Now that Tesla has officially acquired SolarCity, it’s not wasting any time showing what the combined entity can do. Tesla has revealed that it’s running the island of Ta’u (in American Samoa) on a solar energy microgrid that, at 1.4 megawatts, can cover “nearly 100 percent” of electrical needs. It’s not just the 5,328 solar panels that are key — it’s the 60 Tesla Powerpacks that offer 6 megawatt-hours of energy storage.
Now that Tesla has officially acquired SolarCity, it’s not wasting any time showing what the combined entity can do. Tesla has revealed that it’s running the island of Ta’u (in American Samoa) on a solar energy microgrid that, at 1.4 megawatts, can cover “nearly 100 percent” of electrical needs. It’s not just the 5,328 solar panels that are key — it’s the 60 Tesla Powerpacks that offer 6 megawatt-hours of energy storage. While Ta’u is normally very sunny, the packs can keep it running for three days without sunlight. They don’t have to worry about a cloudy day leading to blackouts.
The solar switch, which took a year to complete, has both its long-term environmental and immediate practical benefits. Like many remote communities, Ta’u previously had to run on diesel generators. That burns 300 gallons of fuel per day, which is neither eco-friendly nor cheap. Solar eliminates the pollution, of course, but it also saves the cost of having to continuously buy and ship barrels of diesel. And crucially, it provides a more reliable source of electricity.
All is not well with the Indian solar industry. When US-based SunEdison declared bankruptcy on April 21, wiping out nearly $10 billion in market value, a pall of gloom descended over the industry.
Solar projects are making headlines and tenders are being floated at an unprecedented pace. The goal post set by the government is at 100GW by 2022 and carries an investment tag of ₹6.04 lakh crore ($90 billion). It appears a new sun is indeed rising for solar power in India.
Pundits claim India is set to become the fourth largest solar market globally in 2016 behind only China, the U.S. and Japan with 5.4GW of expected capacity addition this year. A report by Bridge to India (BTI) says key policy changes have been introduced and 25GW of projects are under different stages of development. Thirty-five new tenders with a cumulative capacity of 15.5GW were announced last year. An additional 5GW of new tenders are awaiting release in the coming months. There is investment interest both from Indian and international developers in the sector. This frenetic pace of activity is a big step-up in contrast to historic solar capacity addition of about 1GW/year for three straight years until 2014, the BTI report says.
Where’s the money?
According to Raj Prabhu, CEO and co-Founder of Mercom Capital Group, a global solar consultancy, private sector lenders in India are wary about financing solar projects in India due to the low tariffs, which are seen as being prone to cost risks. “The SunEdison bankruptcy is likely to exacerbate this cautious approach. Company financials, especially when bidding for large projects or at very low tariffs, may come under more scrutiny. This will generally be a big wake-up call for solar companies loaded with debt,” Prabhu added.
A developer requires $1 billion/GW from private and public sources to achieve 175GW by 2022. This translates into mobilisation of $25 billion every year from now until 2022. The budget of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for 2016-17 is pegged at $2.1 billion which includes $746 million from the National Clean Environment Fund (NCEF) and the rest from a direct increase in outlays.
“The land acquisition and payment security needs to be seriously addressed to attract foreign investors,”
All is not well with the Indian solar industry. When US-based SunEdison declared bankruptcy on April 21, wiping out nearly $10 billion in market value, a pall of gloom descended over the industry.
Taxing time for manufacturing
There is a 1.2GW capacity of cell manufacturing and 4GW of module manufacturing in India. The Adani and Bharti groups are planning another 2GW of solar cell manufacturing. But that’s just about 10% of the country’s demand being met by Indian manufacturers. About 30% of the solar cell and panel requirement comes from the U.S. and the rest from China.
Government policy encourages imports at zero duty whereas there is customs duty to be paid on several raw materials used for making panels and sales tax on local sale
“Because of the long-term offering of import payment we import at 2% interest and the Indian government allows us to pay these companies even after three years at 2%.”
