2MaureenRoy
Thanks for that update. Somewhere here in SoCal I saw a report about efforts to begin 3-D printing of solar cells or solar panels. The current stumbling block is difficulty in replicating silicon. Hopefully WIRED magazine or someone will follow up on that important story.
The Self-Sufficient Home: going green and saving money is a more recent book (2009) from prolific writer and teacher Christopher Nyerges. He gives a simple example of how to do a home power survey so that anyone can understand the amount of electricity they use now.
The Self-Sufficient Home: going green and saving money is a more recent book (2009) from prolific writer and teacher Christopher Nyerges. He gives a simple example of how to do a home power survey so that anyone can understand the amount of electricity they use now.
3MaureenRoy
Relevant new titles include:
Solar power your home for dummies
Solar electricity handbook -- the LT touchstone shows as 2011, but Barnes and Noble website says there is a 2013 update, hurray.
Forthcoming in November 2013: The Visual Handbook of Energy Conservation: a comprehensive guide to reducing energy use at home. Author is Charlie Wing, who has written a lot of stuff previously for recreational boaters. Publisher name is The Taunton Press, which does not yet list the book as of July 1, 2013:
http://www.taunton.com
Solar power your home for dummies
Solar electricity handbook -- the LT touchstone shows as 2011, but Barnes and Noble website says there is a 2013 update, hurray.
Forthcoming in November 2013: The Visual Handbook of Energy Conservation: a comprehensive guide to reducing energy use at home. Author is Charlie Wing, who has written a lot of stuff previously for recreational boaters. Publisher name is The Taunton Press, which does not yet list the book as of July 1, 2013:
http://www.taunton.com
42wonderY
As solar power use by utilities increases, there are new considerations. Things like solar eclipses, though of short duration, have to be thought of in new terms:
http://news.yahoo.com/europe-braces-unprecedented-power-issues-solar-eclipse-141...
http://news.yahoo.com/europe-braces-unprecedented-power-issues-solar-eclipse-141...
5MaureenRoy
2wonderY, agreed. Two other issues along those lines are 1) the need for rooftop lightning rods, and 2) making sure one's solar rooftop is still accessible to firefighters in case a fire starts in one's home. We have older solar panels, and because we live in a redwood forest with Tall trees, our solar installer recommends rooftop installation ... so if we go that way we will have our fire department inspect the plans before we put *anything* on our roof.
From the Hawaiian islands comes an important innovation making solar more affordable. Aloha to whomever came up with this great idea! http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/19/business/energy-environment/solar-power-battle...
From the Hawaiian islands comes an important innovation making solar more affordable. Aloha to whomever came up with this great idea! http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/19/business/energy-environment/solar-power-battle...
62wonderY
Has anyone else had experience yet with Arcadia Power (in the USA)?
A friend forwarded an email solicitation with this content:
"Sign up for 100% wind energy now.
Dear K,
When it comes to preventing the worst impacts of climate change, a clean energy future isn't a choice — it's a necessity.
Unfortunately, the dirty utilities who power our homes don't see it that way. They've fought clean energy, and a majority of our electricity still comes from dirty fossil fuels, like coal and fracked gas.
For too long, most people in Kentucky haven't had an easy way to get 100% clean electricity, and help increase demand for the clean, renewable energy we all need. Now you can.
Switch to 100% clean wind energy from Arcadia Power — America's first nationwide community wind program — and get $20 off your next electric bill. It only takes 5 minutes.
The more of us who chose 100% clean electricity, the bigger the demand will be. That's a crucial part of encouraging lawmakers, energy companies and utilities to invest in the clean energy future we need.
With Arcadia Power, you can. Arcadia buys clean wind power to offset 100% of the fossil-fuel electricity supplied to you by your utility — for just a little more than you pay now.
When you make the switch, your utility will still continue to deliver electricity through the same power lines, but Arcadia Power will ensure that 100% of your usage is covered by clean wind power. No equipment needed, and you'll experience the same reliability you're used to. You just set up an account online, and Arcadia Power gets to work for you by linking up with your current local utility.
