It’s pretty amazing really. I read about this website in Make magazine, and it looks really cool. The guy in the article made his car not only electric, but solar as well, by putting a $350 solar [...]

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Thursday, February 15th, 2007

Thin-Film Solar Bags Charge Your Device Anywhere

Reware has a trio of nice-looking bags that have thin-film solar panels built right into them. I have not seen the product with my own eyes, or tested it in any way, but they look really cool. Check it out for yourself: Reware solar bags Check out the Power Pockets while you’re there, and they [...]

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Tuesday, October 24th, 2006

General Motors Goes Solar, with Some Help from Some Friends.

The idea of solar power holds spectacular promise. The Sun is, after all, the Sun. However, for most people, or corporations, the startup costs of installing a solar power system outweigh the financial return. It will take years to recoup the cost of putting up solar panels. However, if incentives are available to help consumers [...]

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Friday, September 8th, 2006

Solar Fan (part 2)

Read part one here if you haven’t already seen it. I put the new larger motor that I got at American Science and Surplus into my solar fan. Unfortunately even though the guy tested it for me in the store, the juice that my solar panels were giving it just wasn’t enough to spin it [...]

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Monday, June 12th, 2006

Renewable Energy Featured in Portland Rose Festival

This year at the Portland Rose Festival, the Waterfront Village had its power supplied from new wind farms in Oregon and Washington. To add to the Renewable Energy awesomeness, Portland General Electric made a float for the big parade that shows off “energy-related sustainable technology.” Read more about PGE’s contributions to renewable energy and the [...]

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Wednesday, June 7th, 2006

Construction Crews Lead the Way with Solar Equippment

I’ve been seeing more and more solar panels on construction and municipal equippment lately. From solar powered flashing lights in school zones, to solar call boxes and message signs on the highway, renewable energy is popping up all over and making life better by providing power in remote areas.

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