Interestingly, Chinese companies like Trina Solar and Rene Solar, are planning to set up manufacturing facilities here with Indian joint venture partners. They believe that the Indian government would implement a policy more favourable to the Indian manufacturer.
Contrary to popular belief, the quality of the Chinese solar products is quite good. “They have advanced manufacturing plants and the output is directly supervised by the OEMs who give the specifications,” said a solar panel manufacturer.
“Chinese products can be bought at 40-42 cents per Watt whereas for Indian manufactured products come with a higher price tag of 60-65 cents per Watt,”
On hearing SunEdison’s bankruptcy, the company’s founder and former CEO Jigar Shah tweeted, “Founded by visionaries, built by revolutionaries, destroyed by mercenaries.”
Finland could become the first country to ditch coal for good. As part of a new energy and climate strategy due to be announced tomorrow, the government is considering banning the burning of coal for energy by 2030
Finland could become the first country to ditch coal for good. As part of a new energy and climate strategy due to be announced tomorrow, the government is considering banning the burning of coal for energy by 2030.
“Basically, coal would disappear from the Finnish market,” says Peter Lund, a researcher at Aalto University, and chair of the energy programme at the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council.
The groundwork for the ban already seems to be in place. Coal use has been steadily declining in Finland since 2011, and the nation heavily invested in renewable energy in 2012, leading to a near doubling of wind power capacity the following year. It also poured a further €80 million into renewable power this past February.
On top of this, Nordic energy prices, with the exception of coal, have been dropping since 2010. As a result of such changes, coal-fired power plants are being mothballed and shut all over Finland, leaving coal providing only 8 per cent of the nation’s energy.
Radical step
Regardless of the favourable circumstances, it would still be radical if Finland became the first country to bring in a law banning coal. That puts it ahead of other nations that have been looking for ways to end their relationship with the fuel.
Several – including the UK, Austria and the Netherlands – have announced plans to phase coal out within 10 or 15 years. France’s prime minister announced last week that the country will shut all its coal plants by 2023.
However, this approach has “more degrees of freedom” than a ban, says Lund.
Canada, for example, announced on Monday that it would phase out traditional coal by 2030. But its roadmap permits provinces to carry on using coal beyond this date provided they reduce emissions with carbon capture and storage.
Bill Gates is leading a more than $1 billion fund focused on fighting climate change by investing in clean energy innovation.
The Microsoft co-founder and his all-star line-up of fellow investors plan to announce tomorrow the Breakthrough Energy Ventures fund, which will begin making investments next year. The BEV fund, which has a 20-year duration, aims to invest in the commercialization of new technologies that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in areas including electricity generation and storage, transportation, industrial processes, agriculture, and energy-system efficiency.
“Anything that leads to cheap, clean, reliable energy we’re open-minded to,” says Gates, who is serving as chairman of BEV and anticipates being actively involved.
A transformation is happening in global energy markets that’s worth noting as 2016 comes to an end: Solar power, for the first time, is becoming the cheapest form of new electricity.
The goal of this work, and that of hundreds of other research groups all over the world, was to create new alternatives to today’s silicon-based solar photovoltaics. Without such efforts, the extraordinary solar power revolution could soon peter out.
Compared with the record efficiency for a silicon solar cell, which then hovered around 25 percent, Mike’s cell was unremarkable. But it was a major leap for a material not already in commercial use, and there was a clear path to improve the efficiency to 20 percent and possibly much higher
Although various perovskites are found in nature, what Mike fabricated at Oxford was a synthetic perovskite that combined inorganic atoms, as is usual in natural perovskites, with an organic polymer. High-efficiency solar cells are normally made entirely of inorganic materials such as silicon, which have a nearly perfect crystalline structure that is crucial for their performance. Organic polymers are commonly used in plastics, but they have historically been considered inefficient and unreliable as solar materials.
Los Angeles Power and Water officials have struck a deal on the largest and cheapest solar + battery-storage project in the world, at prices that leave fossil fuels in the dust and may relegate nuclear power to the dustbin.
