Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Solid state solar panels are more affordable, say researchers, don't leak]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/27/northwestern-university-solid-dye-solar-cell/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/27/northwestern-university-solid-dye-solar-cell/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/27/northwestern-university-solid-dye-solar-cell/#comments http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/25/northwestern-university-solid-dye-solar-cell/

Researchers at Northwestern University have found one way to stop a leak: get rid of the liquid. A new variation on the Grätzel solar cell replaces a short-lived organic dye with a solid alternative. The molecular dye the solid substance replaces was corrosive, at risk of leaking and only lasted about 18-months -- by replacing it, researchers plan to pave the way for a more affordable (and less toxic) alternative. Northwestern's new design flaunts a 10.2-percent conversion efficiency, the highest ever recorded in a solid-state solar cell of its type -- but that's still only half of what traditional sun collectors can do. Researchers hope to improve conversion in the long run, but expect that the cost reduction alone will be enough to get the party going. It may not be the greenest solar technology we've ever seen, but who are we to judge?

Solid state solar panels are more affordable, say researchers, don't leak originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 27 May 2012 12:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>gratzelgratzel solar cellGratzelSolarCellgreen energyGreenEnergynorthwestern universityNorthwesternUniversityphotovoltaicphotovoltaic cellPhotovoltaicCellsolarsolar cellsolar powerSolarCellSolarPowerSun, 27 May 2012 12:42:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT's 3D solar cells take cubism to new energy efficient heights]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/mits-3d-solar-cells-take-cubism-to-new-energy-efficient-heights/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/mits-3d-solar-cells-take-cubism-to-new-energy-efficient-heights/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/28/mits-3d-solar-cells-take-cubism-to-new-energy-efficient-heights/#comments ImageThe promise of free energy is an enticing one -- that's free as in renewable source, not cost. (This is capitalism, after all, someone's got to foot the bill.) Economic gripes aside, research outfits like M.I.T. are getting us one step closer to this cleaner fuel future with the creation of three dimensional photovoltaic cells. The team's findings, recently published in the journal Energy and Environmental Science, demonstrate how these computer-modeled structures, rising upward in an unfolded accordion shape, have been proven to increase their energy yield over contemporary flat panels by up to 20 times in field and theoretical testing. This capacity gain, made possible by an efficient harvesting of sunlight during less optimal hours of the day, could be especially helpful in powering regions prone to overcast or wintry climates. The tech is still far from consumer friendly, though, with the actual price of the associated juice exceeding that of traditional solar tech. With continued improvements to the manufacturing process, however, residential and business customers could very well look forward to a future outfitted with solar towers only a Cubist could love.

Continue reading MIT's 3D solar cells take cubism to new energy efficient heights

MIT's 3D solar cells take cubism to new energy efficient heights originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 28 Mar 2012 03:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d solar cell3dSolarCell3dTvM.I.T.MITphotovoltaicphotovoltaic cellPhotovoltaicCellsolar cellsSolarCellsWed, 28 Mar 2012 03:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Two US startups break solar efficiency records, aim to light up your life]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/two-us-startups-break-solar-efficiency-records-aim-to-light-up/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/two-us-startups-break-solar-efficiency-records-aim-to-light-up/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/two-us-startups-break-solar-efficiency-records-aim-to-light-up/#comments Two US startups break solar efficiency records, aim to light up your lifeTwo US startups are breaking solar efficiency records in their quest to bring clean, cost-effective, eco-friendly energy to a power grid near you. Alta Devices, based in Santa Clara, CA, has achieved a 23.5 percent efficiency rating with its standard solar panel, while Semprius, a Durham, NC company, has achieved a rating of 33.9 percent with its concentrated photovoltaic offering -- besting the previous records of 22.9 percent and 33 percent, respectively. Interestingly enough, both outfits chose to utilize a new material to construct their sun-sopping cells: gallium arsenide. The material, while more expensive, is better suited for absorbing the sun's energy, especially when compared to silicon, the cheaper element typically used. Alta and Semprius are looking to proliferate solar power by further refining the technology, making its price per kilowatt equivalent to that of fossil fuels without the use of government subsides. Here comes the sun...

Two US startups break solar efficiency records, aim to light up your life originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Alta DevicesAltaDevicesefficiencyEnergyGsAshigh-concentration photovoltaicHigh-concentrationPhotovoltaicphotovoltaicphotovoltaic cellphotovoltaic cellsPhotovoltaicCellPhotovoltaicCellsphotovoltaicsRenewableRenewable EnergyRenewableEnergySempriusSolarSolar CellsSolar EnergySolarCellsSolarEnergyWed, 08 Feb 2012 14:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Arman Ahnood teases OLED display with solar cells, idealizes the self-sustaining smartphone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/oled-display-with-integrated-solar-cells/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/oled-display-with-integrated-solar-cells/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/20/oled-display-with-integrated-solar-cells/#comments Plenty of effort is going into improving smartphone battery life, but only a few individuals are delving into radical realms to achieve the goal. Take for example, Arman Ahnood, a researcher at the London Centre for Nanotechnology, whose latest prototype uses solar cells to capture wasted energy from OLEDs. Similar to Wysips (which uses only ambient light), and equipment from UCLA (designed for LCDs), each project faces the unenviable task of making the smartphone a self-sustaining piece of gear.

Ahnood's handiwork relies on an array of solar cells that surround and sit beneath the phone's display. Currently, the system averages 11 percent efficiency in its energy capture, with a peak efficiency of 18 percent. Naturally, there are gains to be made. Of the light generated from OLEDs, Ahnood approximates that only 36 percent is actually projected outward. Critically speaking, this also suggests that similar power savings could be achieved with dimmer, more efficient displays, but we'll let that slide. As it stands, Ahnood's system is able to generate approximately five milliwatts of additional power, given a screen size of 3.7-inches. It's hardly sustainable, but if the creation lets us squeeze in a few more text messages on Friday night, we'll take it.

Arman Ahnood teases OLED display with solar cells, idealizes the self-sustaining smartphone originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Arman AhnoodArmanAhnooddisplaydisplaysenergyLondon Centre for NanotechnologyLondonCentreForNanotechnologymobile displayMobileDisplaymobilepostcrossoledphotovoltaicpowersmartphonesmartphonessolarsolar cellsolar cellssolar powerSolarCellSolarCellsSolarPowerFri, 20 Jan 2012 01:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Google's letting it shine as it nears $1 billion investment in solar energy]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/googles-letting-it-shine-as-it-nears-1-billion-investment-in-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/googles-letting-it-shine-as-it-nears-1-billion-investment-in-s/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/20/googles-letting-it-shine-as-it-nears-1-billion-investment-in-s/#comments
Google's feeling charitable this holiday and has pumped $94 million into a Californian solar-energy project. The photovoltaic power plant (which is a posh way of saying "lots of solar panels in the Sacramento desert valley") currently being built by Recurrent Energy will generate 88MW, enough juice for 13,000 homes. Additional investment is coming from equity fund KKR, who has already sold the first 20 years of energy to the Sacramento Municipal Utility District. It brings the search giant's investment in clean energy projects to $915 million -- with the company expected to cross the billion dollar mark some time next year, when we hope it'll get a nice loyalty bonus from Mother Nature.