Switching to Arcadia doesn't just cover your own electricity usage with 100% wind energy. It is a way to use your electric bill to cast an important vote for clean energy and be part of increasing demand for clean energy.
Sign up for clean energy for you home, apartment or business. Get $20 off your next electric bill by switching – with no long term obligation. And when you switch at the link below, Arcadia will also support CREDO's work to fight for the environment and progressive change:
http://act.credoaction.com/go/10314?t=4&akid=16306.6513160._Ef77N
Thank you for supporting clean energy."
It's easy enough to do some preliminary research on the web.
I found what seems like a fair and full disclosure:
http://floridasolardesigngroup.com/should-i-buy-power-from-arcadia-power/
"You will not save money (your electricity will cost about 15% more). You will not be “running on solar energy” in reality. You will not be buying actual renewable energy for your home, and you will continue to use the same utility company."
"You can think of this as a voluntary tax or sorts that goes to a specific cause. It’s like planting a tree if you drive a gas guzzler. It’s not a bad idea, but make sure you know exactly what you are buying before committing to this program."
The marketing email seems awfully weaselly. I am very put off by their lack of full disclosure.
ETA - Here's another short article from Mother Jones archives: http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2010/01/green-power-scam
Pacific Power says our premium "avoided the release of 897 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions into the air...equivalent to not driving 909 miles." But it's hard to verify those numbers, says Stanford professor Michael Wara, who studies carbon markets. "You don't have an overseeing regulator ensuring that the claims made are backed up."
and
in 2008, only 67 percent of my Blue Sky bucks purchased RECs; the remaining 33 percent was spent on staff and publicity. On average, 19 percent of green programs' revenues go to marketing,
A friend forwarded an email solicitation with this content:
"Sign up for 100% wind energy now.
Dear K,
When it comes to preventing the worst impacts of climate change, a clean energy future isn't a choice — it's a necessity.
Unfortunately, the dirty utilities who power our homes don't see it that way. They've fought clean energy, and a majority of our electricity still comes from dirty fossil fuels, like coal and fracked gas.
For too long, most people in Kentucky haven't had an easy way to get 100% clean electricity, and help increase demand for the clean, renewable energy we all need. Now you can.
Switch to 100% clean wind energy from Arcadia Power — America's first nationwide community wind program — and get $20 off your next electric bill. It only takes 5 minutes.
The more of us who chose 100% clean electricity, the bigger the demand will be. That's a crucial part of encouraging lawmakers, energy companies and utilities to invest in the clean energy future we need.
With Arcadia Power, you can. Arcadia buys clean wind power to offset 100% of the fossil-fuel electricity supplied to you by your utility — for just a little more than you pay now.
When you make the switch, your utility will still continue to deliver electricity through the same power lines, but Arcadia Power will ensure that 100% of your usage is covered by clean wind power. No equipment needed, and you'll experience the same reliability you're used to. You just set up an account online, and Arcadia Power gets to work for you by linking up with your current local utility.
Switching to Arcadia doesn't just cover your own electricity usage with 100% wind energy. It is a way to use your electric bill to cast an important vote for clean energy and be part of increasing demand for clean energy.
Sign up for clean energy for you home, apartment or business. Get $20 off your next electric bill by switching – with no long term obligation. And when you switch at the link below, Arcadia will also support CREDO's work to fight for the environment and progressive change:
http://act.credoaction.com/go/10314?t=4&akid=16306.6513160._Ef77N
Thank you for supporting clean energy."
It's easy enough to do some preliminary research on the web.
I found what seems like a fair and full disclosure:
http://floridasolardesigngroup.com/should-i-buy-power-from-arcadia-power/
"You will not save money (your electricity will cost about 15% more). You will not be “running on solar energy” in reality. You will not be buying actual renewable energy for your home, and you will continue to use the same utility company."
"You can think of this as a voluntary tax or sorts that goes to a specific cause. It’s like planting a tree if you drive a gas guzzler. It’s not a bad idea, but make sure you know exactly what you are buying before committing to this program."
