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 together we could have some great solar panels in no time.

Check out the story here.

Read the article here.

Maybe it’s time to find that old VW and make it into an awesome car of the future! The site says that you can use the kits with other cars as well, it just takes a little more work.

It seems to me that with the new battery technology from this post you might even be able to make a car with better range than the one in the Make magazine article. By the way, the article is available online, but you have to have a subscription to read it. You might as well just join up if this kind of thing interests you; it’s an awesome magazine.

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Gotta pay the bills:

The home security systems are used for the protection against any kind of burglary, fire losses, and accidental situation, caused by electric short cut. The most reputable and advanced security system is known as adt security devices which are used for the different safety measures. The brinks security systems and appliance are more reliable and affordable with the exclusive safety measures based on the advanced technology.

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 have some nice t-shirts as well.

General Motors recently installed a large solar array at one of its warehouses in Cucamonga, California with financial backing from a variety of sources through an organization called Developing Energy Efficient Roof Systems. (DEERS) A more detailed description can be read at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/21/business/21solar.html
(Free with registration)

While this is an example of a huge corporation taking on huge contributions from relatively wealthy donors, there are options out there for the rest of us. Both Federal and State programs exist that will help homeowners pay for installing renewable energy systems in their homes. A handy resource describing these programs state by state can be found at:

http://www.dsireusa.org/

Also, many utilities allow for “net metering.” This allows energy produced by a home to flow back into the energy grid thus turning your home into a miniature power station. This has the effect of having your power meter “run backward” and lowers your electricity bill.

So, if you are considering investing in a renewable energy system for your home, the Powers That Be of our Dear Nation are prepared to help you defray at least some of the costs.

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 as fast as I need. Oh well, it was only 60 cents. So I went back into my very small parts pile and got out another smaller motor from AS&S that is not quite as powerful as I want, but it is better than what I was using, and it will do until I can find the perfect motor. I just wanted to get my solar fan running since we are quickly running out of days hot enough to need it.

Alright, so I got the second-choice motor in there, tested it BEFORE I soldered it in place, things seemed to be good. So I soldered the wires, put the panels into the sun shining in through my window, reached for the on switch, and the sun went behind a cloud. That was 2 hours ago. It has been raining ever since. AAARRG! I only needed 10 more seconds of sun to test the wiring. Ten seconds! Stupid solar.

I’m pretty sure that it’s all set up properly, but I don’t want to assemble everything until I’m sure. Tomorrow may be our last hot, sunny day here in Indiana for the year, and I have a big day of being parked outside planned so I may just have to assemble the thing and see how it goes.

I still need to find a 1-2V 200mA motor with high rpms. If anyone has an angle for me I’d sure appreciate a heads up. Thanks.

Read more about PGE’s contributions to renewable energy and the festival here.

Visit the Rose Festval’s website for all the info.

See photos of the parade taken by spinnerin from Flickr.com

I have always thought that it must be a pain to keep gas in the generators that used to be on the flashing arrow signs on the highway, and who knows how much time and money must’ve been spent on generator maintenance. Also, it must be a hassle dealing with all the disposable batteries in the flashing lights on barrels in work zones. I can recall seeing hundreds of those lights in some areas. Although I haven’t seen any solution to the disposable battery problem (other than just not using them as much), solar seems to have solved the gererator problem on the big highway display signs.

There is a company called Solar Tech that is supplying construction companies with signs that have solar cells on top so that they no longer have to deal with generators. Aside from not having to buy gas anymore, LED technology has surely saved time and money by reducing the cost of changing burned-out light bulbs in the old signs. Also, since LEDs require less energy to operate, they made it easier (or perhaps even possible in the first place) for solar to work in this application.

A bunch of engineers at MIT made a solar cell out of spinach. For real. They looked to nature for inspiration, and realized that since plants are so good at using the Sun’s energy, maybe it could be harnessed in a more directly useful way for us. Two years ago when the article was written this technology was a long way from being commercial, and I suspect it still is, but keep your eyes peeled.

BEHOLD the Spinach Solar Cell! The article is from Science News, one of my favorite science magazines.