Google's letting it shine as it nears $1 billion investment in solar energy originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Clean EnerguCleanEnerguGoogleGreenKKRPhotovoltaicPVSacramentosacramento municipal utility districtSacramentoMunicipalUtilityDistrictSMUDSolar EnergySolar PlantSolar PowerSolarEnergySolarPlantSolarPowerSunTapTue, 20 Dec 2011 14:08:00 EST<![CDATA[AUO's flexible e-paper to take on Stretch Armstrong in battle of the bendiest]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/auos-flexible-e-paper-to-take-on-stretch-armstrong-in-battle-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/auos-flexible-e-paper-to-take-on-stretch-armstrong-in-battle-of/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/28/auos-flexible-e-paper-to-take-on-stretch-armstrong-in-battle-of/#comments There's nothing better than unplugging on a Sunday afternoon with a newspaper and a cup of Joe, which is exactly what AU Optronics hopes to facilitate with its 6-inch Rollable Organic TFT E-paper. We've heard rumblings about the foldable photovoltaic device before, but the company has finally delivered a working prototype that is completely solar powered and elastic enough to make even Gumby jealous. Made of organic TFTs, the SVGA e-paper has an amorphous silicon PV battery, which turns natural or indoor light into solar energy without requiring a power plug. The only downside? Unlike the dead tree variety, wrapping presents in this stuff is a no-go. Check out the extended PR after the break.

Continue reading AUO's flexible e-paper to take on Stretch Armstrong in battle of the bendiest

AUO's flexible e-paper to take on Stretch Armstrong in battle of the bendiest originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 28 Oct 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6-inch Rollable Organic TFT E-paper6-inchRollableOrganicTftE-paperamorphous siliconamorphous silicon PV batteryAmorphousSiliconAmorphousSiliconPvBatteryAUOAuoE-paperAuOptronicse booke bookse readere readerse-booke-bookse-papere-readere-readerselectronic paperElectronicPaperphotovoltaicphotovoltaicssolar poweredSolarPoweredtfttft lcdTftLcdTFTSwirelessFri, 28 Oct 2011 09:59:00 EST<![CDATA[GE's new factory will push out one solar panel every ten seconds]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/17/ges-new-factory-will-push-out-one-solar-panel-every-ten-seconds/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/17/ges-new-factory-will-push-out-one-solar-panel-every-ten-seconds/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/17/ges-new-factory-will-push-out-one-solar-panel-every-ten-seconds/#comments
General Electric is sending its troops to Colorado to conquer the thin film solar panel business. The 38th state will play home to a new facility that leverages the supermodel-thin panel know-how of PrimeStar Solar, which GE scooped up back in 2008. In traditional solar panels, sand is refined into silicon ingots, sliced wafers of which are then placed in a frame. The thin film process eliminates this, sandwiching layers of semiconductors between panes of glass -- saving time, money and, most importantly, energy. The factory will open ahead of schedule in 2012 and is reportedly capable of producing a new panel every ten seconds. You can learn all of that and more in the press release we've got for you after the break.

Continue reading GE's new factory will push out one solar panel every ten seconds

GE's new factory will push out one solar panel every ten seconds originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ColoradoDanielle MerfeldDanielleMerfeldEcoEco-FriendlyEnergyEnvironmentFinanceGEGeneral ElectricGeneral Electric EnergyGeneral Electric SolarGeneralElectricGeneralElectricEnergyGeneralElectricSolarGreenNew YorkPhotovoltaicPowerPrimeStar SolarPrimestarSolarPVSci/TechSolar PanelSolar PanelsSolar PowerSolarPanelSolarPanelsSolarPowerThin FilmThin Film SolarThin-FilmThin-Film SolarThin-filmSolarThinFilmThinFilmSolarvideoMon, 17 Oct 2011 15:55:00 EST<![CDATA[Murata Tactile Controller TV remote hands-on (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/05/murata-tactile-controller-tv-remote-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/05/murata-tactile-controller-tv-remote-hands-on-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/05/murata-tactile-controller-tv-remote-hands-on-video/#comments What's that, you're not into changing the channel with that boring old remote, or even with your voice? Murata's ground-up Tactile Controller brings a real twist to every couch potato's favorite gadget. Quite literally. The company's prototype remote uses touch-pressure pads and pyroelectricity to analyze the position of a piezoelectric film. In English: a plastic film produces tiny amounts of electricity at various voltages (output as data) when it's forced into a variety of positions, letting you change the channel simply by twisting the controller in either direction, or flexing to adjust volume. The model we saw was a plastic sandwich of sorts, and also included four solar cells, capable of producing one milliwatt of electricity -- just enough to power the device.

We put the controller through its paces at the company's CEATEC booth, adjusting a TV's volume and channel up and down, and, well, up and down, since that's just about all you can do with the thing. The model we saw only supported five twist positions and four bending positions in each direction, so it could theoretically adjust those two basic settings more quickly based on how much pressure you put on the film, but realistically can't do much beyond that. The Tactile Controller on display here is more of a proof of concept of sorts -- with the concept being the plastic film technology itself, and not the battery-free remote control, which the company decided would be the most visual application for testing its new film, though not necessarily the most practical. Understandably, Murata doesn't have any plans to release the remote that we saw today, but you can jump past this to see us do the twist.

Gallery: Murata Tactile Controller hands-on

Continue reading Murata Tactile Controller TV remote hands-on (video)

Murata Tactile Controller TV remote hands-on (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ceatecceatec 2011Ceatec2011chibachiba japanChibaJapanflexiblehands-onjapanLeaf Grip Remote ControllerLeafGripRemoteControllerMurataphotovoltaicpiezoelectricpiezoelectricitypiezoelectricsprototyperemote controlRemoteControlsolar powerSolarPowertelevisiontokyotokyo japanTokyoJapanvideoWed, 05 Oct 2011 11:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Murata wants to take couch potatoes by the hand and do the remote control twist]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/25/murata-wants-to-take-couch-potatoes-by-the-hand-and-do-the-remot/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/25/murata-wants-to-take-couch-potatoes-by-the-hand-and-do-the-remot/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/25/murata-wants-to-take-couch-potatoes-by-the-hand-and-do-the-remot/#comments We've seen Murata's marketing future, and it involves either Chubby Checker or that '90s Helen Hunt movie. The Japanese electronics maker's cooked up a flexible sensor device that'll let you twist and shout bend your way to remote television control. Dubbed the Leaf Grip Remote Controller, the prototype UI design makes use of a special pyroelectric effect-free piezoelectric film that translates twisting into channel changing, rapid twisting to swap video inputs, bending for volume control and rapid bending to power the set on / off. The company's also outfitted the non-clicker (which we'll henceforth refer to as "the Twister") with a photovoltaic cell, giving it the ability to charge -- from your man cave? Kinks in its planning aside, sample shipments are expected to be delivered sometime next spring. But, before they rush this product out to market, may we suggest the inclusion of a sports-induced rage-proof mode?

Murata wants to take couch potatoes by the hand and do the remote control twist originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Sep 2011 16:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flexibleLeaf Grip Remote ControllerLeafGripRemoteControllerMurataphotovoltaicpiezoelectricpiezoelectricsremote controlRemoteControlsolar powerSolarPowertelevisionSun, 25 Sep 2011 16:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Photovoltaic polarizers could make self-charging smartphone dreams come true]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/photovoltaic-polarizers-could-make-self-charging-smartphone-drea/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/photovoltaic-polarizers-could-make-self-charging-smartphone-drea/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/photovoltaic-polarizers-could-make-self-charging-smartphone-drea/#comments There's nothing worse than losing the charge on your iPhone at the company picnic. But fear not, you won't be stranded Twitter-less next to the potato salad if UCLA's new energy recycling LCD technology ever makes it to market. According to its inventors, the traditional LCD polarization process loses as much as 75 percent of light energy -- something that eats around 80 to 90 percent of the device's power. By using polarizing organic photovoltaic cells, however, the LCD-packing gizmo can recycle its own lost backlight energy, keeping itself charged for longer. What's really cool is these cells can recycle indoor or outdoor light as well, so you will essentially never lose a charge -- or have to speak to another human IRL again. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Photovoltaic polarizers could make self-charging smartphone dreams come true