The marketing email seems awfully weaselly. I am very put off by their lack of full disclosure.
ETA - Here's another short article from Mother Jones archives: http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2010/01/green-power-scam
Pacific Power says our premium "avoided the release of 897 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions into the air...equivalent to not driving 909 miles." But it's hard to verify those numbers, says Stanford professor Michael Wara, who studies carbon markets. "You don't have an overseeing regulator ensuring that the claims made are backed up."
and
in 2008, only 67 percent of my Blue Sky bucks purchased RECs; the remaining 33 percent was spent on staff and publicity. On average, 19 percent of green programs' revenues go to marketing,
72wonderY
It’s not “the cheapest electricity in the world,” but it’s getting really cheap
A good, nuanced report.
Wondering about thin-film solar for the homeowner. I see ads, are they just hype?
A good, nuanced report.
Wondering about thin-film solar for the homeowner. I see ads, are they just hype?
82wonderY
There is a local solar co-op forming in my county in WV. But I don't want to build solar in WV, as I'm moving headquarters to KY in the next few years.
I went to an organizational meeting to learn the logistics of a co-op though.
Also, some new science, posted in pro & con
Black silicon solar for when the sun isn't out
Photovoltaic perovskite "ink" crystals
I went to an organizational meeting to learn the logistics of a co-op though.
Also, some new science, posted in pro & con
Black silicon solar for when the sun isn't out
Photovoltaic perovskite "ink" crystals
92wonderY
I may just be wishing on a star here, but the newest rechargable battery in the news is a lithium-glass battery
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/tech/super-safe-glass-battery-charges-in-minut...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_battery
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/tech/super-safe-glass-battery-charges-in-minut...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glass_battery
10MaureenRoy
A new product to capture solar power in glass wall bricks:
http://inhabitat.com/revolutionary-glass-building-blocks-generate-their-own-sola...
http://inhabitat.com/revolutionary-glass-building-blocks-generate-their-own-sola...
112wonderY
>10 MaureenRoy: Oooh! And they're pretty too.
122wonderY
Why a Big Utility Is Embracing Wind and Solar
Xcel Energy is a utility company with millions of electric customers in the middle of the country, from Texas to Michigan. In booming Colorado, the company asked for proposals to construct big power plants using wind turbines and solar panels.
The bids have come in so low that the company will be able to build and operate the new plants for less money than it would have to pay just to keep running its old, coal-burning power plants.
Xcel Energy is a utility company with millions of electric customers in the middle of the country, from Texas to Michigan. In booming Colorado, the company asked for proposals to construct big power plants using wind turbines and solar panels.
The bids have come in so low that the company will be able to build and operate the new plants for less money than it would have to pay just to keep running its old, coal-burning power plants.
132wonderY
Puerto Rico is taking a big step toward revamping how it gets power — and it could be a model for the rest of the US
Microgrids, as represented by Sonnen, Tesla, Advanced Microgrid Solutions
Microgrids, as represented by Sonnen, Tesla, Advanced Microgrid Solutions
14margd
...(Some) day,...(windows that) block...afternoon glare and heat,...absorb(ing) sunshine to charge your electronics.
...switches between transparent pane and dark-tinted solar cell. The layer in the panel that’s responsible for soaking up sun has atoms that only arrange themselves into a light-absorbing crystal structure at high temperatures. When heated, these atoms form a dark-tinted crystal known as a perovskite, a new darling of the solar cell industry...
...(Current limitations: requires) 105° Celsius (for crystals to form)...moisture...jumbles up the atoms and turns the material transparent again
...someday...windshields that recharge electric vehicles and keep a parked car’s interior cool while the sun bakes outside.
Citations
J. Lin et al. Thermochromic halide perovskite solar cells. Nature Materials. Published online January 22, 2018. doi:10.1038/s41563-017-0006-0.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-017-0006-0.epdf
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/smart-windows-could-block-brightness-and-har...
