Electricity generation from solar resources in the United States reached 77 million megawatthours (MWh) in 2017, surpassing for the first time annual generation from biomass resources, which generated 64 million MWh in 2017.
Solar ponds are a type of passive solar energy technology whereby pools of saltwater are used to collect and store solar thermal energy — making use of the natural formation of a salinity gradient in such bodies of water, whereby heat isn’t easily transferred between a high-salinity layer at the bottom of the body of water in question and a low-salinity layer on top.
Solar walls, glazed solar collectors, and so-called Trombe walls are all different types of passive solar heating technologies based around the use of materials meant to absorb solar radiation (generally, dark-colored materials since dark colors absorb the heat better) and thermal mass. The end goal is to provide space heating, and often ventilation as well.
One of the challenges posed to students was focused on climate change. What can be done at the school to reduce its carbon footprint and more than that, to impact Cape Breton Island in a positive way? The students were filled with ideas and opened up the floodgates to their teachers. Out of the long list and through a process of discussion, several ideas rose to the top and were selected as the focus on action for the project.
Solar chimneys are an ancient passive solar technology whereby natural heat convection processes are harnessed to provide ventilation, amongst other possibilities.
Solar energy has been exploited in direct capacities, for various purposes, well before solar photovoltaic cell and module technology became the most prominent example of “solar energy technology.” Solar stills, solar cookers, sunlight concentrators, solar furnaces, solar fire starters, et cetera, have a long history of use and/or suggestion of use. For instance, there’s fairly good evidence (though disputed by some academics) that solar fire-starters have been in use in Central Asia for a fair many thousands of years.
Further building on our discussions of energy efficient building design — via the subjects of basic passive solar home design elements, the Passivhaus standard, R-value terminology, and earth-sheltered house design — it seems worth highlighting the “PlusEnergy” building design approach.
What actually changed in the world of solar in Q1 2018? Here’s our rundown:
In the last couple of years, there has been a growing a number of news articles and blog posts published about energy storage, particularly in the form of battery systems. This interest is very reasonable and the news is exciting because these systems can fill in wind power and solar power electricity production gaps. In many places, they could replace gas-powered peaker plants.
SolarReserve has opened its Australian headquarters and a field office near where it will build a 150MW solar thermal power plant.
