Just how flexible can solar cells get??? Thin film solar cell panels are flexible enough to be molded on common building appliances and external structures.Howvwer new research promises to give even more “ flexibility ” by creating liquid solar cells. Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation and Sumitomo Chemical Company, Japan are working on a method that makes it possible to create molecules in liquid forms that duplicate the solar cell and organic electroluminescence processes that create electricity. These liquid molecules can be spread on textiles in form of a thin organic layer and when the molecules dry they form a permanent covering. When light falls on this surface electricity is produced as in conventional solar cells. In other words you can “ wear ” your power source
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Flexible Solar Panels Get More Mobile
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Balloon Type Solar Concentrator
Srikant RajanCool Earth Solar has a balloon up in air.No, it isn’t the kind of balloon you would like to play with it, but the kind that concentrates solar power to generate electricity.The company uses an inflatable thin-film balloon(Solar concentrator) that upon inflation focuses sunlight onto photovoltaic cell held at its focal point.Technically speaking this design should produce the maximum amount of power concentration as it focuses sunlight from all directions. A single cell in this concentrator generates about 300 to 400 times the electricity of a cell without a concentrator.So does this mean there would be no more rows and rows of solar panels in the field but just one balloon hovering in the air?
Well Cool Earth is constructing a prototype plant in Livermore to test out different solar designs and get some proof of this technology.This winter, Cool Earth will launch its first commercial-grade power plant. The plant will be relatively small— only 1.4 MW— but Cool Earth plans on launching a full-size plant (10 to 30 MW) by next summer.
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Solar Power Goes Nano
Srikant RajanNow solar goes miniature.scientists at US Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory ,are working to create flexible plastic sheets containing billions of nanoantenna arrays.These would work as an interface for tapping in heat generated by the sun and also heat generated by working of electronic equipment.These nanoantenna’s also act as a medium for cooling of such devices without using any electricity.Essentially these nanoantenna’s absorb the infra red rays given, and reemit them as energy of harmless wavelengths.Lead researcher,Steven Novack says “ Every process in our industrial world creates waste heat . It’s energy that we just throw away “.Novack further adds that such sheets might power common appliances such as hybrid cars and ipods.
The process is unique , however for this to work efficiently the heat drawn from the appliances must be at a constant temperature which in practice is difficult to achieve.The greater heat is drawn ,more the likelihood of decrease in temperature which in turn may lower the efficiency of the device.
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Solar Power Even Without Sun
Srikant RajanThe sun goes down in the night and with it goes the electricity being generated by a solar cell.Of course you can store some of the energy generated in a battery , but that is not cost economical.Now MIT has come come up with a process that may allow unlimited solar power.The essence of this new technology is similar to the process of photosynthesis.The electricity generated by a solar cell is used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases , which are later recombined within a fuel cell to provide power when solar power is unavailable.
This process uses a catalyst that can work well at room temperature and is easy to fabricate.Additionally this process also also provides an attractive interlinking of two green energy generators( solar and fuel cells) .However there is still the challenge of integrating this into mainstream solar cells, which itself is in development phase.Researchers however add “ This is just the beginning. The scientific community is really going to run with this “. It is further anticipated that this technology could be close to commercialization within the coming decade.
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New Coat For Solar Cells
Srikant RajanSolar cells typically consist of an anti reflection coating to enhance light absorption by panel and minimize reflection losses.As with many components within a solar cell module ,these coatings add significantly to the cost.Now Australian researchers are trying to commercialize a low cost alternative which can enhance efficiencies of solar cells by 8%. Dubbed XeroCoat, this coating is effectively a thin glass layer riddled with tiny holes.Such a structure , gives the coating a large surface area and a very low refractive index that aid its anti reflection capabilities. Additionally the manufacturing process for XeroCoat is carried out at room temperature and pressure,mitigating use of expensive vacuum chamber equipment.
XeroCoat , can also be used as coating on glass and plastic surfaces as it has good anti fog properties .Researchers add "The anti-fogging effect is achieved by water being drawn into the pores as it condenses on the coated surface,". Water is prevented from forming droplets and so the condensed water does not scatter light and the user does not see fogging of the surface “ . Seems XeroCoat is poised for success either way.
