Comments on: Clean Tech Intro: The Solar Family http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/21/clean-tech-intro-the-solar-family/ Clean Tech News & Views: Solar Energy News. Wind Energy News. EV News. & More. Fri, 25 May 2012 14:14:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tombolo http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/21/clean-tech-intro-the-solar-family/#comment-2271 Tombolo Sun, 10 May 2009 22:25:10 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=666#comment-2271 There is a very recent solution being thought about on building solar satellites. The satellites will be exposed to 24hr sunlight orbiting the earth. Using photovoltaic panels it will create electricity which will be beamed back to earth through lasers or microwaves and reconverted to traditional electricity electricity on time for Sunday roast. This is all very new, but not too far-fetched as one would assume. The technology does exist and it works, but will be very expensive to pull off on a large scale. These two articles below give more information but they are not too reliable.. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30198977/ http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/10/20/solar-satellites-by-ben-bova/ There is a very recent solution being thought about on building solar satellites. The satellites will be exposed to 24hr sunlight orbiting the earth. Using photovoltaic panels it will create electricity which will be beamed back to earth through lasers or microwaves and reconverted to traditional electricity electricity on time for Sunday roast.

This is all very new, but not too far-fetched as one would assume. The technology does exist and it works, but will be very expensive to pull off on a large scale.

These two articles below give more information but they are not too reliable..

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30198977/

http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/10/20/solar-satellites-by-ben-bova/

]]> By: Tombolo http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/21/clean-tech-intro-the-solar-family/#comment-18165 Tombolo Sun, 10 May 2009 22:25:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=666#comment-18165 There is a very recent solution being thought about on building solar satellites. The satellites will be exposed to 24hr sunlight orbiting the earth. Using photovoltaic panels it will create electricity which will be beamed back to earth through lasers or microwaves and reconverted to traditional electricity electricity on time for Sunday roast. This is all very new, but not too far-fetched as one would assume. The technology does exist and it works, but will be very expensive to pull off on a large scale. These two articles below give more information but they are not too reliable.. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30198977/ http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/10/20/solar-satellites-by-ben-bova/ There is a very recent solution being thought about on building solar satellites. The satellites will be exposed to 24hr sunlight orbiting the earth. Using photovoltaic panels it will create electricity which will be beamed back to earth through lasers or microwaves and reconverted to traditional electricity electricity on time for Sunday roast.

This is all very new, but not too far-fetched as one would assume. The technology does exist and it works, but will be very expensive to pull off on a large scale.

These two articles below give more information but they are not too reliable..

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30198977/

http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/10/20/solar-satellites-by-ben-bova/

]]> By: A Thin Film Solar Installation Revisited : CleanTechnica http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/21/clean-tech-intro-the-solar-family/#comment-2270 A Thin Film Solar Installation Revisited : CleanTechnica Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:31:51 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=666#comment-2270 [...] you need a refresher on thin film solar technology, check out two of our previous posts. The important thing to remember here is that thin film solar is lighter [...] [...] you need a refresher on thin film solar technology, check out two of our previous posts. The important thing to remember here is that thin film solar is lighter [...]

]]> By: Total Solar Energy http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/21/clean-tech-intro-the-solar-family/#comment-2269 Total Solar Energy Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:45:49 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=666#comment-2269 the solar dyes are quite exciting. i know nanosolar in the US and xerocoat in Australia are both developing this technology. the solar dyes are quite exciting. i know nanosolar in the US and xerocoat in Australia are both developing this technology.

]]> By: Total Solar Energy http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/21/clean-tech-intro-the-solar-family/#comment-18164 Total Solar Energy Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:45:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=666#comment-18164 the solar dyes are quite exciting. i know nanosolar in the US and xerocoat in Australia are both developing this technology. the solar dyes are quite exciting. i know nanosolar in the US and xerocoat in Australia are both developing this technology.

