The energy company BrightSource Energy Inc said it would open a solar “power tower” in Israel this week to test new technology that will be used for the construction of power plants next year in California.

California utility PG & E Corp signed contracts with BrightSource in April to buy up to 900 megawatts of solar thermal in the coming years, enough energy to power 630,000 homes.

The move is part of a push from PG & E to meet the requirements of California for at least 20 percent of the energy supply comes from renewable energy by 2010.

A global race is under way to find energy alternatives to replace fossil fuels, and entrepreneurs are scrambling for a piece of clean energy market which analysts estimate is worth about $ 150 billion a year.

The development center BrightSource, with a tower 60 meters high and some 1,200 mirrors, is located in approximately 12,000 square meters of the Desert in Israel Nagev, chairman Arnold Goldman said.

BrightSource gave no financial details of the complex, but said that their systems are more cost-efficient than other solar power plants.

The new power tower, which is capable of generating 1.5 megawatts, will not produce electricity for public use, but to test technology to feed future plants, including a 100 megawatt plant in the Mojave Desert that is estimated to be completed 2011, said Kroizer.

The 100 megawatt plant will be 50 times larger than the central Negev.

The manager of BrightSource Woolard said competitors, such as Spanish building and energy group Acciona, still using technology similar to those used by BrightSource 20 years ago.

“The tower of power is based on technology, we see no serious competitor still in the area,” Woolard said in a conference in Jerusalem.

Higher Temperature Higher Pression

The towers of solar energy, which have been used for decades, used mirrors to reflect and intensify sunlight, it is almost like using a magnifying glass to start fire. Traditionally, the system contains long rows of mirrors bent to reach the 100 meters in length.

Sunlight is aimed at a boiler on top of the tower is hot enough so that water vapor is then passed through turbines which produce electricity.

The new power tower is surrounded by a system of smaller, flat mirrors, each with a system to track growth and reflect the sun more effectively than other systems, Goldman said.

“They require large quantities of electronics and controls and gears. The electronics industry has fallen so those costs can be achieved that today, “said Goldman. It also requires about one third of steel and cement, he said.

BrightSource mirrors reflect about 50 percent sunlight, while the Standard systems reflect 35-40 percent, Goldman said. As a result, the temperature and pressure in the boiler is higher and energy is produced more effectively.

“Pressures historic records have shown about 20 suns in the tower. It has a maximum of 600 suns, “said Goldman.

Woolard also said that the new power tower works at half the cost of solar photovoltaic plants because it produces twice the energy in the same amount of hours in the year.

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The thin film solar is one of the fastest growing areas in the market for solar panels. This has much to do with the cost of thin photovoltaic film.

The film is cheaper than traditional silicon solar panels. There are many reasons for this.

One is that the thin film solar cells use less material to produce electricity. Silicon is abundant, but in its pure form is expensive. The film uses extremely thin layers of silicon, lowering costs.

The other reason that the thin photovoltaic film is the least cost manufacturing process. Traditional photovoltaic solar energy cells require a lot of expensive manual labor. The process of applying for support for the silicon thin film is similar to a printing machine. This means lower costs and faster production.

The greatest disadvantage of this type of solar panels is that they are less efficient than traditional solar. This means that a larger area to produce the same amount of solar energy.

Innovations in this area are solar shingles. These are built with photovoltaic shingles, eliminating the need for traditional panels. This can reduce the cost of installation.

In conclusion, the photovoltaic film has advantages in their prices and range of applications. Although not as efficient as solar panels, are developing rapidly and indeed may exceed the traditional silicon panels.

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FTL announcement last week that, thanks to Terra Firma Capital Group, Josh Mailman Foundation, and private investors, now have the dollars needed to develop flexible solar cells, including his vision for creating PowerMods – structures covered in flexible solar cells that can be used in places where the solar panels do not normally work, such as shelters and military bases. According FTL, will be manufactured and marketed the cells for military and commercial customers, from small residential to needs of large-scale solar farms. In other words, whoever purchases.