Later this month the LA Board of Water and Power Commissioners is expected to approve a 25-year contract that will serve 7 percent of the city’s electricity demand at 1.997¢/kwh for solar energy and 1.3¢ for power from batteries.
“This is the lowest solar-photovoltaic price in the United States,”
With a capacity of 2 gigawatts and counting, Pavagada’s arrays represent the world’s largest cluster of photovoltaics. It’s also one of the most successful examples of a solar “park,” whereby governments provide multiple companies land and transmission—two big hurdles that slow solar development. Solar parks account for much of the 25.5 GW of solar capacity India has added in the last five years. The states of Rajasthan and Gujarat have, respectively, 2.25-GW and 5.29-GW solar parks under way, and Egypt’s 1.8-GW installation is one of several new international projects.
Discoveries could lead to next-generation solar cells that are cheaper and more efficient than current commercial panels
The two studies, published in Nature Energy and Nature Photonics, will transform the efficiency and significantly reduce the cost of producing solar cells, scientists say.
The first breakthrough involves “upconverting” low energy, non-visible light into high energy light in order to generate more electricity from the same amount of sunlight.
“The energy from the sun is not just visible light. The spectrum is broad, including infrared light which gives us heat and ultraviolet light which can burn our skin,” said Professor Tim Schmidt from UNSW Sydney.
“Most solar cells… are made from silicon, which cannot respond to light less energetic than the near infrared. This means that some parts of the light spectrum are going unused by many of our current devices and technologies.”
The second breakthrough makes use of a type of material called perovskites to create next-generation solar modules that are more efficient and stable than current commercial solar cells made of silicon.
Solar cells made from perovskites are also cheaper to produce, as well as being flexible and lightweight. Until now, the main issue with the material is that it is difficult to scale up to create solar panels several metres in length.
A new approach makes use of multiple layers to prevent energy being lost or toxic chemicals from leaking as it degrades.
Much of the radiation the Sun showers on the Earth can’t be captured by existing solar panels. For the first time, scientists have found a way to transform this low-energy radiation into something silicon cells turn into electricity. The efficiency demonstrated so far is very low, but the team responsible think this will change. If so, it will represent another step towards solar electricity so cheap fossil fuels can’t compete.
Most objects absorb high-energy (short-wavelength) electromagnetic radiation and release it as longer wavelength heat. Going the other way, turning low-energy photons to higher energy ones, is much harder.
1.76 million people live in the 983,482 square kilometer (379,725 square mile) state of South Australia. This weekend Australia’s national broadcaster made a big announcement:
South Australia’s renewable energy boom has achieved a global milestone. The state once known for not having enough power has become the first major jurisdiction in the world to be powered entirely by solar energy.
“This is truly a phenomenon in the global energy landscape,” Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) chief executive Audrey Zibelman said. “Never before has a jurisdiction the size of South Australia been completely run by solar power, with consumers’ rooftop solar systems contributing 77 per cent.” Large-scale solar farms, like the ones operating at Tailem Bend and Port Augusta, provided the other 23 per cent.
Although it might sound impossible to imagine solar panels that do not require sunlight, it is possible. Solar panels are a key component of the revolution to provide more clean energy for people. These energy conductors do have one problem.
To create energy, they need direct sunlight. But what if that flaw could be eliminated? AuREUS is a new solar panel that does not rely on direct sunlight for energy generation.
These solar panels can generate electricity without sunlight
How can you make solar panels that do not rely on the sun upon? You don’t. You don’t have to. Instead, solar panels can be made that absorb the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
Maigue used these particles to create a solar film that can capture ultraviolet rays. The film converts the ultraviolet rays into visible sunlight, which can be used to produce energy.
The prototype is a 3-by-2-foot panel that was installed in Maigue’s window.