...switches between transparent pane and dark-tinted solar cell. The layer in the panel that’s responsible for soaking up sun has atoms that only arrange themselves into a light-absorbing crystal structure at high temperatures. When heated, these atoms form a dark-tinted crystal known as a perovskite, a new darling of the solar cell industry...
...(Current limitations: requires) 105° Celsius (for crystals to form)...moisture...jumbles up the atoms and turns the material transparent again
...someday...windshields that recharge electric vehicles and keep a parked car’s interior cool while the sun bakes outside.
Citations
J. Lin et al. Thermochromic halide perovskite solar cells. Nature Materials. Published online January 22, 2018. doi:10.1038/s41563-017-0006-0.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41563-017-0006-0.epdf
https://www.sciencenews.org/article/smart-windows-could-block-brightness-and-har...
15MaureenRoy
From Australia, printable solar panels:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/31/low-cost-printable-solar-pan...
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/aug/31/low-cost-printable-solar-pan...
16MaureenRoy
September 2018: For $100.00 per KWH, zinc-air solar batteries are being used in some pilot locations. Potentially this strategy will combine the low cost of zinc with independence from the expensive and environmentally damaging rare earth elements. Link:
https://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/business/article219039355.html
https://www.mercedsunstar.com/news/business/article219039355.html
17MaureenRoy
April 2019: Increased efficiency and a big price drop anticipated in the cost of solar panels with a better-than-silicon new material:
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/04/amp-solar-cells-scientists-ditch-silicon...
https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2019/04/amp-solar-cells-scientists-ditch-silicon...
19John5918
Device could bring both solar power and clean water to millions (Guardian)
A device that can produce electricity from sunlight while simultaneously purifying water has been produced by researchers, an invention they say could solve two problems in one stroke.
The researchers say the device is not only a source of green energy but also offers an alternative to current technologies for purifying water...
On the top is a horizontal commercial silicon solar cell and beneath this are several tiers through which saline, brackish or contaminated surface water is run. Waste heat from the solar cell warms the saline water passing immediately beneath it – the water evaporates, passes through a membrane and condenses to yield clean water, releasing heat in the process that warms the saline water in the tier below that – the process is then repeated for the next tier. The purified water flows out of the device and is collected.
The team found the device can be used to purify saltwater as well as seawater contaminated with heavy metals, with the water collected containing levels of lead, copper, sodium, calcium and magnesium all below the levels deemed safe for drinking water by the World Health Organization.
While the team outline various versions of the device, they reveal that under conditions on a par with a bright, cloudless day the energy efficiency of the solar cell was about 11% – a figure they say is on a par with what would be expected without the distillation section attached, and higher than previously reported by others working on such devices.
The device was also able to produce clean water from seawater at a rate they say is higher than conventional solar stills.
The device, while not the first to make use of solar distillation, has a particular advantage: by combining two types of device that typically each require a large land area, and mounting systems, the approach is relatively compact...
If they come onto the open market, I'd like to have one of these!
A device that can produce electricity from sunlight while simultaneously purifying water has been produced by researchers, an invention they say could solve two problems in one stroke.
The researchers say the device is not only a source of green energy but also offers an alternative to current technologies for purifying water...
On the top is a horizontal commercial silicon solar cell and beneath this are several tiers through which saline, brackish or contaminated surface water is run. Waste heat from the solar cell warms the saline water passing immediately beneath it – the water evaporates, passes through a membrane and condenses to yield clean water, releasing heat in the process that warms the saline water in the tier below that – the process is then repeated for the next tier. The purified water flows out of the device and is collected.
The team found the device can be used to purify saltwater as well as seawater contaminated with heavy metals, with the water collected containing levels of lead, copper, sodium, calcium and magnesium all below the levels deemed safe for drinking water by the World Health Organization.
While the team outline various versions of the device, they reveal that under conditions on a par with a bright, cloudless day the energy efficiency of the solar cell was about 11% – a figure they say is on a par with what would be expected without the distillation section attached, and higher than previously reported by others working on such devices.
