solar panel efficiency Archives - Page 2 of 3

Breakthrough Renewable Energy Forecasting Coming To US Grid By 2015

May 10, 201312 years ago silviomarcacci 1 Comment

The National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) is adding to its already impressive list of renewable energy innovations with a new two-year plan to develop custom forecasting systems for wind and solar generation.

NCAR scientists and engineers will develop technology to predict sudden changes in wind speed, enable wind farm operators to curtail turbines before potentially damaging icy conditions, and predict the amount of energy generated by small-scale solar panel installations.

Solar Energy Forecasts Could Boost Industry Outlook

February 28, 201312 years ago silviomarcacci 4 Comments

Intermittency may be the Achilles Heel of solar energy. Since the Sun doesn’t always shine and utility-scale energy storage isn’t available yet, grid operators have to rely on dispatchable generation like natural gas or when clouds cover up solar farms. But that may be about to change in a big way…

Nanoantenna Solar Cell Efficiency Can Blow Silicon Out Of The Water

February 7, 201312 years ago Nicholas Brown 23 Comments

Today, conventional silicon solar cells are 10% to 20% efficient (this means that they generate 100 watts to 200 watts per square metre of cells, respectively). These conventional panels are already in use worldwide, and they do work well; however, more efficient panels would still be very helpful in multiple ways. There … [continued]

Emerging PV Industry Technology Roadmap: Leading Indicator of New Buying Cycle

July 19, 201213 years ago proteus 0 Comments

An industry-wide roadmap for solar PV manufacturers and equipment suppliers is set to emerge in 2013, benefiting downstream market participants, customers, and investors, according to NPD Solarbuzz, even as overcapacity and an industry shake-out continue into 2013. […]

UK Company Likes Its Energy Naked

April 5, 201213 years ago Zachary Shahan 6 Comments

A cleantech start-up out of the UK, Naked Energy, has created a technology that’s a little over my head, but that looks quite cool. Basically, one of the key challenges of solar photovoltaics (PV) is that their efficiency drops if they get too hot. Naked Energy, in response, has … [continued]

A Brief History of Everything Solar

March 21, 201213 years ago Zachary Shahan 6 Comments

The following is an excellent short history of solar panels and solar power from guest contributor Dane Cross. I think you’ll thoroughly enjoy it — I did! What do Archimedes, Einstein and Arnold Schwarzenegger all have in common? Answer: They’ve all contributed to the development of solar power. From the 3rd Century BC when Archimedes … [continued]

Best-Performing Solar Modules in 2011 Announced

January 31, 201213 years ago Zachary Shahan 2 Comments

Can you guess which company’s solar modules were determined to be the best-performing solar modules of 2011? […]

Solar Thermal Panels, Practical but Not Yet Popular – A Solar Overview

October 3, 201114 years ago breathonthewind 7 Comments

Solar thermal panels save more and save more where it counts. The sun’s energy is diffuse. It is always first collected and then concentrated. Solar thermal panel systems concentrate the energy in thermal storage systems. PV panel systems do this electricaly but not always with storage.

Solar Panels from SunPower Achieve Guinness World Record

June 19, 201114 years ago Zachary Shahan 7 Comments

I know, solar panel records are set almost everyday these days, it seems. One reason solar power costs have already dropped over 20% this year. But who doesn’t love a “new solar panel record set” story?

Solar Panel Film Increases Efficiency 300%, Cuts Costs in Half

February 25, 201114 years ago Zachary Shahan 13 Comments

California-based HyperSolar has developed a solar panel film that, using “cutting edge photonics techniques,” can move specific light spectra to the places they are needed most in order to increase solar panel efficiency. Using this film instead of traditional solar panel film, efficiency can reportedly be increased 300%!