Flexible solar cells are nothing new. But investors have found the effort because of the flexible solar cells are on par with traditional silicon cells in terms of prices, however, have the potential to be applied to many more uses because of its flexibility and therefore have a varied target consumers. Ideas and products FTL is not limited to flat panels, but will be easily adapted to a wide variety of construction materials. And the industry has already proven its response. Regardless of the reasoning of investors, it’s nice to see investors put their wallets on the table for new solar technologies. With little money and some creative minds behind the technology, we can appreciate more quickly, which is what we all want.

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The Japanese National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Mitsubishi, and Tokki Corporation have developed a smart way to integrate solar cells into our lives, making them a little more friendly for the eyes. Meet the new leaves in a technological version of the plants home.

The unit is a plant similar to a main branch, within the thin film solar cells in the form and the green covers. Even comes in a pot! The cells are covered with a protective film to keep away water and oxygen, and the durability of the elements of the unit is being tested.

With all the complaints about the ugliness of the solar panels, here we are presented with a solution for energy without resenting the sight. OK, this will do much to improve the appearance of the towers, but I think it will be funny to have these towers of mobile phones with fake pine trees covered in these leaves!

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Restricting large subsidies, providing solar energy to the masses – from home to their cell phones – requires a greater fall in the cost of technology. Last week, a group of researchers in Australia and China announced they had moved towards the “holy grail of cost-effectiveness of solar energy.”

According to Professor Max Lu, University of Queensland, Australia, the team has grown “the first titanium oxide crystals with the world’s largest number of reactive surfaces, something that was predicted as impossible.” This is what the titanium oxide – a mineral many renewable and non-toxic and often found in white paint – is known for its ability to absorb UV light and produce electrons that can break the components on its surface. That makes it useful for self cleaning windows and concrete “that absorbs the pollution.” It can also be used in solar cells at low cost and low efficiency, also known as the Gratzel cell. Until now, the challenge addressed by the application of titanium oxide dyes has been imposed in order to be efficient in a long surface area to which the material can absorb light and conduct electricity. But to harvest cells more reactive titanium oxide made a serious breakthrough. Lu said:

“The beauty of our technique is that it is very simple and economical to make these materials in temperate conditions. Now that research has clarified the conditions required, the method is like cooking in an oven and the crystals can be applied as paint. ”

The researchers also say that technology can be used to separate hydrogen from water to create energy and eliminate the water pollution. While a decade may pass before this technology can be used in solar cell, said Lu, applications depolluters to be five years away, today there is concrete that absorb CO2.

A similar research last year about harmful solar affordable technologies – in the NJ Institute of Technology, Massey University, and especially at the University Of Notre Dame – also relies on monostructure to create cells high-efficiency solar. Using an available titanium oxide instead of silicon solar cells could not only prove to be cheaper and more effective, but potentially more sustainable.

Please note the origin of some of these studies: China. Cheap solar energy not only help reduce pollution in some of the most polluted cities, but also help strengthen the determination of China to leapfrog the U.S. and Europe with regard to sustainable technologies, in a style of warfare technology green can only help.

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The California wine industry is booming and the significance of its environmental impact is undeniable. Fortunately, sustainability in the production of wine is a movement that grows as fast as industry. Far Niente in Napa Valley is one of the wineries that have developed innovations for sustainability and has literally launched a new form of solar technology.

Call Floatovoltaic, floating solar farm consists of solar panels hooked to irrigation gates made of plastic and ready to float on irrigation. The system was designed and installed by SPG Solar, Inc. With technology developed by Thompson Technology Industries, Inc.

While testing the floating solar island, Far Niente’s fleet of nearly 1,000 panels is the first floating solar farm in the solar industry and indeed the wine industry. In combination with solar panels to close bases, floating panels produce all the energy that the winery needed annually. While creative, the technology is still expensive – despite the value 0 of its energy bill, some take 12 years to recover the floatovoltaic investment of $ 7 million of its creation and installation.