]]> By: Susan Foxe http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/21/clean-tech-intro-the-solar-family/#comment-2268 Susan Foxe Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:32:11 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=666#comment-2268 Here is another promising technology that is still being developed. Invented by the Swiss in the 1990s, the idea is to produce solar cells in cheap, easy, attractive dyes that can be painted or sprayed onto almost any surface. The benefit is both cost and application: the dyes are only one tenth of the cost of silicon panels and you can boldly take them where solar has never gone before. Imagine painting your house with solar cells and reaping just enough energy to power your microwave. That is the downside: solar dyes are not yet as efficient as thin film solar, and many dyes only last several years instead of decades. Here is another promising technology that is still being developed. Invented by the Swiss in the 1990s, the idea is to produce solar cells in cheap, easy, attractive dyes that can be painted or sprayed onto almost any surface. The benefit is both cost and application: the dyes are only one tenth of the cost of silicon panels and you can boldly take them where solar has never gone before. Imagine painting your house with solar cells and reaping just enough energy to power your microwave. That is the downside: solar dyes are not yet as efficient as thin film solar, and many dyes only last several years instead of decades.

]]> By: Susan Foxe http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/21/clean-tech-intro-the-solar-family/#comment-18163 Susan Foxe Fri, 25 Jul 2008 11:32:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=666#comment-18163 Here is another promising technology that is still being developed. Invented by the Swiss in the 1990s, the idea is to produce solar cells in cheap, easy, attractive dyes that can be painted or sprayed onto almost any surface. The benefit is both cost and application: the dyes are only one tenth of the cost of silicon panels and you can boldly take them where solar has never gone before. Imagine painting your house with solar cells and reaping just enough energy to power your microwave. That is the downside: solar dyes are not yet as efficient as thin film solar, and many dyes only last several years instead of decades. Here is another promising technology that is still being developed. Invented by the Swiss in the 1990s, the idea is to produce solar cells in cheap, easy, attractive dyes that can be painted or sprayed onto almost any surface. The benefit is both cost and application: the dyes are only one tenth of the cost of silicon panels and you can boldly take them where solar has never gone before. Imagine painting your house with solar cells and reaping just enough energy to power your microwave. That is the downside: solar dyes are not yet as efficient as thin film solar, and many dyes only last several years instead of decades.

]]> By: Kevin http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/21/clean-tech-intro-the-solar-family/#comment-2267 Kevin Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:16:12 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=666#comment-2267 Thanks for this article, Michelle. And I don't mind tossing a few pointers over the fence for you: * Since some thin film modules do in fact employ silicon, we usually speak of the two primary photovoltaic technology families as Crystalline Silicon (so called because cells are cut from the crystalline form of silicon) & Thin Film. * The module shown next to your thin film category is actually a crystalline silicon module. Thin film modules can be seen by going to the websites of thin film manufacturers such as First Solar, Uni-Solar, Kaneka, and EPV, to name just a few. * Concentrating Photovoltaics (CPV) refers to any degree of concentration, from 2x (two times the normal amount of sunlight falling on a given surface) to many hundreds of times or even greater than 1000x. As far as I know, no one other than Sunrgi actually speaks of "extreme" concentrating PV; we usually refer to levels of concentration as low (LCPV) or high (HCPV). The higher the level of concentration, the more accurate all the system tolerances need to be and the more heat becomes a problem, but the promise is an even lower potential cost of energy. Thanks for this article, Michelle. And I don’t mind tossing a few pointers over the fence for you:

* Since some thin film modules do in fact employ silicon, we usually speak of the two primary photovoltaic technology families as Crystalline Silicon (so called because cells are cut from the crystalline form of silicon) & Thin Film.

* The module shown next to your thin film category is actually a crystalline silicon module. Thin film modules can be seen by going to the websites of thin film manufacturers such as First Solar, Uni-Solar, Kaneka, and EPV, to name just a few.

* Concentrating Photovoltaics (CPV) refers to any degree of concentration, from 2x (two times the normal amount of sunlight falling on a given surface) to many hundreds of times or even greater than 1000x. As far as I know, no one other than Sunrgi actually speaks of “extreme” concentrating PV; we usually refer to levels of concentration as low (LCPV) or high (HCPV). The higher the level of concentration, the more accurate all the system tolerances need to be and the more heat becomes a problem, but the promise is an even lower potential cost of energy.

