A New Use for Solar Energy - Highway Right of Way
December 13, 2008 by admin
Filed under Solar News
Interstate 5 (I-5) is the main Interstate highway on the West Coast of the United States, paralleling the Pacific Ocean, starting from the California border with Mexico through Washington to the Canadian border.
Recent pushes for renewable energy in the western US has major wildlife and environmental implications.
The main issues of public land managers and wildlife stakeholders are the new roads and infrastructure placed on previously undisturbed public lands. The western US has huge potential for renewables such as solar, wind, and geothermal. Just like the fossil fuel energy booms of the past, the rush to build these renewable power plants on public lands would adversely affect wildlife corridors and ecosystems.
There are many economic and environmental benefits for the distributed nature of solar technology. Wind and geothermal power only work in particular areas of the US, in most cases far away from the end electric user. Also, the wind and geothermal resources are mainly on public lands.
Solar, on the other hand, can work anywhere. Some solar application works best in high hot light areas like the desert southwest, whereas other solar applications work best in cooler defused light areas of the country. Land masses in the US that are already disturbed or used could be levered as solar energy resources.
Solar Start-up Solyndra Scores with Series of Tubes
October 8, 2008 by editor
Filed under Solar News, Technology
Solyndra, a start-up making thin-film photovoltaic systems, has secured $600 million in funding.
It’s additionally secured $1.2 billion in contracts from clients in the U.S. and Europe, the Fremont, Calif.-based company revealed Tuesday.
What start-up gets that kind of funding and client promise? Basically, one that’s invented thin-film solar panels shaped like old-school fluorescent lightbulbs.
Solyndra's series of tubes offer a unique angle on solar power.
Since 2005, Solyndra has quietly been developing a proprietary CIGS-based thin film photovoltaic (PV) system and a staff of more than 500 employees.
CIGS is a material that includes a combination of copper, indium, gallium, and selenide. It’s now being used by quite a number of companies to make thin-film solar cells among other things.
Solyndra’s cylindrical PV panels don’t have to be spaced to leave room for rotation toward the sun as with flat solar panels. The panels are actually rows of cylindrical tubes which are installed horizontally and close to one another.
The tubes can “capture sunlight across a 360-degree photovoltaic surface capable of converting direct, diffuse, and reflected sunlight into electricity,” according to Solyndra. Read more
3D Solar Cells Are the Next Generation in Sustainable Energy
October 7, 2008 by admin
Filed under Next Gen, Technology
The newest technological breakthrough in eco-friendly, sustainable energy is 3D solar cells. Several companies have been working to improve the energy efficiency of solar panels as well as make solar more economically afforded to install. One of the innovations has been changing from the flat panel model to solar panels and solar cells that curve in order to capture additional sunlight throughout the daylight hours. Read more
Solyndra: Optimized Photovoltaic Systems for Commercial Rooftops
Commercial rooftops represent an enormous potential resource for alternative energy production. In the U.S. alone, approximately 30 billion square feet of commercial rooftop surface is available for PV systems and could be utilized to create in excess of 150 gigawatts of electricity. Globally, this number could be two to three times higher. Tapping even a small fraction of this potential would make a significant impact on the world’s energy needs. Read more