The device was also able to produce clean water from seawater at a rate they say is higher than conventional solar stills.
The device, while not the first to make use of solar distillation, has a particular advantage: by combining two types of device that typically each require a large land area, and mounting systems, the approach is relatively compact...
If they come onto the open market, I'd like to have one of these!
202wonderY
This sounds very exciting.
An Energy Breakthrough Could Store Solar Power for Decades
Scientists at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg have figured out how to harness the energy and keep it in reserve so it can be released on demand in the form of heat—even decades after it was captured.
…
The system starts with a liquid molecule made up of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. When hit by sunlight, the molecule draws in the sun’s energy and holds it until a catalyst triggers its release as heat. The researchers spent almost a decade and $2.5 million to create a specialized storage unit, which Moth-Poulsen, a 40-year-old professor in the department of chemistry and chemical engineering, says has the stability to outlast the 5-to 10-year life span of typical lithium-ion batteries on the market today.
...
A big unknown is whether the system can produce electricity. While Moth-Poulsen believes the potential exists, his team is focused for now on heating.
…
One cost advantage is that the system doesn’t need any rare or expensive elements.
An Energy Breakthrough Could Store Solar Power for Decades
Scientists at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg have figured out how to harness the energy and keep it in reserve so it can be released on demand in the form of heat—even decades after it was captured.
…
The system starts with a liquid molecule made up of carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen. When hit by sunlight, the molecule draws in the sun’s energy and holds it until a catalyst triggers its release as heat. The researchers spent almost a decade and $2.5 million to create a specialized storage unit, which Moth-Poulsen, a 40-year-old professor in the department of chemistry and chemical engineering, says has the stability to outlast the 5-to 10-year life span of typical lithium-ion batteries on the market today.
...
A big unknown is whether the system can produce electricity. While Moth-Poulsen believes the potential exists, his team is focused for now on heating.
…
One cost advantage is that the system doesn’t need any rare or expensive elements.
21Cynfelyn
>20 2wonderY: Tell me they haven't invented photosynthesis.
22MaureenRoy
Apparently the best shape for a solar power collector is spherical:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/renewables/spherical-solar-cells-soa...
https://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/renewables/spherical-solar-cells-soa...
23Yamanekotei
It is not about generating electricity using solar power, but I thought it can fit in this thread.
https://gosun.co/
A few years ago I got this from my neighbor. I like it a LOT but keep on thinking if I am in Alaska it won’t be much of a help during winter. Otherwise it is fun to use. Did I mention that I like it a lot?
https://gosun.co/
A few years ago I got this from my neighbor. I like it a LOT but keep on thinking if I am in Alaska it won’t be much of a help during winter. Otherwise it is fun to use. Did I mention that I like it a lot?
24aspirit
Does anyone in the USA have advice about looking at home solar options? Suggestions for what to do or not do? Info about risks or surprising benefits?
252wonderY
You might research cooperative purchase and install programs like Solar United Neighbors. A team helps to organize interested participants, survey needs, put out bids and help choose the company who does the installations. There is cost savings and expertise.
26margd
Farmers reap double benefits with solar power in fields
Gero Rueter | 14.08.2021
...growing berries under a solar roof with translucent modules ..."We thought about which kind of berry goes with what sort of light and shade. Blueberries and raspberries are woodland plants, so that works really well," says (German farmer and electrical engineer Karthaus).
...an expert in agrivoltaics at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in the southern German town of Freiburg. Agrivoltaics is the exciting approach of using agricultural areas to simultaneously produce food and generate photovoltaic electricity. Trommsdorff and his colleagues advise governments worldwide and recently organized an international conference on solar energy and farming.
Depending on the location, one has to estimate the optimal light conditions for the plants as well as local demand for electricity, says Trommsdorff.
"There are big regional differences: It depends on what is being grown, what the climate zones are, what the rural structures are."
...Trommsdorff and his colleagues see huge potential for agrivoltaics worldwide. There are already some agrivoltaic plants in Europe, Mali, Gambia and Chile; but the vast majority so far are in Asia.