Photovoltaic polarizers could make self-charging smartphone dreams come true originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 01:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecellcellscomputercomputersdisplaysenergyiphonelcdlcdsphotovoltaicphotovoltaic cellphotovoltaic cellsphotovoltaic polarizerphotovoltaic polarizersPhotovoltaicCellPhotovoltaicCellsPhotovoltaicPolarizerPhotovoltaicPolarizerspolarizing organic photovoltaicPolarizingOrganicPhotovoltaicsmartphonesolarsolar powersolar poweredSolarPowerSolarPoweredsuntablettabletsUCLAuniversity of los angelesUniversityOfLosAngelesyang yangYangYangThu, 11 Aug 2011 01:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Solar panels light up Yosemite National Park, don't spoil your view]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/solar-panels-light-up-yosemite-national-park-dont-spoil-your-v/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/solar-panels-light-up-yosemite-national-park-dont-spoil-your-v/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/04/solar-panels-light-up-yosemite-national-park-dont-spoil-your-v/#comments Solar panels light up Yosemite National Park, don't spoil your view Normally we like to keep our technology and nature reasonably separate, but like peanut butter and chocolate, some combinations turn out better than you'd think. In the latest in a long line of projects funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Yosemite National Park has installed over 2,800 solar panels in the El Portal maintenance complex, neatly hidden from the all seeing eyes of the public. The plenitude of photovoltaic plates will produce about 800,000 kWh per year, saving the park $50,000 annually on its power bill and scoring it $700,000 in rebates from PG&E over the next 5 years. The 5.8 million dollar system cuts the park's reliance on carbon fuels by 12 percent, and is now the largest grid-connected solar energy system in the National Park Service. Press release junkies can hit the break for the official announcement; solar fanatics looking for a better view should check out KCRA's coverage in the links below.

Continue reading Solar panels light up Yosemite National Park, don't spoil your view

Solar panels light up Yosemite National Park, don't spoil your view originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Aug 2011 22:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eco-friendlygreenNational Park ServicesNational ParksNationalParksNationalParkServicesphotovoltaicphotovoltaic platesPhotovoltaicPlatessolarsolar panelsolar panelssolar powersolar poweredSolarPanelSolarPanelsSolarPowerSolarPoweredYosemiteYosemite National ParkYosemiteNationalParkThu, 04 Aug 2011 22:17:00 EST<![CDATA[MIT researchers revolutionize solar cell printing, fold the power of the sun into your everyday home (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/mit-researchers-revolutionize-solar-cell-printing-fold-the-powe/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/mit-researchers-revolutionize-solar-cell-printing-fold-the-powe/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/12/mit-researchers-revolutionize-solar-cell-printing-fold-the-powe/#comments Wouldn't it be neat if you could power a few gadgets around the house with some tastefully chosen, solar cell-embedded curtains? Alright, so this MIT-pioneered tech's not quite that advanced yet, but it's destined to have a Martha Stewart Living future. By eschewing liquids and high temperatures for gentler vapors kept below 120 degrees Celsius, researchers were able to cheaply print an array of photovoltaic cells on "ordinary untreated paper, cloth or plastic." And here's some additional food for thought -- the vapor-deposition process used to create these cells is the same as the one that puts that "silvery lining in your bag of potato chips" -- science, it's everywhere. Despite the tech's home furnishing friendly approach, this breakthrough printing technique can't be done with your everyday inkjet, but it will make the cost of solar energy installations a bit cozier. Its flexible durability aside, the cells currently operate at only one percent efficiency -- so you might want to buy those drapes in bulk to see a real bottom line kickback. Foldable paper video demonstration after the break.

Continue reading MIT researchers revolutionize solar cell printing, fold the power of the sun into your everyday home (video)

MIT researchers revolutionize solar cell printing, fold the power of the sun into your everyday home (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 12 Jul 2011 23:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>flexibleinkjetinkjet printerinkjet solarinkjet solar cellInkjetPrinterInkjetSolarInkjetSolarCellM.I.T.manufacturingmassachusetts institute of technologyMassachusettsInstituteOfTechnologyphotovoltaicphotovoltaic cellphotovoltaic cellsPhotovoltaicCellPhotovoltaicCellsprintingsolar cellsolar cell productionsolar cellssolar energysolar powerSolarCellSolarCellProductionSolarCellsSolarEnergySolarPowervideoTue, 12 Jul 2011 23:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: IKEA's massive solar array, climate-controlled clothing and ultra-green yachts]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/03/inhabitats-week-in-green-ikeas-massive-solar-array-climate-c/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/03/inhabitats-week-in-green-ikeas-massive-solar-array-climate-c/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/03/inhabitats-week-in-green-ikeas-massive-solar-array-climate-c/#comments The summer sun supercharged green technology this week as Inhabitat reported that IKEA flipped the switch on a massive 65,000 square foot solar array and designer Markus Kayser unveiled an awesome self-sufficient solar-powered laser cutter. We also spotted a clever off-grid Tropicana billboard that is juiced by oranges, and we learned about a new piezoelectric film that could lead to laptops powered by typing. Energy-generating architecture also made headlines as SMIT announced plans to roll out their Solar Ivy system on several buildings and one designer unveiled plans for a green energy island large enough to power Copenhagen.

Green transportation also reached for the sky this week as the sun-powered Solar Impulse airplane made its public debut at the Paris Air Show and EADS unveiled plans for an innovative all-electric commercial aircraft. Efficient autos also hit the streets as the Nissan Leaf became the first electric car to tackle Pike's Peak, and we learned that Porsche is working on a new breed of cars that are able to drive themselves. If pedal-powered transportation is more your speed you won't want to miss this beautiful kinetic energy-storing Potenza vehicle, and we were wowed by the solar panel-clad Emax Excalibur hybrid yacht.

In other news, we shined a light on green consumer electronics this week as we brought you a lunar LED light modeled after the moon and Peter Rojas explained how wasteful it is to keep gadgets chargers plugged in as part of our Ask a Tech Geek column. We also shared a low-tech tablet that's perfect for kids, and we showcased a new type of climate-controlled clothing that beats the summer heat. Finally, we were excited to see Sprint launch a contest where you can recycle your old cell to score a Vespa scooter and an eco smartphone, and we brought you seven sustainable designs for a greener Fourth of July.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: IKEA's massive solar array, climate-controlled clothing and ultra-green yachts originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 03 Jul 2011 21:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eco-friendlyfurnituregreenikeaInhabitatphotovoltaicsolarsolar panelsolar powersolar poweredSolarPanelSolarPowerSolarPoweredSun, 03 Jul 2011 21:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Oregon engineers roll out cheaper, less wasteful solar cells with inkjet printer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/oregon-engineers-roll-out-cheaper-less-wasteful-solar-cells-wit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/oregon-engineers-roll-out-cheaper-less-wasteful-solar-cells-wit/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/29/oregon-engineers-roll-out-cheaper-less-wasteful-solar-cells-wit/#commentsOregon engineers roll out cheaper, less wasteful solar cells with inkjet printer It looks like the push to turn the inkjet printer into the next great manufacturer of solar cells has found another proponent in a team of engineers at Oregon State University. That group of resourceful researchers claims to have created the world's first "CIGS solar devices with inkjet printing," thus giving birth to a new production process that reduces raw material waste by 90 percent. CIGS (an acronym for copper, indium, gallium, and selenium) is a highly absorbent and efficient compound, especially suited to creating thin-film solar cells. The team has used inkjet technology to pump out a CIGS ink with an efficiency of five percent, and a potential efficiency of 12 percent; apparently enough to produce a "commercially viable solar cell." Unfortunately, the group has yet to announce plans to bring the ink to our desktop printer -- so much for that backyard solar farm. Full PR after the break.