Innovation was created by the need to conserve valuable land space for the vine. Instead of drawing close to an acre of Cabernet grapes, and lose $ 150,000 in wine production. Far Niente use the empty place is essential to its irrigation pond. Upon seeing that the intelligence assessment of the business sustainability and ingenuity can go far in encouraging other businesses to join the wagon of ecology. This practical and intelligent use of space is expected to encourage more businesses and individuals to use their imagination and invest in solar energy.

Filed under: Solar Developments, Solar Energy by Val Comments Off

Do you find some time relaxing at the lake just to hear a loud, obnoxious boat buzzing in your ears, and all this beauty of the lake is dissipated when you think how much pollution that boat has been inserted in the water? Makes you not even try to wet your feet, even less eating fresh fish.

The Dutch have created the Czeers MK1 – the first solar motor – which helps to strengthen the friendship between the love of speed and love for the environment by using solar energy.

We have seen other solar motors, but not as fast as this. Reaching speeds of 30 knots and sound and produce less pollution than their peers, this boat is 33 feet long and its 150 square meters are covered with photovoltaic cells.

It is expensive ($ 1.1 million), but if you’re torn between the desire to keep the wind flowing through your hair and your eco-consciousness, then this boat could be worth the extra value. It is definitely a luxury boat, as the creators of the best added features like leather interior and control systems tactile style. OK, these are a bit away from the eco friendly, but still, progress is progress. At least this is a step to climb to solar consumers on board. Now they can start working on better options for building materials.

And if you cannot afford this motor boat, there will always be the boat that you can pedal around the lake.

Filed under: Transportation by Val Comments Off

I am currently writing in one of those rubber keyboards that can be rolled up and connect to a Sony UX Micro PC. But this new idea of an expanding electronic screen is powered by solar energy completely discards my rubber keyboard.

Two Japanese companies, Mitsubishi Chemicals and Sumitomo Chemical are working in expandable electronics developing electronic that does not have to be plugged in.

The mixture will have molecular electronics organic emission diodes (OLED) and solar cell blocks that can be expanded or even applied like paint in ultra thin layers of only 100 nm thick. By combining the two technologies, it may be possible to find displays on the market that do not even have to be connected, using solar energy panels. The companies have said that they can even be implemented on the back of cell phones to charge them.

Many solar panels are being created in similar ways, and we have also heard about OLED that can also function as solar collectors. But combine the economics of electronics that can be printed or painted with the use of light and solar in a place would be a huge launch.

They are not going to be available soon, however. The company claims that they could have a prototype ready within two years.

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Currently we are experiencing a boom in the LED technology, but there is a new generation of LEDs called OLED which is nothing more than organic LEDS.

Currently, the OLED (organic LED) is used in mobile phones and MP3 screens, but the way to improve this technology is still long.

The OLED is very versatile because they are thin and flexible, besides being extremely efficient and its technology can be reversed.

How can it be reversed?

Yes, the OLED usually need electricity to create light, but the technology can be inverted to use the light and generate electricity, primarily as a photovoltaic cell.

Still much research is required to enable OLED to be economically feasible to generate electricity, but certainly when they are ready they will change our lives.

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Buro North, a design firm located in Melbourne, Australia, has joined Victorian Eco-Innovation Lab (VEIL) to develop this exciting solar shade collection called “Solar Shade” for Australian primary schools.

The concept of Solar Shade is part educational and part functional. Of course, used in groups, Solar Shade provides a shade that generates energy for the school. But in addition, the device demonstrates and educates students about the dynamics of harvesting solar energy. The rationale for Solar Shade includes LED lights that emit observations that indicate whether or not the orientation is optimal. When the LED is red, students can rotate the device to absorb greater amount of sunlight.

Although it is still a concept, is a pretty good idea – Perhaps the enthusiasm for the project induces its releasing?

Filed under: Solar Energy by Val Comments Off