The world's largest plant, with a capacity of around 1,000 megawatts and covering 20 square kilometers (about 8 square miles), is located on the edge of the Gobi Desert in China. The cultivation of goji berries under the module roofs is intended to make the dry earth fertile again.
And in Japan, farmers are already harvesting from more than 2,000 agrivoltaics systems.
...In Europe, France is a pioneer, especially in winegrowing. There, government subsidies for modular roofs are intended to protect vines.
"Many grape varieties get too much sun and heat due to climate change," Trommsdorff explains. "Shade can bring some benefits here."
https://www.dw.com/en/farmers-reap-double-benefits-with-solar-power-in-fields/a-...
Gero Rueter | 14.08.2021
...growing berries under a solar roof with translucent modules ..."We thought about which kind of berry goes with what sort of light and shade. Blueberries and raspberries are woodland plants, so that works really well," says (German farmer and electrical engineer Karthaus).
...an expert in agrivoltaics at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems in the southern German town of Freiburg. Agrivoltaics is the exciting approach of using agricultural areas to simultaneously produce food and generate photovoltaic electricity. Trommsdorff and his colleagues advise governments worldwide and recently organized an international conference on solar energy and farming.
Depending on the location, one has to estimate the optimal light conditions for the plants as well as local demand for electricity, says Trommsdorff.
"There are big regional differences: It depends on what is being grown, what the climate zones are, what the rural structures are."
...Trommsdorff and his colleagues see huge potential for agrivoltaics worldwide. There are already some agrivoltaic plants in Europe, Mali, Gambia and Chile; but the vast majority so far are in Asia.
The world's largest plant, with a capacity of around 1,000 megawatts and covering 20 square kilometers (about 8 square miles), is located on the edge of the Gobi Desert in China. The cultivation of goji berries under the module roofs is intended to make the dry earth fertile again.
And in Japan, farmers are already harvesting from more than 2,000 agrivoltaics systems.
...In Europe, France is a pioneer, especially in winegrowing. There, government subsidies for modular roofs are intended to protect vines.
"Many grape varieties get too much sun and heat due to climate change," Trommsdorff explains. "Shade can bring some benefits here."
https://www.dw.com/en/farmers-reap-double-benefits-with-solar-power-in-fields/a-...
272wonderY
>26 margd: That is such a basic concept; almost a no-brainer. I hate seeing solar farms paved or gravelled.
28margd
Yeah, well... DH planted berries and grapes between our ground-mount solar arrays--never thought to try them underneath. May try a transplant or two, although our structures aren't as tall as the German farmer's!
Myself, I hate to see solar panels covering water bodies... As in bye-bye, primary productivity and all life it supported... Like the streams channelized underground in our cities. :(
Depressing, too, how much land is taken out of production for wind turbines...ground is hardened, roads are built...
Myself, I hate to see solar panels covering water bodies... As in bye-bye, primary productivity and all life it supported... Like the streams channelized underground in our cities. :(
Depressing, too, how much land is taken out of production for wind turbines...ground is hardened, roads are built...
29NorthernStar
>26 margd: seems like such a good idea. I, too, hate to see land dedicated to solar farms. I've often thought that parking lots (especially at malls and other shopping areas) would be an obvious place for solar arrays. They could provide shade for the vehicles underneath, weather protection for humans, charging for electric vehicles, and power for nearby buildings. There might be a bit of an issue in areas with significant snow, but I'm sure that could be worked out.
30aspirit
>25 2wonderY: Did I not thank you for your response? I'm sorry, and thank you. My area doesn't have an installation cooperative for groups smaller than 50 people, but I've learned my area has a few electric management cooperatives that sell solar power from small fields nearby. The best EMC would cost my household at least as much per month to maintain our current usage. Our options aren't ideal. Still, now I know options exist.
31aspirit
>29 NorthernStar: I've often thought that parking lots (especially at malls and other shopping areas) would be an obvious place for solar arrays. They could provide shade for the vehicles underneath, weather protection for humans, charging for electric vehicles, and power for nearby buildings.
