Solar Energy

Science

New Technology That Captures "exciton" Particles Could Replace Today’s Solar Cells

1:20PM October 1, 2010 | Alasdair Wilkins

Even the most efficient solar cell loses a lot of energy in the form of wasted heat. But the electron-like particles that photons emit as they enter the cells could be turned into electrical energy, solving the heat loss problem. More »


Science

Spray-On Paint Could Turn Windows Into Solar Panels

9:30PM August 18, 2010 | Kat Hannaford

Every home has at least one window, so why not turn that window into an energy-attracting solar panel? So goes the thinking of Norwegian company EnSol, which has patented a spray-on film that turns windows into solar panels. More »


Joos Orange Solar Charger Reviewed: Solar-Powered Gadget Charging, For Real

11:34PM July 12, 2010 | Kyle VanHemert

We were a little sceptical of claims that the Joos Orange offered six to 20 times more sun-to-power conversion than its competitors. But Giz editor Brian Lam tried one recently and says it’s the “best solar charger [he'd]ever tested”. More »


Science

Tobacco Plants Used To Grow Cheap Solar Cells

4:39PM January 29, 2010 | Rosa Golijan

Scientists have discovered that they can coax a tobacco plant into growing temporary solar cells by injecting it with a genetically engineered virus. Freaky, but the process may provide us with cheaper synthetic photovoltaic cells once quirks are sorted out. More »


Science

Obama $US8b Plan To Modernise The US Power Grid

4:15AM October 29, 2009 | Jesus Diaz

Oh, Sr. Presidente, you look so goooood in the middle of the largest photovoltaic farm in the country — the 180-acre DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy centre in Tampa, Florida. Maybe that’s why you want to put solar panels everywhere. More »


Gadgets

Dell’s New Solar Parking Lot

4:21AM October 25, 2009 | Chris Jacob

Think about how hot your car gets on a sunny day. Dell decided to harvest all that wasted energy by installing these solar panels in their parking lot. Now they’re keeping cars cool and putting that sunlight to good use. More »


Science

Sharp Triple Layer Solar Cell Sets New Efficiency Record

7:17AM October 24, 2009 | Chris Jacob

The gauntlet has been thrown down yet again in the solar cell efficiency arms race. This time Sharp comes up with a cell that can harvest 35.8 per cent of available sunlight. More »


Solar Decathlon Winner Looks Like A Tinted Apple Store

7:30AM October 18, 2009 | Chris Jacob

By day, this year’s Solar Decathlon winner generates enough energy to power itself and two other homes. By night, it battles its arch nemesis: the 5th Avenue Apple Store. More »


Science

Table-Top-Sized Black Hole Created, World Mysteriously Still Exists

8:00PM October 15, 2009 | Dan Nosowitz

Scientists have created a table-top-sized black hole that absorbs light. And yet we’re still here, and the world hasn’t collapsed. Clearly, my high-school science classes did not adequately explain black holes to me. More »


Dubai’s Vertical Village Might Suck Up All Of The Sun’s Rays

4:40AM October 9, 2009 | Sean Fallon

Despite grumbling about economic woes taking a toll on Dubai construction projects, it seems that their Vertical Village is going full steam ahead. The question is, after it’s built, will there be any sun for the rest of us? More »