http://www.alternative-energy-news.info Alternative Energy News and Information about Renewable Energy Technologies: Articles, Discussions, News and Videos. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:51:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc en hourly 1 http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/sharp-solar-conversion-efficiency-record/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/sharp-solar-conversion-efficiency-record/#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:41:20 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=727 We still have to miles to cover before solar power can replace the fossil fuels and become a cheap and effective solution for common folks. But it is indisputable that sun is the single greatest fuel source we can harness to our advantage. Solar energy can leave its impact on a global scale in [...]
Posted in: Industry, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/sharp-solar-conversion-efficiency-record/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/splitting-water-to-store-solar-energy/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/splitting-water-to-store-solar-energy/#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:32:50 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=710 MIT professor Daniel Nocera earlier worked on a catalysts that can divide water molecules which can be utilized to store energy. Daniel Nocera has established a company named as Sun Catalytix to give his dreams a concrete shape. His company is backed by venture capital firm Polaris Ventures. Nocera is known as a “huge [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/splitting-water-to-store-solar-energy/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/new-imec-solar-cells-184-conversion-efficiency/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/new-imec-solar-cells-184-conversion-efficiency/#comments Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:22:06 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=707 IMEC (Interuniversity Microelectronics Center) has presented a large-area solar cell with 18.4% conversion efficiency at the ongoing European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference (Hamburg, Germany). A world leader in its own right, IMEC is an independent research center working on nanoelectronics and nanotechnology. It is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium, and has offices in Belgium, the [...]
Posted in: Industry, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/new-imec-solar-cells-184-conversion-efficiency/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/first-3d-images-of-polymer-solar-cells/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/first-3d-images-of-polymer-solar-cells/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 08:47:30 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=705 The Eindhoven University of Technology and University of Ulm scientists have successfully developed the first high-resolution 3D images of the internal structure of a hybrid polymer solar cell. This helps them in gaining important insights into the nanoscale structure of polymer solar cells and how much it will be effective when used for energy [...]
Posted in: Industry, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/first-3d-images-of-polymer-solar-cells/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/more-efficient-solar-cells-with-carbon-nanotubes/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/more-efficient-solar-cells-with-carbon-nanotubes/#comments Thu, 17 Sep 2009 07:11:45 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=703 Silicon is one of the basic but expensive materials used in designing solar panels. If we can use something else as effective as silicon but more economical, solar power will be within the reach of the common consumers. Cornell researchers are thinking on somewhat similar lines. They are using a carbon nanotube instead of [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/more-efficient-solar-cells-with-carbon-nanotubes/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/solar-cells-to-be-printed-like-newspaper/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/solar-cells-to-be-printed-like-newspaper/#comments Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:00:05 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=695 Sunlight is a non exhaustible source of energy without contributing greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Still it is miles away from replacing the fossil fuels. Many reasons can be sited. One of its biggest disadvantages is it is still out of reach for the common man and it has a long break-even period. Unless [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/solar-cells-to-be-printed-like-newspaper/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/plastics-that-convert-light-to-electricity/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/plastics-that-convert-light-to-electricity/#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:22:10 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=684 We all are familiar with the positive impact of alternative energy on our environment. Now researchers are trying to improve upon the existing alternative energy technology. As far as solar energy is concerned they are trying to make solar panels cheap and people friendly. Normally the solar panels are quite bulky and difficult to [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/plastics-that-convert-light-to-electricity/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/suncatcher-power-system-ready-for-commercial-production/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/suncatcher-power-system-ready-for-commercial-production/#comments Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:00:11 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=677 Stirling Energy Systems (SES) and Tessera Solar worked jointly and have come out with their precious device called SunCatchers(TM). They exhibited their four newly designed solar power collection dishes at Sandia National Laboratories’ National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF). SunCatchers are the new dishes that will be utilized on commercial-scale by 2010. Chuck Andraka, [...]