]]> By: Kevin http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/21/clean-tech-intro-the-solar-family/#comment-18162 Kevin Mon, 21 Jul 2008 20:16:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=666#comment-18162 Thanks for this article, Michelle. And I don't mind tossing a few pointers over the fence for you: * Since some thin film modules do in fact employ silicon, we usually speak of the two primary photovoltaic technology families as Crystalline Silicon (so called because cells are cut from the crystalline form of silicon) & Thin Film. * The module shown next to your thin film category is actually a crystalline silicon module. Thin film modules can be seen by going to the websites of thin film manufacturers such as First Solar, Uni-Solar, Kaneka, and EPV, to name just a few. * Concentrating Photovoltaics (CPV) refers to any degree of concentration, from 2x (two times the normal amount of sunlight falling on a given surface) to many hundreds of times or even greater than 1000x. As far as I know, no one other than Sunrgi actually speaks of "extreme" concentrating PV; we usually refer to levels of concentration as low (LCPV) or high (HCPV). The higher the level of concentration, the more accurate all the system tolerances need to be and the more heat becomes a problem, but the promise is an even lower potential cost of energy. Thanks for this article, Michelle. And I don’t mind tossing a few pointers over the fence for you:

* Since some thin film modules do in fact employ silicon, we usually speak of the two primary photovoltaic technology families as Crystalline Silicon (so called because cells are cut from the crystalline form of silicon) & Thin Film.

* The module shown next to your thin film category is actually a crystalline silicon module. Thin film modules can be seen by going to the websites of thin film manufacturers such as First Solar, Uni-Solar, Kaneka, and EPV, to name just a few.

* Concentrating Photovoltaics (CPV) refers to any degree of concentration, from 2x (two times the normal amount of sunlight falling on a given surface) to many hundreds of times or even greater than 1000x. As far as I know, no one other than Sunrgi actually speaks of “extreme” concentrating PV; we usually refer to levels of concentration as low (LCPV) or high (HCPV). The higher the level of concentration, the more accurate all the system tolerances need to be and the more heat becomes a problem, but the promise is an even lower potential cost of energy.

]]> By: Martin K. http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/21/clean-tech-intro-the-solar-family/#comment-2266 Martin K. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:26:15 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=666#comment-2266 MIT's Solar Concentrators, though in the early stages, may prove to be more economical than XCPV. They can even be added to existing solar panels to improve efficiency. Also, "Nanoantenna" solar panels look to be the most efficient technology on record. I mean, the panels even work at night! Obviously some kinks still need to be worked out. MIT’s Solar Concentrators, though in the early stages, may prove to be more economical than XCPV. They can even be added to existing solar panels to improve efficiency.

Also, “Nanoantenna” solar panels look to be the most efficient technology on record. I mean, the panels even work at night! Obviously some kinks still need to be worked out.

]]> By: Martin K. http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/21/clean-tech-intro-the-solar-family/#comment-18161 Martin K. Mon, 21 Jul 2008 17:26:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=666#comment-18161 MIT's Solar Concentrators, though in the early stages, may prove to be more economical than XCPV. They can even be added to existing solar panels to improve efficiency. Also, "Nanoantenna" solar panels look to be the most efficient technology on record. I mean, the panels even work at night! Obviously some kinks still need to be worked out. MIT’s Solar Concentrators, though in the early stages, may prove to be more economical than XCPV. They can even be added to existing solar panels to improve efficiency.

Also, “Nanoantenna” solar panels look to be the most efficient technology on record. I mean, the panels even work at night! Obviously some kinks still need to be worked out.

]]> By: Edouard Stenger, France http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/21/clean-tech-intro-the-solar-family/#comment-2265 Edouard Stenger, France Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:11:33 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=666#comment-2265 Congratulations for this most interesting article. But, to my opinion you don't stress enough the importance solar passive can have. By maximizing the energy input of the sun within premises, the energy bill can be cut by 30 to 70 percent. ( depends of the location ) Keep up the good work ! Congratulations for this most interesting article.

But, to my opinion you don’t stress enough the importance solar passive can have.

By maximizing the energy input of the sun within premises, the energy bill can be cut by 30 to 70 percent. ( depends of the location )

Keep up the good work !

]]> By: Edouard Stenger, France http://cleantechnica.com/2008/07/21/clean-tech-intro-the-solar-family/#comment-18160 Edouard Stenger, France Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:11:00 +0000 http://cleantechnica.com/?p=666#comment-18160 Congratulations for this most interesting article. But, to my opinion you don't stress enough the importance solar passive can have. By maximizing the energy input of the sun within premises, the energy bill can be cut by 30 to 70 percent. ( depends of the location ) Keep up the good work ! Congratulations for this most interesting article.

But, to my opinion you don’t stress enough the importance solar passive can have.

By maximizing the energy input of the sun within premises, the energy bill can be cut by 30 to 70 percent. ( depends of the location )

Keep up the good work !

]]>