Continue reading Oregon engineers roll out cheaper, less wasteful solar cells with inkjet printer

Oregon engineers roll out cheaper, less wasteful solar cells with inkjet printer originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 29 Jun 2011 01:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chalcopyriteChih-hung ChangChih-hungChangCIGS solar cellCigsSolarCellinkjetinkjet printerinkjet solarinkjet solar cellInkjetPrinterInkjetSolarInkjetSolarCellmanufacturingOregon State UniversityOregonStateUniversityphotovoltaicphotovoltaic cellphotovoltaic cellsPhotovoltaicCellPhotovoltaicCellsprinted solar panePrintedSolarPaneproductionsolarsolar cellsolar cell productionSolarCellSolarCellProductionWed, 29 Jun 2011 01:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Solar Sinter solar-powered 3D printer turns sand into glass, renews our faith in higher education (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/26/solar-sinter-solar-powered-3d-printer-turns-sand-into-glass-ren/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/26/solar-sinter-solar-powered-3d-printer-turns-sand-into-glass-ren/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/26/solar-sinter-solar-powered-3d-printer-turns-sand-into-glass-ren/#comments Solar Sinter solar-powered 3D printer turns sand into glass, renews our faith in higher education (video) Where would we be without the world's graduate art projects? In the case of Markus Kayser's Solar Sinter, we might never have seen the day when a solar-powered 3D printer would turn Saharan sand into a perfectly suitable glass bowl. Well, lucky for us (we suppose) we live in a world overflowing with MA students, and awash in their often confusing, sometimes inspiring projects. Solar Sinter, now on display at the Royal College of Art, falls into the latter category, taking the Earth's natural elements, and turning them into functioning pieces of a burgeoning technology. Solar Sinter uses the sun's rays in place of a laser and sand in place of resin, in a process that is perhaps more visually stunning than the results. See for yourself in the video after the break.

Continue reading Solar Sinter solar-powered 3D printer turns sand into glass, renews our faith in higher education (video)

Solar Sinter solar-powered 3D printer turns sand into glass, renews our faith in higher education (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Jun 2011 00:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3d3d printer3d printing3dPrinter3dPrintingartart projectArtProjectglassKayserMAMA projectMaProjectMarkus KayserMarkusKaysermaster of artsMasterOfArtsphotovoltaicphotovoltaic cellsPhotovoltaicCellsRoyal College of ArtRoyalCollegeOfArtsaharasahara dessertSaharaDessertsandsolarsolar poweredSolar SiSolarPoweredSolarSistudentstudent projectStudentProjectsunvideoSun, 26 Jun 2011 00:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Solar Impulse completes first solar-powered international flight, Captain Piccard returns to earth]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/14/solar-impulse-completes-first-solar-powered-international-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/14/solar-impulse-completes-first-solar-powered-international-flight/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/14/solar-impulse-completes-first-solar-powered-international-flight/#comments
We're big fans of charming, ungainly Solar Impulse, and of Captain Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg's quest to circumnavigate the globe in a solar-powered plane. In case you missed the live stream: the Swiss flier just got a little closer to that goal by completing its first international flight, taking off near Berne, Switzerland and landing in Brussels, Belgium, just under 13 hours later. That's half the flight time of an earlier test, in which the craft's 200-foot wingspan, covered with 12,000 photovoltaic solar cells, kept it aloft for 26 hours. Of course, a controlled test flight is one thing -- making solar-powered flight commercially viable means proving your plane can successfully navigate busy airspace. To see Solar Impulse come in for a smooth landing, peep the video after the break.

Continue reading Solar Impulse completes first solar-powered international flight, Captain Piccard returns to earth

Solar Impulse completes first solar-powered international flight, Captain Piccard returns to earth originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 May 2011 17:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircraftairplaneandre borschbergAndreBorschbergbertrand piccardBertrandPiccardcircumnavigationeco-friendlyenvironmentally friendlyEnvironmentallyFriendlyflightgliderhb siahb-siaHbSiajetphotovoltaicpicardplanerenewable energyRenewableEnergysolar airplanesolar energysolar flightsolar impulsesolar impulse hb siasolar impulse hb-siasolar powerSolarAirplaneSolarEnergySolarFlightSolarImpulseSolarImpulseHb-siaSolarImpulseHbSiaSolarPowervideoSat, 14 May 2011 17:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Energy-efficient military uniforms to make solar-powered necktie so last season]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/24/energy-efficient-military-uniforms-to-make-solar-powered-necktie/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/24/energy-efficient-military-uniforms-to-make-solar-powered-necktie/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/24/energy-efficient-military-uniforms-to-make-solar-powered-necktie/#comments This definitely isn't the first time we've heard of wearable solar cells, but a new development underway in the UK could certainly have a greater impact than, say, an iPod-charging denim jacket. By combining photovoltaic cells with thermoelectric devices, a team of researchers is working to create new, more efficient uniforms for British troops. The solar-powered outfits could cut the weight of traditional battery packs in half, allow for significantly longer military missions, and actually absorb energy across the electromagnetic spectrum, decreasing the possibility of detection by infrared technology. To ensure 24-hour power, the solar cells will collect energy in daylight, with thermoelectric devices taking on the task at night. A prototype is set for 2013, but we wonder how long it will take to hit the catwalk.

Energy-efficient military uniforms to make solar-powered necktie so last season originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 03:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battery packBatteryPackbritainBritishcellsclothingenergymilitaryphotovoltaicphotovoltaic cellPhotovoltaicCellphotovoltaicssolarsolar cellsolar cellssolar poweredsolar-poweredSolarCellSolarCellsSolarPoweredthermoelectricthermoelectricityUKuniformuniformsunited kingdomUnitedKingdomwarThu, 24 Mar 2011 03:03:00 EST<![CDATA[New solar machine could generate hydrogen fuel, food for your future vehicle]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/26/new-solar-machine-could-generate-hydrogen-fuel-food-for-you-fut/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/26/new-solar-machine-could-generate-hydrogen-fuel-food-for-you-fut/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/26/new-solar-machine-could-generate-hydrogen-fuel-food-for-you-fut/#commentsWe're hesitant to file this one in the folder marked "Awesome Things That'll Never Happen," but it's definitely on the watch list. A new prototype solar device has been concocted to convert sunlight into fuel, much in the same way a plant does. Eco-minded folks will probably understand that conventional photovoltaic panels "must use the electricity they generate in situ," and thus, cannot deliver energy at night; this here device takes a rather unorthodox approach, using the sun's rays along with ceria (a magical, marvelous metal oxide) to "break down carbon dioxide or water into fuels which can be stored and transported." In theory, at least, the device could be used to create hydrogen and / or carbon monoxide, with the former being obviously useful for fueling up hydrogen-based cars of the future. Sadly, the existing prototype is horribly inefficient -- only around 0.7 percent of the solar energy can be converted into fuel -- but researchers are adamant that they can boost that to nearly 20 percent in time. We'll check back in a decade or so to see how things are progressing.

New solar machine could generate hydrogen fuel, food for your future vehicle originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 02:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ceriaeco-friendlyelectricityenergyfuelgreenhydrogenphotovoltaicpowerprototypePS10reactorresearchsciencesolarsolar powerSolarPowersunlightsyngasSun, 26 Dec 2010 02:18:00 EST<![CDATA[US Army testing solar powered tents for troops, gadget addicted campers]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/17/us-army-testing-solar-powered-tents-for-troops-gadget-addicted/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/17/us-army-testing-solar-powered-tents-for-troops-gadget-addicted/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/17/us-army-testing-solar-powered-tents-for-troops-gadget-addicted/#comments While the military is still hashing out plans to outfit soldiers with their own smartphones, gadgets are already a part of daily life of troops in the field. Of course, more technology means more demand for power, and the Army has been evaluating technologies for flexible, lightweight photovoltaic tents and shades. "They are ideal for charging up batteries, making sure your (communications), night vision goggles and computers are powered up. You don't want a generator on top of a mountain, and you don't want to have to bring fuel to a generator or haul batteries," said assistant secretary of the Army Katherine Hammack. Among the various items being tested are the TEMPER Fly, a roughly 16-by-20-foot tent able to generate 800 watts of electricity; QUADrant, a smaller version of the TEMPER Fly that generates roughly 200 watts of power; and Power Shades capable of generating up to 3 kilowatts of exportable electrical power. Sounds like a kick-ass tent for next year's festival season!