Great thought.
Great thought.
322wonderY
>30 aspirit: That’s fine. Glad you looked. And those cooperative efforts move around, working to drum up business in different parts of the country. They may show up in your neck of the woods at some point.
You’ll also want to take an October solar tour.
They don’t have a map yet, because signup isn’t complete.
https://ases.org/tour/
My KY community has them almost annually. It’s informative and inspiring.
You’ll also want to take an October solar tour.
They don’t have a map yet, because signup isn’t complete.
https://ases.org/tour/
My KY community has them almost annually. It’s informative and inspiring.
342wonderY
A new inexpensive flat pack solar hot water system:
The flat-pack water heater that fights climate change https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-60617154
The flat-pack water heater that fights climate change https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-60617154
35margd
Scientists put a semi-transparent solar roof on a greenhouse, and unexpected things happened
Michelle Lewis | Mar 14 2023
...The crops in the greenhouse with the organic solar roof grew more than the crops in the regular greenhouse. The scientists believe that happened because the L-glutathione layer blocked both ultraviolet rays that can inhibit plant growth and infrared rays that can cause greenhouses to overheat, thus causing the plants to need more water...
https://electrek.co/2023/03/14/scientists-put-a-semi-transparent-solar-roof-on-a...
Michelle Lewis | Mar 14 2023
...The crops in the greenhouse with the organic solar roof grew more than the crops in the regular greenhouse. The scientists believe that happened because the L-glutathione layer blocked both ultraviolet rays that can inhibit plant growth and infrared rays that can cause greenhouses to overheat, thus causing the plants to need more water...
https://electrek.co/2023/03/14/scientists-put-a-semi-transparent-solar-roof-on-a...
36margd
As Millions of Solar Panels Age Out, Recyclers Hope to Cash In
Jon Hurdle • February 28, 2023
Solar panels have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, but they contain valuable metals, including silver and copper. With a surge of expired panels expected soon, companies are emerging that seek to recycle the reusable materials and keep the panels out of landfills...
https://e360.yale.edu/features/solar-energy-panels-recycling
Jon Hurdle • February 28, 2023
Solar panels have a lifespan of 25 to 30 years, but they contain valuable metals, including silver and copper. With a surge of expired panels expected soon, companies are emerging that seek to recycle the reusable materials and keep the panels out of landfills...
https://e360.yale.edu/features/solar-energy-panels-recycling
37margd
The Dutch are riding their bikes on two new solar cycle paths
Michelle Lewis | Dec 18 2023
Two solar cycle paths came online in the Netherlands, and they’re the country’s first to have 1,000 square meters (10,764 square feet) of solar surface area each.
Colas Group company Wattway makes solar road surfaces that produce clean electricity while bearing vehicle traffic...claims to be the world’s first solar road surfacing company, has been running around 40 trial sites in multiple countries since its founding in 2015. As a result, it’s been making improvements to its solar roads.
The Dutch installations have increased power – 148 Wp/m² compared to older paths with 119 Wp/m² – and the provinces hope to produce “160 MWh/year of renewable energy in its first year, helping to supply the Dutch grid.” The sites will be monitored and maintained for five years...
https://electrek.co/2023/12/18/dutch-riding-bikes-solar-cycle-paths/
Michelle Lewis | Dec 18 2023
Two solar cycle paths came online in the Netherlands, and they’re the country’s first to have 1,000 square meters (10,764 square feet) of solar surface area each.
Colas Group company Wattway makes solar road surfaces that produce clean electricity while bearing vehicle traffic...claims to be the world’s first solar road surfacing company, has been running around 40 trial sites in multiple countries since its founding in 2015. As a result, it’s been making improvements to its solar roads.
The Dutch installations have increased power – 148 Wp/m² compared to older paths with 119 Wp/m² – and the provinces hope to produce “160 MWh/year of renewable energy in its first year, helping to supply the Dutch grid.” The sites will be monitored and maintained for five years...
https://electrek.co/2023/12/18/dutch-riding-bikes-solar-cycle-paths/
38margd
German Consulate General Boston {FB} 2 May 2024:
☀️ Solar balconies are booming in Germany. More than 400,000 plug-in solar panels have been installed in Germany, most of them on people's balconies.