However, it can generate enough electricity to charge two smartphones each day. Maigue believes that it can be scaled up to allow buildings to run entirely off their own electricity
The flexibility of the solar film means that there are plenty of opportunities for new innovators to come up with new uses. The basic design Maigue used may still be useful. To collect electricity, you would simply need to apply the film to your windows. You don’t have to worry about costly solar panels on your roof, or installing them in a different way. It could be installed in cars too, providing new energy sources for electric vehicles.
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.
We are a professional review site that has advertisement and can receive compensation from the companies whose products we review. We use affiliate links in the post so if you use them to buy products through those links we can get compensation at no additional cost to you.OkDecline
32 Comments
Tomi Engdahl says:
Tesla Runs an Entire Island on Solar Power
https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/16/11/22/2020202/tesla-runs-an-entire-island-on-solar-powe
Now that Tesla has officially acquired SolarCity, it’s not wasting any time showing what the combined entity can do. Tesla has revealed that it’s running the island of Ta’u (in American Samoa) on a solar energy microgrid that, at 1.4 megawatts, can cover “nearly 100 percent” of electrical needs. It’s not just the 5,328 solar panels that are key — it’s the 60 Tesla Powerpacks that offer 6 megawatt-hours of energy storage.
Tesla runs an entire island on solar power
Its grid on Ta’u shows that you can eliminate conventional energy… in the right situations.
https://www.engadget.com/2016/11/22/tesla-runs-island-on-solar-power/
Now that Tesla has officially acquired SolarCity, it’s not wasting any time showing what the combined entity can do. Tesla has revealed that it’s running the island of Ta’u (in American Samoa) on a solar energy microgrid that, at 1.4 megawatts, can cover “nearly 100 percent” of electrical needs. It’s not just the 5,328 solar panels that are key — it’s the 60 Tesla Powerpacks that offer 6 megawatt-hours of energy storage. While Ta’u is normally very sunny, the packs can keep it running for three days without sunlight. They don’t have to worry about a cloudy day leading to blackouts.
The solar switch, which took a year to complete, has both its long-term environmental and immediate practical benefits. Like many remote communities, Ta’u previously had to run on diesel generators. That burns 300 gallons of fuel per day, which is neither eco-friendly nor cheap. Solar eliminates the pollution, of course, but it also saves the cost of having to continuously buy and ship barrels of diesel. And crucially, it provides a more reliable source of electricity.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The World’s Largest Coal Company is Going Solar
http://www.epanorama.net/newepa/2016/05/22/the-worlds-largest-coal-company-is-going-solar/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Project volume hides India’s solar reality
http://www.eetimes.com/author.asp?section_id=36&doc_id=1330879&
All is not well with the Indian solar industry. When US-based SunEdison declared bankruptcy on April 21, wiping out nearly $10 billion in market value, a pall of gloom descended over the industry.
Solar projects are making headlines and tenders are being floated at an unprecedented pace. The goal post set by the government is at 100GW by 2022 and carries an investment tag of ₹6.04 lakh crore ($90 billion). It appears a new sun is indeed rising for solar power in India.
Pundits claim India is set to become the fourth largest solar market globally in 2016 behind only China, the U.S. and Japan with 5.4GW of expected capacity addition this year. A report by Bridge to India (BTI) says key policy changes have been introduced and 25GW of projects are under different stages of development. Thirty-five new tenders with a cumulative capacity of 15.5GW were announced last year. An additional 5GW of new tenders are awaiting release in the coming months. There is investment interest both from Indian and international developers in the sector. This frenetic pace of activity is a big step-up in contrast to historic solar capacity addition of about 1GW/year for three straight years until 2014, the BTI report says.
Where’s the money?
According to Raj Prabhu, CEO and co-Founder of Mercom Capital Group, a global solar consultancy, private sector lenders in India are wary about financing solar projects in India due to the low tariffs, which are seen as being prone to cost risks. “The SunEdison bankruptcy is likely to exacerbate this cautious approach. Company financials, especially when bidding for large projects or at very low tariffs, may come under more scrutiny. This will generally be a big wake-up call for solar companies loaded with debt,” Prabhu added.