US Army testing solar powered tents for troops, gadget addicted campers originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armyenergygreenphotovoltaicPower ShadesPowerShadesQUADrantsolarsolar powerSolarPowerTEMPER FlyTemperFlyus armyUsArmywargadgetFri, 17 Dec 2010 19:08:00 EST<![CDATA[NRG and SunPower partner on 250-megawatt solar plant, plan to power 100,000 California homes]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/nrg-and-sunpower-partner-on-250-megawatt-solar-plant-plan-to-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/nrg-and-sunpower-partner-on-250-megawatt-solar-plant-plan-to-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/12/01/nrg-and-sunpower-partner-on-250-megawatt-solar-plant-plan-to-po/#commentsNRG Solar (get it?) and SunPower -- neither of which are strangers to extracting juice from that glowing ball of fire in our sky -- have just linked up to build one of the world's largest photovoltaic solar plants. The tandem will start construction in San Luis Obispo County next year, creating around 350 jobs in the process and helping California inch ever closer to realizing its 33 percent renewable portfolio standard. The 250-megawatt plant still pales in comparison to a few others (namely this guy in Arizona), but it dwarfs the vast majority of factories in operation today. The project is expected to stretch out for three or four years, but when all is said and done, around 100,000 homes (yeah, even the home of one Vincent Chase) will be given sun-sourced energy thanks to this here installation. That said, the actual energy bills for Californians everywhere probably won't sink -- but hey, at least you're throwing Ma Earth a well-deserved bone, right?

Continue reading NRG and SunPower partner on 250-megawatt solar plant, plan to power 100,000 California homes

NRG and SunPower partner on 250-megawatt solar plant, plan to power 100,000 California homes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 09:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiaeco-friendlyenergygreenNRGphotovoltaicsolarsolar plantsolar powersolar poweredSolarPlantSolarPowerSolarPoweredSunPowerWed, 01 Dec 2010 09:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Boeing's Spectrolab subsidiary set to mass produce 39.2 percent efficient solar cells]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/27/boeings-spectrolab-subsidiary-set-to-mass-produce-39-2-percent/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/27/boeings-spectrolab-subsidiary-set-to-mass-produce-39-2-percent/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/27/boeings-spectrolab-subsidiary-set-to-mass-produce-39-2-percent/#comments Boeing's Spectrolab subsidiary has been working on making solar cells more and more efficient for years now, and it looks like it's now set to put its latest record-breaking cells into mass production. Those come in the form of the company's new C3MJ+ solar cells, which boast an average conversion efficiency of 39.2 percent, making them the most efficient mass produced cells to date. What's more, Spectrolab says that since the new cells are so similar to its current C3MJ production cells, it should be relatively easy for customers already using those to upgrade to the new cells. Still no word on a price, it seems, but the new cells should be available in January. And, yes, Spectrolab is also hard at work on breaking its own record -- it hopes to crack the 40 percent mark later in 2011.

Boeing's Spectrolab subsidiary set to mass produce 39.2 percent efficient solar cells originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 27 Nov 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boeingC3MJC3MJ+photovoltaicphotovoltaicssolarsolar cellssolar powerSolarCellsSolarPowerspectrolabSat, 27 Nov 2010 16:31:00 EST<![CDATA[LaserMotive's unnamed quadrocopter hovers for 12 solid hours using lasers alone]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/01/lasermotives-unnamed-quadrocopter-hovers-for-12-solid-hours-usi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/01/lasermotives-unnamed-quadrocopter-hovers-for-12-solid-hours-usi/http://www.engadget.com/2010/11/01/lasermotives-unnamed-quadrocopter-hovers-for-12-solid-hours-usi/#commentsProtip: $900,000 goes a long way, particularly when you're dumping practically all of it into a single investment (Hello Kitty lap warmers notwithstanding). LaserMotive, the company lauded for bringing home nearly a million bucks in the 2009 NASA-sponsored Space Elevator Games, has just broken an endurance record for laser-powered hovering with its unnamed Pelican. This here quadrocopter is designed to get energized by converting beams into power via a set of photovoltaic panels on its underside, and in a recent test, lasers were able to keep it afloat for over 12 hours. It never hovered much higher than 30 feet, and it barely moved from left to right while in the air, but we're guessing it was marginally more interesting than watching paint dry. All jesting aside, the milestone makes it a lot more feasible for the company to get this technology into UAVs used in the military -- "for example, laser-powered copters could perform on-the-road reconnaissance missions when convoys travel through a combat zone." And if you're looking to take home something similar on a far smaller scale, there's always the AR.Drone.

Continue reading LaserMotive's unnamed quadrocopter hovers for 12 solid hours using lasers alone

LaserMotive's unnamed quadrocopter hovers for 12 solid hours using lasers alone originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 22:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Ascending TechnologiesAscendingTechnologiesautonomousflightflight recordFlightRecordHelicopterlaserlaser powerlaser poweredLaserMotiveLaserPowerLaserPoweredPelicanphotovoltaicquadrocopterrecordrobotsolarsolar powersolar poweredSolarPowerSolarPoweredUAVMon, 01 Nov 2010 22:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Self-repairing solar cells could also fix our energy dependency]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/07/self-repairing-solar-cells-could-also-fix-our-energy-dependency/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/07/self-repairing-solar-cells-could-also-fix-our-energy-dependency/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/07/self-repairing-solar-cells-could-also-fix-our-energy-dependency/#commentsSelf-repairing solar cells could also fix our energy dependencyIt doesn't take much for a photovoltaic cell to not work quite as well as it used to. Sure, a big hail storm or the like will do a number on your megabucks rooftop installation, but the sun itself, the very thing those cells are designed to capture, gradually damages their internals, reducing efficiency. The fix, according to a team at MIT, is self-assembling (and therefore self-repairing) solar cells made up of a synthetic molecular soup containing phospholipids that, when mixed with a solution, attach themselves to a series of carbon nanotubes for alignment. Other molecules that react with light then attach to the phospholipids and, with a little illumination, start firing out electrons like mad. After a few hours of solar pummeling the whole thing can be broken down and automatically re-created, returning efficiency to maximum. Overall efficiency of the system is extremely low currently, thanks to a low concentration of those photon-catching structures, but individually they capture about 40 percent of the light's energy, meaning a higher concentration could make for very hearty soup indeed.

Self-repairing solar cells could also fix our energy dependency originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 07 Sep 2010 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternative energyAlternativeEnergycarbon nanotubeCarbonNanotubemitphoto voltaicPhotoVoltaicpvsolarsolar cellsolar powerSolarCellSolarPowervoltaicTue, 07 Sep 2010 11:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Ford to install solar cells at SUV factory, Mother Nature sees glimmer of hope]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/13/ford-to-install-solar-at-suv-factory-mother-nature-sees-glimmer/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/13/ford-to-install-solar-at-suv-factory-mother-nature-sees-glimmer/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/13/ford-to-install-solar-at-suv-factory-mother-nature-sees-glimmer/#comments
From the Baby Steps department: Ford will be working with Detroit Edison to install a 500-kilowatt photovoltaic array and 750kw battery storage system at its Michigan Assembly plant in Wayne. While this is a great thing, the sun will only be handling about 0.5 percent of the plant's yearly 140,000,000-kilowatt-hour consumption. More important than that 0.5 percent, however, is the fact that the PV system will serve as a kind of teaching facility on the subjects of load-shifting, voltage support, off-peak charging, and demand response for an industrial setting -- i.e., an automobile manufacturing plant. Kudos to Ford for the teachable moment, but we know it can do better: the outfit's Dagenham Diesel Center in the UK is powered completely by on-site wind turbines. And we think they will do better: it tells us it's still investigating the possibility of a wind energy component for this and other facilities. You're welcome, Ma Earth.

