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solar energy

10/09/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Silicon-based solar panels convert sunlight to electricity at higher efficiency, new research finds

Arizona-based researchers evaluated the cost vs. enhanced efficiency of the newest development in solar technology. They indicated that tandem photovoltaic modules made from silicon materials will be the next big thing in the U.S. solar energy industry. In the study, the researchers compared the newly developed solar panel designs with existing photovoltaic technology. Their results showed […]

09/23/2018 / By Janine Acero

One step closer to decentralized renewable energy? New magnetic floating flywheels may provide the storage solution

The use of alternative energy sources has become increasingly important as energy costs have been rising and fossil fuels such as coal and gas have contributed greatly to environmental pollution. One solution is to save energy from wind turbines and solar cells; however, to store energy when sunlight and wind are not available can be […]

09/21/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Researchers demonstrate efficient solar energy storage in a chemical liquid

One of the big challenges for solar energy systems is finding an efficient and cost-effective means of storing excess electricity that can be supplied whenever and wherever it is needed, instead of being limited to daytime. An article in Chalmers Chemistry and Chemical Engineering News stated that the latest version of a Swedish-designed, liquid-based energy […]

09/20/2018 / By Zoey Sky

Power options for homesteaders: The pros, cons, and hidden costs of solar panels

A greener alternative to utility companies, more homesteaders are turning to solar energy as a power source. But did you know that solar panels have various pros, cons, and even hidden costs? Because solar panels are now available at more affordable prices, they are fast becoming the homesteader’s choice for generating electricity or heat. If […]

09/11/2018 / By David Williams

Researchers create new “smart windows” that block out the sun and turn sunlight into electricity

Have you ever heard of windows that can turn from transparent to opaque, and thereby block out light from the sun? So-called smart windows have been around for quite some time now. Now one research team says they have made a quiet breakthrough that will allow for the construction of highly efficient smart windows that […]

08/20/2018 / By RJ Jhonson

Hawaii is leading other states in generating renewable energy

The Aloha State could be the country’s leader in renewable energy as it moves toward getting 100 percent of its power needs from both solar and wind sources by 2045. As of this year, Hawaii gets around 33 percent of its power needs from rooftop solar, although there are days when the percentage goes up […]

08/12/2018 / By Zoey Sky

Battery breakthrough – Scientists have developed a thermal battery that can gather and store solar heat for use on demand

Batteries keep all sorts of gadgets up and running. Now, a group of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has discovered a way to create a “battery” that can store and release heat “on command—at the flip of a light switch.” The system in the battery works by gathering solar heat or waste heat from the […]

03/25/2018 / By Zoey Sky

Over 100 cities worldwide are now using at least 70% renewable energy

According to a report from EcoWatch.com, more than 100 cities around the world now rely on renewable energy for 70 percent of their electricity needs. Data from research by the non-profit group CDP has confirmed that over 100 cities worldwide receive about 70 percent of their electricity from renewable sources like geothermal, hydropower, solar, and wind. This is a huge improvement […]

03/11/2018 / By Edsel Cook

Renewable energy has doubled in the U.S. in the last decade; now generating nearly one-fifth of our electricity

The Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) has been keeping an interested eye on the incredible growth of renewable energy in the U.S. over the past decade. According to its annual publication, renewable energy sources now generate nearly one-fifth of U.S. electrical generation, reported an EcoWatch article. In its 2018 edition of Sustainable Energy in […]

03/01/2018 / By David Williams

Scientists are one step closer to being able to predict the kind of solar flares that can knock out the power grid

The sun, which holds steady in the center of the solar system, is fascinating enough in of itself. But it also produces solar flares, which are just as fascinating. However, no matter how mesmerizing they may seem to be, they are known to have negative effects on all sorts of systems and equipment here on […]

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