A developer requires $1 billion/GW from private and public sources to achieve 175GW by 2022. This translates into mobilisation of $25 billion every year from now until 2022. The budget of the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) for 2016-17 is pegged at $2.1 billion which includes $746 million from the National Clean Environment Fund (NCEF) and the rest from a direct increase in outlays.
“The land acquisition and payment security needs to be seriously addressed to attract foreign investors,”
All is not well with the Indian solar industry. When US-based SunEdison declared bankruptcy on April 21, wiping out nearly $10 billion in market value, a pall of gloom descended over the industry.
Taxing time for manufacturing
There is a 1.2GW capacity of cell manufacturing and 4GW of module manufacturing in India. The Adani and Bharti groups are planning another 2GW of solar cell manufacturing. But that’s just about 10% of the country’s demand being met by Indian manufacturers. About 30% of the solar cell and panel requirement comes from the U.S. and the rest from China.
Government policy encourages imports at zero duty whereas there is customs duty to be paid on several raw materials used for making panels and sales tax on local sale
“Because of the long-term offering of import payment we import at 2% interest and the Indian government allows us to pay these companies even after three years at 2%.”
Interestingly, Chinese companies like Trina Solar and Rene Solar, are planning to set up manufacturing facilities here with Indian joint venture partners. They believe that the Indian government would implement a policy more favourable to the Indian manufacturer.
Contrary to popular belief, the quality of the Chinese solar products is quite good. “They have advanced manufacturing plants and the output is directly supervised by the OEMs who give the specifications,” said a solar panel manufacturer.
“Chinese products can be bought at 40-42 cents per Watt whereas for Indian manufactured products come with a higher price tag of 60-65 cents per Watt,”
On hearing SunEdison’s bankruptcy, the company’s founder and former CEO Jigar Shah tweeted, “Founded by visionaries, built by revolutionaries, destroyed by mercenaries.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Finland Set To Become First Country To Ban Coal Use For Energy
https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/16/11/25/0050213/finland-set-to-become-first-country-to-ban-coal-use-for-energy
Finland could become the first country to ditch coal for good. As part of a new energy and climate strategy due to be announced tomorrow, the government is considering banning the burning of coal for energy by 2030
Finland set to become first country to ban coal use for energy
https://www.newscientist.com/article/2113827-finland-set-to-become-first-country-to-ban-coal-use-for-energy/
Finland could become the first country to ditch coal for good. As part of a new energy and climate strategy due to be announced tomorrow, the government is considering banning the burning of coal for energy by 2030.
“Basically, coal would disappear from the Finnish market,” says Peter Lund, a researcher at Aalto University, and chair of the energy programme at the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council.
The groundwork for the ban already seems to be in place. Coal use has been steadily declining in Finland since 2011, and the nation heavily invested in renewable energy in 2012, leading to a near doubling of wind power capacity the following year. It also poured a further €80 million into renewable power this past February.
On top of this, Nordic energy prices, with the exception of coal, have been dropping since 2010. As a result of such changes, coal-fired power plants are being mothballed and shut all over Finland, leaving coal providing only 8 per cent of the nation’s energy.
Radical step
Regardless of the favourable circumstances, it would still be radical if Finland became the first country to bring in a law banning coal. That puts it ahead of other nations that have been looking for ways to end their relationship with the fuel.
Several – including the UK, Austria and the Netherlands – have announced plans to phase coal out within 10 or 15 years. France’s prime minister announced last week that the country will shut all its coal plants by 2023.
However, this approach has “more degrees of freedom” than a ban, says Lund.
Canada, for example, announced on Monday that it would phase out traditional coal by 2030. But its roadmap permits provinces to carry on using coal beyond this date provided they reduce emissions with carbon capture and storage.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Bill Gates and investors worth $170 billion are launching a fund to fight climate change through energy innovation
http://qz.com/859860/bill-gates-is-leading-a-new-1-billion-fund-focused-on-combatting-climate-change-through-innovation/
Bill Gates is leading a more than $1 billion fund focused on fighting climate change by investing in clean energy innovation.
