Solar Upgrades
Jul 11, 2008 Sci/Tech
Researchers at MIT have figured out a way to increase the effectiveness of existing solar panels (or create solar power from windows). Here’s a description from the article on just what is happening:
The dye-based organic solar concentrator functions without the use of tracking or cooling systems, greatly reducing the overall cost compared to other concentrator technologies. Dye molecules coated on glass absorb sunlight, and re-emit it at a different wavelengths. The light is trapped and transported within the glass until it is captured by solar cells at the edge. Some light passes through the concentrator and can be absorbed by lower voltage solar cells underneath.
It really seems like alternative energy stuff is picking up speed, which is fantastic. Very cool. H/T to Gizmodo.
Tags: dye, gizmodo, solar, solar power, windows
Nanosolar ‘Prints’ First Flexible Solar Panels
Dec 19, 2007 Sci/Tech
I first saw this tech at PopSci, and now Nanosolar has announced that they met their deadline and are shipping the first batch of the flexible, copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) based cells. It really seems like these guys are the real deal, and not one of the many ‘look at this cool tech!’ companies who gather interest (and investors) and disappear to the vaporware wastes with Duke Nukem 4ever and flying cars.
Tags: google, green, science, solar, solar power, tech, technology
PopSci’s Best of What’s New
Nov 16, 2007 Gadgets, Sci/Tech
The very cool Nanosolar Powersheet tops the list of Popular Science’s Best of What’s New. There’s a few obvious choices (iPhone) but other wise some amazing tech.
The company produces its PowerSheet solar cells with printing-press-style machines that set down a layer of solar-absorbing nano-ink onto metal sheets as thin as aluminum foil, so the panels can be made for about a tenth of what current panels cost and at a rate of several hundred feet per minute.
Apparently the new Wembly stadium has more toilets than any building in the world. I bet the ladies’ room will still have a line, though.
Tags: apple, Gadgets, iphone, popular science, solar