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Bulky Solar Collectors May Be a Thing of Past
Srikant RajanSolar technology is fast emerging as a preferred alternative for powering residential and commercial units. Now , in addition to improving performance , solar developers are also working to increase the aesthetic appeal of solar power units. Sunpower , is designing solar panels that can be integrated with flat and curved roof tiles . Construction and installation is done in a manner to maintain the aesthetic appeal of homes. Lumeta, a division of DRI energy also has similar panels currently in final stages of industry certification. The technology employed in such panels is thin film solar technology that provides flexibility in engineering.
This move by solar developers signals the beginning of mass adoption of solar power. According to Solar Energy Industry Association estimates , the number of solar installations in US has increased by 45% to nearly 150 MW in 2007. Additionally the total solar capacity of 3,400 MW, excluding pool or lighting systems, is less than 1 percent of U.S. annual use IN 2007 , and provides enough room for further growth.
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Intel Adds to its Solar Capabilities
Srikant RajanIntel Capital has invested € 24 million in Sulfurcell, , a manufacturer of thin film solar modules.This new investment would be used by Sulfurcell to expand its Berlin plants production capacity.Arvind Sodhani, president of Intel Capital and Intel executive vice president says “ Cleantech investments worldwide, including solar power generation, are a key focus for Intel Capital, particularly in the wake of global warming concerns and rising energy costs for businesses and consumers . By investing selectively in innovative technologies, such as those delivered by Sulfurcell, we further the viability of alternative energy options and help increase adoption while reducing carbon emissions “
Intel has been selectively strengthening its solar capability . It had recently put up another couple of millions for a startup – SpectraWatt,however did not reveal the nature of the technology it plans to pursue.This latest foray in the solar segment indicates that it might be thin film solar technology and also signifies that thin film solar may hold the key for adoption of solar panels on a widespread basis.
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Solar at Coal Cost
Srikant Rajan1366 Technologies a solar energy startup has been named as the best solar energy startup.This event organized at Greentech Media’s PV Annual 2008 conference and 1366 Technologies was named as one of the five top solar startups that presented their technologies and business plans.1366,lead by MIT engineer Ely Sachs has pioneered reduction in cost of multi crystalline solar cells. Multi crystalline solar cells provide greater power output than thin film solar cells.However silicon used in such cells adds to their cost significantly.Sachs method ,increases the efficiency of multi crystalline cells by 25% and also allows for reduction in the manufacturing costs of such cells,thus bringing them closer as an alternative to coal based power.
1366 Technologies’ goal is to make solar generation as cheap as coal-based energy by 2013," says Dr. Adam Lorenz, founding member of the company.Adds Lorenz "We intend to take full advantage of the existing infrastructure that supports the manufacture of silicon solar cells. Except for a few key steps, our plants will use standard, commercially available processing equipment"
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Intel To Develop Solar Technology
Srikant RajanIntel has announced a setting up of a new start up SpectraWatt under its "New Business Initiatives" program.It has also announced a $50 million investment in SpectraWatt and is joined by Cogentrix Energy, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Goldman Sachs Group, PCG Clean Energy and Technology Fund (“CETF”) and Solon AG.SpectraWatt will manufacture and supply photovoltaic cells to solar module makers .It is expected that SpectraWatt will break ground on its manufacturing and technology development facility in Oregon in the second half of 2008 with first product shipments by mid-2009.Intel however was tightlipped when it came to which technologies it would focus upon and choose to say that it would focus on "advanced solar technologies" which can mean a whole bunch of things.
This development comes in heels of IBM’s decision to partner with Tokyo Ohka Kogyo to improve thin film solar modules.It seems both Intel and IBM plan to leverage their expertise in chip design for advancing solar technology.
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Distributed Power Generation and Solar Energy
Srikant RajanDuke energy is planning to invest $100 million in installing solar panels in nearly 850 North Carolina sites such as homes, schools, stores and factories.It has filed an application with the NC Utilities Commission seeing approval for this project.If this project is approved, a time period of two years would be needed for installing the related equipment on the customer sites.Duke, plans to own and operate his equipment and award the customer a fixed amount depending on the installation area and power generating capacity.
Distributed generation technology involves power production close to the power consumption sites rather than transmitting it from distant areas.This a a significant step in deciphering the nuances of distributed power generation technologies.If implemented correctly it can identify the potential bottlenecks and also serve as a tool for gauging the viability of solar power vis-à-vis small sites.
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