The Microsoft co-founder and his all-star line-up of fellow investors plan to announce tomorrow the Breakthrough Energy Ventures fund, which will begin making investments next year. The BEV fund, which has a 20-year duration, aims to invest in the commercialization of new technologies that reduce greenhouse-gas emissions in areas including electricity generation and storage, transportation, industrial processes, agriculture, and energy-system efficiency.
“Anything that leads to cheap, clean, reliable energy we’re open-minded to,” says Gates, who is serving as chairman of BEV and anticipates being actively involved.
Tomi Engdahl says:
World Energy Hits a Turning Point: Solar That’s Cheaper Than Wind
https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/16/12/16/146231/world-energy-hits-a-turning-point-solar-thats-cheaper-than-wind
A transformation is happening in global energy markets that’s worth noting as 2016 comes to an end: Solar power, for the first time, is becoming the cheapest form of new electricity.
World Energy Hits a Turning Point: Solar That’s Cheaper Than Wind
Emerging markets are leapfrogging the developed world thanks to cheap panels
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-12-15/world-energy-hits-a-turning-point-solar-that-s-cheaper-than-wind
Tomi Engdahl says:
Without More Government Support for R&D, Solar Power’s Future Looks Cloudy
https://spectrum.ieee.org/green-tech/solar/without-more-government-support-for-rd-solar-powers-future-looks-cloudy
The goal of this work, and that of hundreds of other research groups all over the world, was to create new alternatives to today’s silicon-based solar photovoltaics. Without such efforts, the extraordinary solar power revolution could soon peter out.
Compared with the record efficiency for a silicon solar cell, which then hovered around 25 percent, Mike’s cell was unremarkable. But it was a major leap for a material not already in commercial use, and there was a clear path to improve the efficiency to 20 percent and possibly much higher
Although various perovskites are found in nature, what Mike fabricated at Oxford was a synthetic perovskite that combined inorganic atoms, as is usual in natural perovskites, with an organic polymer. High-efficiency solar cells are normally made entirely of inorganic materials such as silicon, which have a nearly perfect crystalline structure that is crucial for their performance. Organic polymers are commonly used in plastics, but they have historically been considered inefficient and unreliable as solar materials.
Tomi Engdahl says:
http://www.etn.fi/index.php/13-news/9395-kattopaneeli-tuottaa-aurinkosahkoa-29-prosentin-hyotysuhteella
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.uusiteknologia.fi/2019/04/25/aurinkokennoista-enemman-sahkoa-seurantatekniikalla/
Tomi Engdahl says:
World’s Largest Solar Power Plant Switched On
https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnparnell/2019/06/29/worlds-largest-solar-power-plant-switched-on/
Tomi Engdahl says:
New Solar + Battery Price Crushes Fossil Fuels, Buries Nuclear
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2019/07/01/new-solar–battery-price-crushes-fossil-fuels-buries-nuclear/
Los Angeles Power and Water officials have struck a deal on the largest and cheapest solar + battery-storage project in the world, at prices that leave fossil fuels in the dust and may relegate nuclear power to the dustbin.
Later this month the LA Board of Water and Power Commissioners is expected to approve a 25-year contract that will serve 7 percent of the city’s electricity demand at 1.997¢/kwh for solar energy and 1.3¢ for power from batteries.
“This is the lowest solar-photovoltaic price in the United States,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
In Conservative Indiana, Utility Chooses Renewables Over Gas As It Retires Coal Early
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2019/07/02/mike-pences-indiana-chooses-renewables-over-gas-as-it-retires-coal-early/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://hackaday.com/2019/09/19/solar-system-wars-walmart-versus-tesla/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2019/10/how-much-watts-solar-panel-you-need.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Even as they speed the growth of renewable energy, giant solar parks also concentrate some of solar energy’s liabilities.
