Comments on: 5 Fresh Innovations in Solar Technology

By: Darrell

Darrell — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 01:12:00 +0000

Ever try it? I am guessing you are an “engineer” of some type with the “naysayer” mentality. Don’t analyze it…just do it and you’ll see it works. You’re welcome.

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Or left too many permanent markers around with their caps off.

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 06:22:00 +0000

Congratulations.

You broke one of the Laws of Physics….

By: Darrell

Darrell — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 00:30:00 +0000

About 5 years ago, my (now deceased) inventing partner was 86 year old “Solar Sam” from Needham, MA. We experimented with all kinds of solar gadgets and came up with perpetual lighting system. A simple desk lamp converted to run off of rechargeable batteries. The batteries sat in the charger that was connected to a 9.5v mini panel that was clipped inside the lampshade. So the incandescent bulb fed the panel that fed the charger that charged the batteries that powered the lamp.

By: SolarKindle Now On Sale - CleanTechnica

SolarKindle Now On Sale - CleanTechnica — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:30:06 +0000

[…] gave some giddy mention to the SolarKindle a couple times in January. News is the SolarKindle, which won the CES 2012 Innovation Award […]

By: robert marty

robert marty — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:49:00 +0000

This seems to be a great site which offers Roof,Roof Tiles, Roof Repairs,Gutters,Roof Painting,Roof Tiles, Slate Roof for home improvements etc.and I would surely like to try their services.I had been relying on http://www.ghtuk.com earlier and they too offered good stuff.

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:38:00 +0000

Thanks. We’ve written about them for years. Search “solar shingles” in one of our search boxes. But they aren’t being mass-produced yet, so not that well known.

By: mariiakruk

mariiakruk — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 13:36:00 +0000

really enjoyed your article, especially the artificial leaf paragraph. Although, I have heard only about solar roofing shingles by now. But your post really enlightening.

By: Bob_Wallace

Bob_Wallace — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 23:22:00 +0000

Something like that has been on the market for a while. I think one of the brand names is Solar Tube. They’re showing up in interior bathrooms and hallways.

Small plastic dome that fits on the roof, flexible mylar ‘pipe’, and ceiling outlet.

Another company was talking about fiber optics to move light into areas not directly under a roof, don’t know if they went to market.

By: Marie Hawkins

Marie Hawkins — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 21:57:00 +0000

Not sure it is the same thing, but, the Japanese have been using something that sounds like what you describe to light buildings as well as mines. If I recall, they used abandoned mines to raise mushrooms.

By: Breaking Down Crab Shells Could Improve Solar Technology

Breaking Down Crab Shells Could Improve Solar Technology — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 12:44:13 +0000

[…] Solar technology is continuing to expand, showing us that solar power has many, varied potential applications. From solar-powered phones, to gadget chargers, and to water heaters, there are many practical, cost-effective applications for solar power out there today. But there is still much room for improvement in solar technology, and what we are learning in many areas of science is that the answer to the problem might, in fact, lie in nature. Research and development of solar technology is a huge area of the R&D field. One of the biggest problems researchers are working on is creating a flexible panel that does not lose efficiency as it is exposed to heat. […]

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 11:09:00 +0000

For sure.

By: Homemade Solar Panels

Homemade Solar Panels — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 09:37:00 +0000

I’d like to use solar energy to powered my hourse. Solar Energy is one of the most powerful forms of alternative energy on the planet. I thinking this is great ways to reduce my power bill.

By: 8 Invaluable Resources for Installing Solar in 2012

8 Invaluable Resources for Installing Solar in 2012 — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:12:10 +0000

[…] to a few clean energy blogs. CleanTechnica, for instance, covers a variety of energy topics and fresh innovations in solar. GreenBuildingElements does the same, with posts on record-breaking solar panel efficiencies, green […]

By: ecd.fan

ecd.fan — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:37:00 +0000

I hadn’t read any news that Dow had actually rid its Powerhouse solar shingle of its persistent moisture buildup problem inside its encapsulated cells. Not sure I would be one of the guinea pigs testing out their electric generating panels along with rain, snow, heat on my home. Else live close to your local fire station and have a few extra fire extinguishers on hand, in the ready.

By: dcmeserve

dcmeserve — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:27:00 +0000

Hum. In Aaron Fown’s article linked to via “it’s not actually a leaf,” he makes the claim that this technology is still important because it does electrolysis at 10x the efficiency of previous technologies. But, according to the other cleantechnica article pointed to by the “Artificial Leaf” link:

> The “artificial leaf” converted 2.5% of incident sunlight into electricity, … [something technical] raised its conversion efficiency to 4.7%

So if we assume these are 20%-efficient solar cells, then he’s getting electrolysis at 12.5% to 23.5% efficiency. My understanding is that typical electrolysis is more like 50% efficient — though I think this is only through with use of platinum for the electrodes.

I’m guessing Mr. Fown meant to say that this technology is getting 10x the efficiency of previous *platinum-free* electrolysis technologies. As such, this is still a good advance, but it’s still a long way from the kind of efficiencies that would make H2 competitive with still-rapidly-advancing battery technologies.

By: Neil Blanchard

Neil Blanchard — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:27:00 +0000

On the small scale end of things, I would love to find a solar PV battery charger for either AA and AAA cells or with a USB output — that actually works. I have the “Juice Bar” and it is next to useless. Too little power to even work it’s little LED light for more than about 15 minutes after a day in the sun.

Does anybody have any experience with a solid well designed unit?

Neil

By: Neil Blanchard

Neil Blanchard — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:23:00 +0000

You should look at the MIT web site — they are fairly far along with this, and production in 5 or 6 years?

Neil

By: Sami Maameri

Sami Maameri — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:19:00 +0000

Artificial Leaf. Hm. Sound like a research lab experiment, possibly taking another 10 – 30 years till we actually see this on large scale action.

As for roof tiles, SolarCentrury won a lot of awards for its similar innovative solar roof tile design that seamlessly integrate with the rooftop fabric

By: microsapiens

microsapiens — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:30:00 +0000

I Suggested in the Ecomagination to guide sunlight through optical tubes for lighting buildings and residences. This concept, if exploited, can change the architecture we know. We may use a distribution light box and do not use conventional lights in house. I still need to explain this idea better. It is very interesting! http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=302865226403797&set=a.190293597660961.45526.100000409679153&type=3&theater