Ford to install solar cells at SUV factory, Mother Nature sees glimmer of hope originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 13 Aug 2010 05:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automobiledetroiteco-friendlyedisonfordgreenmichiganphotovoltaicpvrenewable energyRenewableEnergysolarsolar powersolar poweredSolarPowerSolarPoweredFri, 13 Aug 2010 05:17:00 EST<![CDATA[HomeSun to install gratis solar panels on UK roofs, hope for reimbursement]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/08/homesun-to-install-gratis-solar-panels-on-uk-roofs-hope-for-rei/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/08/homesun-to-install-gratis-solar-panels-on-uk-roofs-hope-for-rei/http://www.engadget.com/2010/08/08/homesun-to-install-gratis-solar-panels-on-uk-roofs-hope-for-rei/#commentsAs the story goes, the UK government is helping to subsidize the installation of solar panels on homes around the country, and HomeSun is hoping to make a name for itself by providing a bit of encouragement for those on the fence. Reportedly, the outfit will be providing and installing 2.5 kWh to 4 kWh systems -- which typically range between £11,000 and £15,000 -- for precisely nothing on abodes with "optimally sited and sized roofs." Post-install, HomeSun will receive government funds over 25 years, and at any point, customers can buy the system off on a straightline depreciation basis and start receiving the feed-in tariff themselves. Better still, those who don't meet the "free" qualifications can still get in on the goodness for a one-time fee of £500 and a £5/month maintenance charge. We'd suggest you apply quick, though -- the company will only be installing 100,000 systems over the next three years.

HomeSun to install gratis solar panels on UK roofs, hope for reimbursement originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 08 Aug 2010 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eco-friendlyelectricityenergyenglandgreenHomeSunhouseholdinternationalphotovoltaicpowersolarsolar panelsolar powersolar poweredsolar-powerSolarPanelSolarPowerSolarPoweredsunukSun, 08 Aug 2010 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: fuel efficiency flies high, turbines touch the sky, and salt that stores sunlight]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/25/inhabitats-week-in-green-fuel-efficency-flies-high-turbines-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/25/inhabitats-week-in-green-fuel-efficency-flies-high-turbines-t/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/25/inhabitats-week-in-green-fuel-efficency-flies-high-turbines-t/#commentsEach week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green.

This week Inhabitat brought you a surge of renewable energy news as groundbreaking projects supercharged every corner of the world. London officially crowned the first skyscraper with built-in wind turbines while Sicily generated solar power in the dead of night with the world's first solar plant that stores energy using molten salt. And speaking of solar power, China is heating things up with the largest building-integrated photovoltaic plant on the planet.

In transportation news, we scored an exclusive interview with auto manufacturer Edison2, who is currently coming up aces with three ultra-efficient vehicles in the final stages of the Progressive Auto X Prize -- and we watched high-tech aviation soar to new heights as Airbus unveiled its vision for a fuel-efficient aircraft of the future.

Finally, we were wowed by the world's first biomass consuming robot, which actually eats, excretes, and can run for a whole week unsupervised. If you're thinking "I can do that" then we encourage you to try - why not start training with this exercise-inducing treadmill desk? Don't forget to wear your spiffy glow-in-the-dark performance wear; your co-workers will love it.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: fuel efficiency flies high, turbines touch the sky, and salt that stores sunlight originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Airbusauto x prizeauto x-prizeAutoX-prizeAutoXPrizebiomassglow in the darkGlowInTheDarkinhabitatphotovoltaicrobotRobotssolarsolar powerSolarPowertreadmilltreadmill deskTreadmillDeskturbineweek in greenWeekInGreenwind powerWindPowerSun, 25 Jul 2010 22:00:00 EST<![CDATA[J.R. Ewing's back to promote solar power, no one under 30 knows why this is so funny]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/j-r-ewings-back-to-promote-solar-power-no-one-under-30-knows/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/j-r-ewings-back-to-promote-solar-power-no-one-under-30-knows/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/14/j-r-ewings-back-to-promote-solar-power-no-one-under-30-knows/#comments
Remember Dallas? It was on after The Dukes of Hazzard? Anyways, series star J.R. Ewing (the hard drinking, hard fighting Texas oilman played by Larry Hagman) is seeing his role reprised as a spokesman for SolarWorld, a German-based manufacturer of Photovoltaic arrays that has manufacturing facilities in California and Oregon. Hagman, it seems, has long been a proponent of green energy. Not only has he installed a 94-kilowatt, $750,000 array on his estate in Ojai, California, but he also serves on the board of the Solar Electric Light Fund, a nonprofit that brings solar systems and Internet access to poor people in remote corners of the globe. "With all that oil gushing away in the gulf," Hagman told The New York Times, "I figured it was time to call for a new direction in where we're getting our energy. Since Sarah Palin is saying, 'Drill, baby, drill,' I'm saying, 'Shine, baby, shine.'" We couldn't agree more. Now, how about reviving Major Nelson to promote space exploration?

J.R. Ewing's back to promote solar power, no one under 30 knows why this is so funny originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>green energyGreenEnergyJ.R. EwingJ.r.Ewinglarry hagmanLarryHagmanphotovoltaicscienceSolar Electric Light Fundsolar powerSolarElectricLightFundSolarPowersolarworldsustainableWed, 14 Jul 2010 16:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Meet Marvin, the ginormous solar-assisted catamaran]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/meet-marvin-the-ginormous-solar-assisted-catamaran/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/meet-marvin-the-ginormous-solar-assisted-catamaran/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/08/meet-marvin-the-ginormous-solar-assisted-catamaran/#comments Nah, it's not actually able to get engine power from the insanely large solar panels adorning its roof, but Marvin still utilizes the 35 square meters of photovoltaic panels to run everything else in an eco-friendly fashion. Sadly, this 50 foot fiberglass cruising catamaran is merely a concept for now, but we're hoping that a few VCs get together in order to make this bad boy a reality. Surely there's a Russian billionaire in need of a boat to visit his new home in Newark, right?

[Thanks, Panos]

Meet Marvin, the ginormous solar-assisted catamaran originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Jul 2010 21:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boatcatamaranconceptdesigneco-friendlygreenMarvinphotovoltaicshipsolarsolar boatsolar powersolar poweredsolar-powersolar-poweredSolarBoatSolarPowerSolarPoweredThu, 08 Jul 2010 21:44:00 EST<![CDATA[LG's solar hybrid AC unit probably won't do much to cool your power bill]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/http://www.engadget.com/2010/06/21/lgs-solar-hybrid-ac-unit-probably-wont-do-much-to-cool-your-po/#commentsLG's solar hybrid AC unit probably won't do much to cool your power bill Air conditioning that's 90 percent more efficient? Pshaw. How about solar air conditioning that powers itself on the sunniest days? That's a lovely concept, and rather sadly LG's solar hybrid air conditioner is not its realization. This PV-toting central unit is said to generate up to 70 watts of power per hour under what we're assuming would be ideally sunny conditions. Meanwhile, residential central AC units suck down more than 2,000 watts when running -- which they would probably be doing during those ideally sunny conditions. In other words, this panel is a step in the right direction, but a very, very tiny one. LG isn't indicating how much that step will cost you, but we're inclined to think it won't be cheap.

LG's solar hybrid AC unit probably won't do much to cool your power bill originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Jun 2010 10:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acair conditioningAirConditioningenvironmentgreenlg solar hybrid air conditionerLgSolarHybridAirConditionerphotovoltaicsolarsolar hybrid air conditionersolar powerSolarHybridAirConditionerSolarPowerMon, 21 Jun 2010 10:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Massive, solar powered bird is overseeing Coachella, pretty stoked about its chance to see Phoenix]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/16/massive-solar-powered-bird-is-overseeing-coachella-pretty-stok/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/16/massive-solar-powered-bird-is-overseeing-coachella-pretty-stok/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/16/massive-solar-powered-bird-is-overseeing-coachella-pretty-stok/#comments
This massive structure will greet you this weekend if you're headed to the Coachella music festival. It's a 45-foot tall solar-powered crane (the bird), and it boasts multicolored LEDs for what will surely be an awe-inspiring night. The huge art installation has a wingspan of 150 feet and weighs about 35,000 pounds. The photovoltaic-powered birdie was designed by Crimson Collective, and it's just another reason we're regretting our decision not to head out west for the festival. If you're lucky enough to be at Coachella, be sure to snap some closeups of the origami-styled crane hanging out with Steve Malkmus for us, okay? Hit the source link for a bunch of other photos.