The Pros and Cons of the World’s Biggest Solar Park
https://spectrum.ieee.org/energy/renewables/the-pros-and-cons-of-the-worlds-biggest-solar-park
With a capacity of 2 gigawatts and counting, Pavagada’s arrays represent the world’s largest cluster of photovoltaics. It’s also one of the most successful examples of a solar “park,” whereby governments provide multiple companies land and transmission—two big hurdles that slow solar development. Solar parks account for much of the 25.5 GW of solar capacity India has added in the last five years. The states of Rajasthan and Gujarat have, respectively, 2.25-GW and 5.29-GW solar parks under way, and Egypt’s 1.8-GW installation is one of several new international projects.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://weather.com/science/environment/news/2020-02-06-a-solar-panel-that-works-at-night
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://electricalenergyworld.org/types-of-solar-panels-and-which-solar-panel-type-is-best
Tomi Engdahl says:
The Navy is testing beaming solar power in space
https://phys.org/news/2020-06-navy-solar-power-space.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.lahienergia.org/aurinkosahkon-suosio-jatkoi-hurjaa-kasvua-2019-lopussa-tehoa-noin-198-mw/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/renewables/spherical-solar-cells-soak-up-scattered-sunlight
Tomi Engdahl says:
How Europe’s city façades and pavements are being used to harvest clean energy
https://horizon-magazine.eu/article/how-europe-s-city-fa-ades-and-pavements-are-being-used-harvest-clean-energy.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Solar energy breakthrough creates electricity from invisible light
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/sun-solar-energy-renewable-environment-a9628246.html?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1595257315
Discoveries could lead to next-generation solar cells that are cheaper and more efficient than current commercial panels
The two studies, published in Nature Energy and Nature Photonics, will transform the efficiency and significantly reduce the cost of producing solar cells, scientists say.
The first breakthrough involves “upconverting” low energy, non-visible light into high energy light in order to generate more electricity from the same amount of sunlight.
“The energy from the sun is not just visible light. The spectrum is broad, including infrared light which gives us heat and ultraviolet light which can burn our skin,” said Professor Tim Schmidt from UNSW Sydney.
“Most solar cells… are made from silicon, which cannot respond to light less energetic than the near infrared. This means that some parts of the light spectrum are going unused by many of our current devices and technologies.”
The second breakthrough makes use of a type of material called perovskites to create next-generation solar modules that are more efficient and stable than current commercial solar cells made of silicon.
Solar cells made from perovskites are also cheaper to produce, as well as being flexible and lightweight. Until now, the main issue with the material is that it is difficult to scale up to create solar panels several metres in length.
A new approach makes use of multiple layers to prevent energy being lost or toxic chemicals from leaking as it degrades.
Tomi Engdahl says:
We’re a step closer to solar electricity so cheap fossil fuels can’t compete.
Waste Light Has Been Converted To Energies Solar Cells Can Use For The First Time
https://www.iflscience.com/physics/waste-light-has-been-converted-to-energies-solar-cells-can-use-for-the-first-time/
Much of the radiation the Sun showers on the Earth can’t be captured by existing solar panels. For the first time, scientists have found a way to transform this low-energy radiation into something silicon cells turn into electricity. The efficiency demonstrated so far is very low, but the team responsible think this will change. If so, it will represent another step towards solar electricity so cheap fossil fuels can’t compete.
Most objects absorb high-energy (short-wavelength) electromagnetic radiation and release it as longer wavelength heat. Going the other way, turning low-energy photons to higher energy ones, is much harder.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Forget King Coal. Solar Is ‘New King’ of Global Power Markets, Says IEA
https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/forget-king-coal-solar-is-the-new-king-of-global-electricity-markets-says-iea
The global energy watchdog continues to upgrade its renewables outlook but warns that grid upgrades and coal closures must follow.