🏡 These so-called solar balconies are an important part of Germany's wider energy transition goals.
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Solar balconies are booming in Germany. Here’s what you need to know about the popular home tech
Lottie Limb | 21/04/2024
More than 400,000 plug-in solar systems have been installed in Germany, most of them taking up a seamless spot on people’s balconies.
New data shows at least 50,000 of the PV devices were added in the first quarter of 2024 alone.
...Jan Osenberg, a policy advisor at the SolarPower Europe association. “We see them as a subset of rooftop solar, but also as something different...We basically see it as a trend to use all possible artificial infrastructure for solar generation.”
...Essentially, the tech consists of one or two panels plugged into an electricity socket. They only produce around 10 per cent of the energy of residential rooftop systems...
From a customer point of view, the main difference is that balcony PV is much easier to install. You can buy the kit online, and don’t need an electrician to set it up. Unlike for rooftop installations, where certified installers are recommended to avoid fire risks and damage to the structure.
In short: the panels are put on a mounting structure and attached via cables to an inverter that converts the electricity from DC to AC, which goes into your socket via a regular plug...
https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/04/21/solar-balconies-are-booming-in-germany...
☀️ Solar balconies are booming in Germany. More than 400,000 plug-in solar panels have been installed in Germany, most of them on people's balconies.
🏡 These so-called solar balconies are an important part of Germany's wider energy transition goals.
--------------------------------------
Solar balconies are booming in Germany. Here’s what you need to know about the popular home tech
Lottie Limb | 21/04/2024
More than 400,000 plug-in solar systems have been installed in Germany, most of them taking up a seamless spot on people’s balconies.
New data shows at least 50,000 of the PV devices were added in the first quarter of 2024 alone.
...Jan Osenberg, a policy advisor at the SolarPower Europe association. “We see them as a subset of rooftop solar, but also as something different...We basically see it as a trend to use all possible artificial infrastructure for solar generation.”
...Essentially, the tech consists of one or two panels plugged into an electricity socket. They only produce around 10 per cent of the energy of residential rooftop systems...
From a customer point of view, the main difference is that balcony PV is much easier to install. You can buy the kit online, and don’t need an electrician to set it up. Unlike for rooftop installations, where certified installers are recommended to avoid fire risks and damage to the structure.
In short: the panels are put on a mounting structure and attached via cables to an inverter that converts the electricity from DC to AC, which goes into your socket via a regular plug...
https://www.euronews.com/green/2024/04/21/solar-balconies-are-booming-in-germany...
392wonderY
Recycling solar panels:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6rGJOFCM1W/?igsh=MTVvcTFycjY5cTl0Mw==
(Sorry, not a scholarly article; just posting to raise the problem of non-functioning or aging panels.)
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6rGJOFCM1W/?igsh=MTVvcTFycjY5cTl0Mw==
(Sorry, not a scholarly article; just posting to raise the problem of non-functioning or aging panels.)
402wonderY
Printable solar panels using perovskite:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C74VCNvoPyU/?igsh=YjhxN3pwdm02OW9y
https://www.instagram.com/reel/C74VCNvoPyU/?igsh=YjhxN3pwdm02OW9y
412wonderY
Big claims, but no technical details.
Tech company unveils tiny spheres that outperform solar panels using both sun and artificial light — and the company says they could hit 60 times the current capacity
“Photon energy system”
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/photon-energy-systems-solar-spheres-wavja...
I watched most of the company released video. The article merely repeats the claims.
The company is looking for funding.
Tech company unveils tiny spheres that outperform solar panels using both sun and artificial light — and the company says they could hit 60 times the current capacity
“Photon energy system”
https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/photon-energy-systems-solar-spheres-wavja...
I watched most of the company released video. The article merely repeats the claims.
The company is looking for funding.
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