Posted in: Industry, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/suncatcher-power-system-ready-for-commercial-production/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/solar-lanterns-for-sub-saharan-africans/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/solar-lanterns-for-sub-saharan-africans/#comments Fri, 17 Jul 2009 08:00:57 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=675 When one lives in a developed country it becomes hard to visualize that how people manage in those parts of the world where electricity is still a distant dream. Residents of the village Ahire, Maharashtra in India claimed that people didn’t want to marry their daughters in their village due to lack of electricity. [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/solar-lanterns-for-sub-saharan-africans/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/highly-adaptable-solar-cells/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/highly-adaptable-solar-cells/#comments Tue, 07 Jul 2009 08:27:20 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=669 There are two things that prevent solar cells from entering the mainstream: their prohibitive cost, and their inadaptability. Even if people can somehow overcome the cost barrier, the havoc they allegedly wreck upon buildings and houses keeps many people away from switching to non-fossil-fuel power generation, and besides, sunshine is never uniform. It varies [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/highly-adaptable-solar-cells/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/solar-power-tiles-for-your-rooftop/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/solar-power-tiles-for-your-rooftop/#comments Mon, 06 Jul 2009 08:00:43 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=668 Just imagine your neighborhood mason fitting your roof tiles and these same tiles producing dependable solar energy for your house or office – you no longer need to hire scientists and alternative energy nerds for a simple roof job, and the cost is no longer a bottleneck. A technology catches on when it is [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/solar-power-tiles-for-your-rooftop/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/transparent-electronics-a-solar-energy-breakthrough/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/transparent-electronics-a-solar-energy-breakthrough/#comments Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:00:36 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=656 Not even in our wildest dreams have we anticipated that while we are simply looking out the window enjoying the outside view our windows can simultaneously produce energy for our household needs! Not only windows but the facade of the house, too, might be harnessing the power of solar energy. This might be our [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/transparent-electronics-a-solar-energy-breakthrough/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/flexible-solar-powered-rooftop-shingles/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/flexible-solar-powered-rooftop-shingles/#comments Sun, 14 Jun 2009 09:02:31 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=651 Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Richland have developed flexible solar panels that could be installed on roofs like shingles. This technology was originally used to protect flat panel televisions from dampness. They used to cover television screen with transparent, thin films that acted as barriers. These transparent thin film barriers are [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/flexible-solar-powered-rooftop-shingles/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/lasers-make-solar-cells-competitive/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/lasers-make-solar-cells-competitive/#comments Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:05:45 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=650 For centuries we have been using fossil fuels for industrial and domestic purposes. Most of us consider fossil fuels cheap. But now we are realizing the “real” costs of using fossil fuels. It is destroying our environment and making us pay in other terms. Another problem we are facing is, what were luxuries for [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/lasers-make-solar-cells-competitive/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/new-concentration-solar-power-modules/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/new-concentration-solar-power-modules/#comments Fri, 08 May 2009 08:13:47 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=632 The alternative sources of energy are constantly evolving. Scientists and manufacturers are trying to come up with better products that are user friendly and economical. Government is drawing policies that encourage use of alternative sources of energy. Researchers, entrepreneurs and common people are devising their own ways to use clean and green sources of [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/new-concentration-solar-power-modules/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/improving-performance-of-solar-nanotubes/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/improving-performance-of-solar-nanotubes/#comments Thu, 30 Apr 2009 09:31:35 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=626 Akira Fujishima, thirty-five years ago, discovered the electrochemical properties of titanium dioxide. He showed that titanium dioxide functioned as a photocatalyst. It produced hydrogen gas from water, electricity and sunlight. Scientists are quite hopeful regarding the qualities of Titania (or titanium dioxide). This is also known as white pigment. It’s used in many products [...]
Posted in: Hydrogen Fuel, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/improving-performance-of-solar-nanotubes/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/new-solar-technology-ancient-diatoms/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/new-solar-technology-ancient-diatoms/#comments Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:22:45 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=619 Scientists are constantly working on alternative energy sources to make its use widespread like fossil fuels. They are tirelessly working on the drawbacks of alternative energy sources so that they can be all pervasive like traditional sources of energy. Engineers at Oregon State University have found out a method to use an ancient life [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/new-solar-technology-ancient-diatoms/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/superhydrophobic-self-cleaning-photovoltaic-cells/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/superhydrophobic-self-cleaning-photovoltaic-cells/#comments Thu, 09 Apr 2009 11:41:27 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=607 A team of scientists at the Georgia Institute of Technology has developed a new treatment for silicon photovoltaic solar cells. This new method generates bumps and peaks on the surface that increase cell efficiency in two ways. The uneven surface protects the cells from water and dust. When water falls on the surface, it [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/superhydrophobic-self-cleaning-photovoltaic-cells/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/nanocups-could-improve-solar-cell-efficiency/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/nanocups-could-improve-solar-cell-efficiency/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 07:27:16 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=597 Now scientists are working on metallic nanoparticles to manipulate light in more effective ways than conventional optical materials to tap extra energy from the sunlight. Rice University researchers are paying attention to cup-shaped gold nanostructures that can bend light in a more manipulative manner. Here the cup behaves like three-dimensional nano-antennas. The gold nanocups [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/nanocups-could-improve-solar-cell-efficiency/feed/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/spray-on-solar-panels/ http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/spray-on-solar-panels/#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2009 08:34:16 +0000 Alternative Energy http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/?p=573 Solar cells are usually made of silicon coated with a thin layer of silicon nitrate. This silicon nitrate works as an anti-reflective agent to boost cell efficiency. But the catch is these types of cells are costly to produce. This anti-reflective layer deposition happens in vacuum and creating vacuum like situation doesn’t come cheap! [...]
Posted in: Inventions, PhotoVoltaics, Solar Power]]> http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/spray-on-solar-panels/feed/