Tomi Engdahl says:
In World First, 100% of South Australia’s Power Supplied By Solar Panels
https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/20/10/25/2023245/in-world-first-100-of-south-australias-power-supplied-by-solar-panels?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot%2Fto+%28%28Title%29Slashdot+%28rdf%29%29
1.76 million people live in the 983,482 square kilometer (379,725 square mile) state of South Australia. This weekend Australia’s national broadcaster made a big announcement:
South Australia’s renewable energy boom has achieved a global milestone. The state once known for not having enough power has become the first major jurisdiction in the world to be powered entirely by solar energy.
“This is truly a phenomenon in the global energy landscape,” Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) chief executive Audrey Zibelman said. “Never before has a jurisdiction the size of South Australia been completely run by solar power, with consumers’ rooftop solar systems contributing 77 per cent.” Large-scale solar farms, like the ones operating at Tailem Bend and Port Augusta, provided the other 23 per cent.
All of South Australia’s power comes from solar panels in world first for major jurisdiction
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-10-25/all-sa-power-from-solar-for-first-time/12810366
South Australia’s renewable energy boom has achieved a global milestone.
The state once known for not having enough power has become the first major jurisdiction in the world to be powered entirely by solar energy.
For just over an hour on Sunday, October 11, 100 per cent of energy demand was met by solar panels alone.
“This is truly a phenomenon in the global energy landscape,” Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) chief executive Audrey Zibelman said.
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.enertec.fi/natiivi/2501/suomen-suurimman-aurinkovoimalan-yhteyteen-1-mw/mwh-energiavarasto?fbclid=IwAR0m0umQKKawTNa7gv_sL1aqr26eWlw0V34z0U_sjXj_NwavZjwpf8PMxDI
Tomi Engdahl says:
Aurinkopaneelit laatusyyniin
Aurinkopaneelien laadunvalvonta on käytännössä olematonta ja ostajan suoja heikko. Ongelmaa on nyt alettu ratkaista.
https://tekniikanmaailma.fi/lehti/19b-2020/aurinkopaneelit-laatusyyniin/
Tomi Engdahl says:
https://www.electricaltechnology.org/2020/10/calculation-design-solar-photovoltaic-modules-array.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Scientists Are Mapping Every Solar Panel in the World With Machine Learning
Going over 550 terabytes of imagery and several human lifetimes worth of computing.
https://interestingengineering.com/mapping-every-solar-panel-in-the-world-with-machine-learning
Tomi Engdahl says:
Lämpöpumput ja aurinkopaneelit menevät nyt kuin kuumille kiville – ”Jos nyt tilaa, voi mennä ensi vuoteen” https://www.is.fi/taloussanomat/art-2000008966107.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Revolutionary New Solar Panels Don’t Need Sunlight to Generate Energy
https://www.thesized.com/solar-panels-dont-need-sunlight-generate-energy/
Although it might sound impossible to imagine solar panels that do not require sunlight, it is possible. Solar panels are a key component of the revolution to provide more clean energy for people. These energy conductors do have one problem.
To create energy, they need direct sunlight. But what if that flaw could be eliminated? AuREUS is a new solar panel that does not rely on direct sunlight for energy generation.
These solar panels can generate electricity without sunlight
How can you make solar panels that do not rely on the sun upon? You don’t. You don’t have to. Instead, solar panels can be made that absorb the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
Maigue used these particles to create a solar film that can capture ultraviolet rays. The film converts the ultraviolet rays into visible sunlight, which can be used to produce energy.
The prototype is a 3-by-2-foot panel that was installed in Maigue’s window.
However, it can generate enough electricity to charge two smartphones each day. Maigue believes that it can be scaled up to allow buildings to run entirely off their own electricity
The flexibility of the solar film means that there are plenty of opportunities for new innovators to come up with new uses. The basic design Maigue used may still be useful. To collect electricity, you would simply need to apply the film to your windows. You don’t have to worry about costly solar panels on your roof, or installing them in a different way. It could be installed in cars too, providing new energy sources for electric vehicles.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Tukes varoittaa aurinkosähköjärjestelmien puutteista – virheet niin karkeita, että maallikkokin huomaa https://www.is.fi/taloussanomat/art-2000009488918.html