Massive, solar powered bird is overseeing Coachella, pretty stoked about its chance to see Phoenix originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artbirdbirdscoachellacoachella2010cranecrimson collectiveCrimsonCollectivephotovoltaicphotovoltaicssolarsolar powerSolarPowerFri, 16 Apr 2010 16:59:00 EST<![CDATA[PlanetSolar boat aims for Earth circumnavigation with Sun's help, enters testing stage (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/01/planetsolar-boat-aims-for-earth-circumnavigation-with-suns-help/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/01/planetsolar-boat-aims-for-earth-circumnavigation-with-suns-help/http://www.engadget.com/2010/04/01/planetsolar-boat-aims-for-earth-circumnavigation-with-suns-help/#comments You'll be forgiven for letting the PlanetSolar boat slip your mind in the year that's passed since we last heard of it, but the engineers behind the project haven't been slacking and today we're hearing that the multihull vessel has been put into the water to begin its seafaring tests. With nearly 5,400 square feet of photovoltaic cells adorning its roof, this is by far the biggest and most ambitious solar-powered boat yet, so it's no surprise that it won't be casting off on its globe circumnavigation attempt until at least April 2011. For now, you can enjoy photos of the vast ray-muncher at the PlanetSolar link below or skip past the break for the latest video from the team.

[Thanks, Pavel]

Continue reading PlanetSolar boat aims for Earth circumnavigation with Sun's help, enters testing stage (video)

PlanetSolar boat aims for Earth circumnavigation with Sun's help, enters testing stage (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 06:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boatcircumnavigationeco-friendlyenvironmentally friendlyEnvironmentallyFriendlygermanyknierim yachtbauKnierimYachtbauphotovoltaicplanetsolarraphael domjanRaphaelDomjanrenewable energyRenewableEnergysolarsolar energysolar powersolar poweredsolar-poweredSolarEnergySolarPowerSolarPoweredvideoyachtThu, 01 Apr 2010 06:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Caltech gurus whip up highly efficient, low cost flexible solar cell]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/28/caltech-gurus-whip-up-highly-efficient-low-cost-flexible-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/28/caltech-gurus-whip-up-highly-efficient-low-cost-flexible-solar/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/28/caltech-gurus-whip-up-highly-efficient-low-cost-flexible-solar/#commentsSolar cells are cute and all, but let's be real -- these things are far too inefficient for mainstream use. Scientists at the California Institute of Technology are working hard to remedy that very issue, and they've recently concocted a "new type of flexible solar cell that enhances the absorption of sunlight and efficiently converts its photons into electrons." The solution relies on arrays of long, thin silicon wires embedded onto a polymer substrate, which uses just a fraction of the expensive semiconductor materials required by conventional solar cells. According to professor Harry Atwater, these cells have "surpassed the conventional light-trapping limit for absorbing materials" for the first time, and we're told that the arrays can convert between 90 and 100 percent of the photons they absorb into electrons, and yes, that does mean that they have a near-perfect internal quantum efficiency. Hit the source link for all the technobabble, and cross your fingers for this stuff to get the honored approval of the Governator.

Caltech gurus whip up highly efficient, low cost flexible solar cell originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 28 Feb 2010 01:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>californiacaltecheco-friendlyefficiencyflexibleflexible solar cellFlexibleSolarCellgreenlightphotovoltaicplasticresearchscienceSilicon Wire ArraySilicon Wire ArraysSiliconWireArraySiliconWireArrayssolarsolar cellssolar powerSolarCellsSolarPoweruniversitySun, 28 Feb 2010 01:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Solaroad's CubeTube adds solar panels to your cube, lowers the cost of you working there]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/solaroads-cubetube-adds-solar-panels-to-your-cubical-lowers-th/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/solaroads-cubetube-adds-solar-panels-to-your-cubical-lowers-th/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/24/solaroads-cubetube-adds-solar-panels-to-your-cubical-lowers-th/#commentsIt's 2010, which means there's a significant chance that your cubicle work could be done from absolutely anywhere. For those still stuck under the burden of old-school management, here's an idea that might just nab you that raise you've been longing for: the CubeTube. Engineered by Solaroad Technologies, this indoor photovoltaic electrical generator straps onto the edges and tops of conventional cubicles and collects light from every angle. Internal batteries are charged up, and power is instantly available for the decade-old Latitude and CRT monitor that's still residing on your desk. It sounds like you'll need to ping the company directly for pricing quotes and the like, but if you managers are seriously considering this for your office, maybe they should first calculate the cost and carbon savings from letting their subordinates telecommute. Just sayin'.

Solaroad's CubeTube adds solar panels to your cube, lowers the cost of you working there originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cubetubeeco-friendlyelectricityenergygeneratorgreenlightlightingphotovoltaicpowersolarSolaroadWed, 24 Feb 2010 21:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Inhabitat's Week in Green: photovoltaics, footballs, and Greener Gadgets]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/05/inhabitats-week-in-green-photovoltaics-footballs-and-greener/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/05/inhabitats-week-in-green-photovoltaics-footballs-and-greener/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/05/inhabitats-week-in-green-photovoltaics-footballs-and-greener/#commentsThe Week in Green is a new item from our friends at Inhabitat, recapping the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us.
This week at Inhabitat we saw several hot advances in solar technology that stand to shape how our buildings are built and how we power the electronics in our lives. CASE in point: this beautiful glass photovoltaic system can be affixed to windows and actually magnifies the available sunlight inside into tiny solar chips to create electricity.

In other photovoltaic news, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania just unveiled the world's first solar-powered circuits. These tiny chips may one day be integrated directly within computer touch screens, essentially transforming them into multitasking solar panels.

We're also excited to see that the finalists of the 2010 Greener Gadgets Design Competition have been announced. Two of our favorites right off the bat are these wind turbine streetlights that harvest energy from passing cars and Rocco, the kinetic energy-generating rocking horse. Check out all the entries and vote for your favorite!

This week was a big week for efficient aviation as we learned of Portugal's plans to replace PVC airplane parts with lightweight cork and watched as Seymourpowell floated a fantastic plan for a fuel-cell powered luxury airship.

Finally, the states may be getting charged for Super Bowl Sunday, but youth in Africa are kicking around a different kind of football -- one capable of generating energy in off-grid locations. We also saw a similar concept called the swirl ball that makes doing laundry a blast - fill it full of clothes and water and then kick it around until they're clean.

Inhabitat's Week in Green: photovoltaics, footballs, and Greener Gadgets originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airshipCASEfootballgreener gadgetsGreenerGadgetsinhabitatphotovoltaicPVCsoccersolarsolar powerSolarPowerswirl ballSwirlBallweek in greenWeekInGreenwigFri, 05 Feb 2010 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Photovoltaic circuit makes solar-powered touchscreens possible, not yet plausible]]>http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/05/photovoltaic-circuit-makes-solar-powered-touchscreens-possible/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/05/photovoltaic-circuit-makes-solar-powered-touchscreens-possible/http://www.engadget.com/2010/02/05/photovoltaic-circuit-makes-solar-powered-touchscreens-possible/#comments What's cooler than the latest in technology? How about the latest in self-powering technology? University of Pennsylvania researchers have put together what seems like the world's first photovoltaic circuit, which is to say that the electronic parts of your devices will no longer have to just consume energy, they'll be able to harvest it directly from the sun. The most obvious application for this would be in smartphone touchscreens, which could recharge themselves while you sip your latte at the local sun-drenched coffee shop. Of course, such practical uses are still a fair distance away, as the team can generate only minuscule amounts of power at present, but the theory is in place and so is our attention. Don't let us down, Penn!

