Tag Archives: mit
MIT’s Artificial Leaf Converts Sunlight into Hydrogen
A group of MIT scientists has published a paper that provides in-depth investigation of a system for converting solar energy to hydrogen and of all parameters that could limit the efficiency of such system. The paper lays out a plan for further studies of this system and may point a way to the production of [...]
“Disruptive” Energy Companies Honored by MIT
MIT Technology Review, a publication of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has released its 2013 “50 Disruptive Companies” List. Among the companies recognized are a series of cutting edge firms that are ushering in a new era of clean, renewable energy. “The pace at which technology changes is astounding,” said Jason Pontin, publisher and editor [...]
MIT Engineers Develop Solar Funneling Technology
MIT engineers have created a model which solar energy can be more efficient and effective by using a funnel before it’s captured. This new concept places highly specialized materials under “elastic strain,” which allows the materials to first capture the sunlight and then collect it at the center. Ju Li, a professor at MIT and [...]
MIT Creates Solar Mapping Tool for Cambridge
MIT is making it easier for the people of Cambridge to go solar, thanks to a new solar mapping tool that it developed. Residents, businesses and others in Cambridge can look up addresses throughout the town to determine the potential of rooftop solar at the location, including estimated system cost, payback and return on [...]
Carbon Sequestering Ceramic Membrane Technology Tested at MIT
In what is a new twist, researchers are claiming that one of the ways to reduce CO2 emissions may be to produce pure carbon dioxide. The claim applies to factories that rely on fossil fuels. If pure CO2 is produced, then greenhouses gases – once isolated – could be captured and buried in the earth’s [...]
In Focus: 3D Solar Cells
Solar technology is in itself a relatively ‘young’ energy source compared to fossil fuels when it comes to generating electricity out of it. But the power of the sun is what has shaped our planet and sustained life from the day it came into existence, and, in that regard it is the oldest and definitely [...]
3-D Solar Modules Developed @MIT
With photovoltaics, it’s generally been thought that flat-plate collectors tilted at an angle or mounted to maximize the amount of direct sunlight that hits them are the best way to get the most out of PV. But research conducted at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is showing that 3-D modules, which look much like [...]
The Problem with MIT’s “Future of the Electric Grid” Study
A recent study by MIT, entitled “The Future of the Electric Grid,” finds that “integrating more renewables into the US grid will be costly and have unintended consequences, including potential for increased carbon emissions.” We find that this study is highly problematic, for a number of important reasons. Before we get to our criticisms, here’s [...]
3D: A New Dimension for Solar Energy
Research is on its way to improve performance of solar photovoltaic cells and bringing down cost has been the key issue. However, little importance has been given to the arrangements of these cells. Normally, PVs are placed in a flat position on rooftops and other surfaces. They’re also attached to vehicles and motorized structures where [...]