Solar Power

Microgeneration equipment without planning permission

Feb 12th, 2009 | By ashleys | Category: Micro Generation, News, Solar Power

eGov Monitor reports that householders will be soon be able to install some of their their own energy generating equipment, including solar panels, without planning permission following a Scottish Government consultation on planning reforms aimed at increasing renewable energy generation and cutting emissions.
Technorati Tags: Solar wind, solar power, microgeneration



Calculating the number of Solar Panels required for your home.

Dec 31st, 2008 | By admin | Category: News, Solar Power

So you want to build your own solar panels system. A common question from people wanting to design their own solar energy installation is “how many panels do I need”? Whilst this a perfectly reasonable question to ask the answer is not that straight forward. Your Solar Panel requirement is dependant on a number of [...]



The Integral Passive Solar Water Heater Book

Dec 7th, 2008 | By admin | Category: Solar Power

 
This book covers the design and construction of simple passive solar water heaters.  In my opinion, it is easily the best book ever written on the subject.    The book was published in 1981, and is now out of print and difficult to obtain.  David Bainbridge, the author, has agreed to make the book available here as [...]



Boosting The Power Of Solar Cells

Dec 4th, 2008 | By admin | Category: Solar Power

New ways of squeezing out greater efficiency from solar photovoltaic cells are emerging from computer simulations and lab tests conducted by a team of physicists and engineers.



Polymer Solar Cells With Higher Efficiency Levels Created

Dec 1st, 2008 | By admin | Category: Solar Power

Currently solar cells are difficult to handle, expensive to purchase and complicated to install. The hope is that consumers will one day be able to buy solar cells from their local hardware store and simply hang them like posters on a wall. A recent study has shown that the dream is one step closer to reality.



Precise Measurement Of Phenomenon Advances Solar Cell Understanding

Nov 27th, 2008 | By admin | Category: Solar Power

Researchers have shed light on a basic process that could improve future solar cells. They have now directly measured the rate of hole transfer between identical porphyrin compounds in their ground states. These results are key to understanding the fundamental processes underlying charge separation and have applications for improving the efficiency of solar cells.



Solar Energy As A Sustainable Source Of European Economic Growth

Nov 26th, 2008 | By admin | Category: Solar Power

Scientists from leading European research institutions in the field of solar-to-fuel energy conversion call for unified action and substantial support for novel clean fuel technologies as well as a paradigm change in Europe’s current energy policy. This is crucial if Europe is to maintain its environmental stability and economic development.



Converting Sunlight Into Electricity: European Project Breaks Efficiency Record

Nov 21st, 2008 | By admin | Category: Solar Power

Scientists have developed photovoltaic multi-junction solar cells which are able to convert 39.7% of the energy of sun light into electricity. This is the highest percentage ever reached in Europe, according to researchers.



New System Proposed To Optimize Combined Energy Use

Nov 19th, 2008 | By admin | Category: Solar Power

Engineers in Spain have developed an algorithm that can optimize hybrid electricity generation systems through combined use of renewable energies, such as photovoltaic and wind power, and non-renewables, such as diesel. Their study envisions storing the energy in batteries or hydrogen tanks.



New Research Expected To Improve Laser Devices And Make Photovoltaics More Efficient

Nov 14th, 2008 | By admin | Category: Solar Power

Scientists have induced electrons in the nanocrystals of semiconductors to cool more slowly by forcing them into a smaller volume. This has the potential to improve satellite communications and the generation of solar power. Slowing down the cooling of these electrons — in this case, by more than 30 times — could lead to a better infrared laser source and increase the bandwidth of communication satellites. It also could lead to more efficient photovoltaic devices.