Photovoltaic circuit makes solar-powered touchscreens possible, not yet plausible originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>chargechargerenergyphotovoltaicphotovoltaic circuitPhotovoltaicCircuitpowerresearchsolarsolar chargedsolar chargersolar chargingsolar energysolar powerSolarChargedSolarChargerSolarChargingSolarEnergySolarPowertouchscreenuniversityuniversity of pennsylvaniaUniversityOfPennsylvaniaFri, 05 Feb 2010 03:07:00 EST<![CDATA[Snowflake-shaped photovoltaic cells bring the holiday cheer]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/24/snowflake-shaped-photovoltaic-cells-bring-the-holiday-cheer/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/24/snowflake-shaped-photovoltaic-cells-bring-the-holiday-cheer/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/24/snowflake-shaped-photovoltaic-cells-bring-the-holiday-cheer/#comments
Sandia National Laboratories have unveiled their newest photovoltaic cells -- glitter-sized particles made of crystalline silicon. The cells are made using common microelectronic and microelectromechanical systems techniques, and the results are pretty spectacular to behold. More interestingly, however, is the fact that they use 100 times less material in generating the same amount of energy as a regular solar cell.

Because of their size and shape, the cells are well-suited to unusual applications, and researchers envision mass-production of the cells for use on building-integrated tents or clothing, so campers (or military personnel) could recharge their cell phones on the go. Researchers also think that these particles will be inexpensive to produce, but there's no word on when they'll be ready for consumer application. We'll keep you posted -- but hit the source link for more a more detailed description.

Snowflake-shaped photovoltaic cells bring the holiday cheer originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>clothingelectricityenergyphotovoltaicphotovoltaic cellPhotovoltaicCellphotovoltaicspowersnowflakesolarsolar cellsolar powerSolarCellSolarPowerThu, 24 Dec 2009 14:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Bacteria taught to spin microscopic gears right round, could make for better solar panels]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/bacteria-taught-to-spin-microscopic-gears-right-round-could-mak/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/bacteria-taught-to-spin-microscopic-gears-right-round-could-mak/http://www.engadget.com/2009/12/21/bacteria-taught-to-spin-microscopic-gears-right-round-could-mak/#commentsBacteria taught to spin microscopic gears right round, could make for better solar panels With a name like Bacillus subtilis and a size of five microns you probably wouldn't expect much in the way of heavy lifting, but don't let first impressions fool you. This tiny organism has been taught by scientists at Argonne National Laboratory to spin little gears that weigh one million times more than the bacteria themselves -- that'd be like you lifting both an original Xbox and a PS3 at the same time! Applications are, apparently, endless, but the one that caught our eye involves photovoltaics able to "snag lots of photons from the sun." You know what that means: more juice for your Prius so you can crank that Dead or Alive CD guilt-free.

Bacteria taught to spin microscopic gears right round, could make for better solar panels originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>argonneargonne national laboratoryArgonneNationalLaboratorybacillus subtilisBacillusSubtilisbacteriaphotovoltaicsolar cellSolarCellMon, 21 Dec 2009 09:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Dow's POWERHOUSE solar shingles get along with non-solar siblings, your HOA]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/dows-powerhouse-solar-shingles-get-along-with-non-solar-sibling/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/dows-powerhouse-solar-shingles-get-along-with-non-solar-sibling/http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/dows-powerhouse-solar-shingles-get-along-with-non-solar-sibling/#comments Oh sure, massive photovoltaic installations on rooftops are nothing terribly new, but by and large, the ones we've seen are stuck on massive warehouses or elaborate stadiums in foreign lands. Dow Chemical is doing its darnedest to change all that with the introduction of the POWERHOUSE line of solar shingles. As you'd expect, these solar shingles are aimed at roofers looking to tip their hats to Ma Earth while providing shelter for well-endowed homeowners, and unlike most of the futuristic alternatives, these actually look somewhat similar to traditional shingles. Dow claims that "affordability" will be a feature when they become widely available in 2011, but we're understandably skeptical of such a claim given just how pricey solar roofs currently are (and you know, considering the company's for-profit standing).

[Via Jetson Green]

Filed under: ,

Dow's POWERHOUSE solar shingles get along with non-solar siblings, your HOA originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>buildingconstructiondowdow chemicalDowChemicaleco-friendlyhousehousingPhotovoltaicPOWERHOUSEroofroofingscienceshinglessolarsolar poweredsolar shinglesSolarPoweredSolarShinglesThu, 08 Oct 2009 10:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Solar Roads get small DoE contract, confidence to change the world]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/06/solar-roads-gets-small-doe-contract-confidence-to-change-the-wo/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/06/solar-roads-gets-small-doe-contract-confidence-to-change-the-wo/http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/06/solar-roads-gets-small-doe-contract-confidence-to-change-the-wo/#comments
Solar roadways? Yeah, we've seen 'em before, but we've yet to see America's own Department of Energy give any one development company such a notable vouch of confidence. Just recently, the DoE handed over a $100,000 contract to Solar Roadways, which is just enough to build a prototype of the "first ever Solar Road panel." The 12- x 12-foot panels could theoretically be embedded into roads, and when shined upon, could pipe good, clean electricity straight into the grid. Heck, they could even boast LEDs in order to alert drivers to upcoming accidents or changes in road conditions. Reportedly, each panel would cost around $7,000 (at least initially), and if these were used on the entire US Interstate system, we could pretty much forget about using non-renewable energy sources to power our homes and businesses. Of course, our government is simultaneously wasting money on repaving perfectly good roadways with antiquated asphalt, so there's a tremendously great chance that this won't amount to anything.

[Via Inhabitat, thanks Miko]

Filed under:

Solar Roads get small DoE contract, confidence to change the world originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 06 Sep 2009 18:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>eco-friendlyenergygreenhighwayphotovoltaicroadsolarsolar powersolar poweredsolar roadsolar roadssolar roadwayssolar-powersolar-poweredSolarPowerSolarPoweredSolarRoadSolarRoadsSolarRoadwaystransportationSun, 06 Sep 2009 18:06:00 EST<![CDATA[Captain Piccard unveils Solar Impulse HB-SIA solar-powered plane]]>http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/captain-piccard-unveils-solar-impulse-hb-sia-solar-powered-plane/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/captain-piccard-unveils-solar-impulse-hb-sia-solar-powered-plane/http://www.engadget.com/2009/07/03/captain-piccard-unveils-solar-impulse-hb-sia-solar-powered-plane/#comments
You might have seen solar-powered planes before, but few of them come with as much world-changing ambition as the Solar Impulse. Launched in 2003, the project aims to demonstrate the viability of renewable energy sources by being the first to perform a manned flight around the globe using only solar power. The technology is nothing to scoff at, as the 200-foot wingspan features 12,000 photovoltaic solar cells bringing power to four electric motors. Captain Bertrand Piccard, one of the key men behind this project, is best known as one half of the first team to circumnavigate the world in a balloon in 1999. He hopes, together with partner André Borschberg, to repeat that achievement in Solar Impulse's next iteration, the HB-SIB, in 2012. Make it so, guys.

[Via Gizmag]

Filed under:

Captain Piccard unveils Solar Impulse HB-SIA solar-powered plane originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aircraftandre borschbergAndreBorschbergbertrand piccardBertrandPiccardflightgliderhb siahb-siaHbSiajetphotovoltaicplanerenewable energyRenewableEnergySolar impulsesolar impulse hb siasolar impulse hb-siasolar powersolar-poweredSolarImpulseSolarImpulseHb-siaSolarImpulseHbSiaSolarPowerFri, 03 Jul 2009 22:06:00 EST