Tag Archives: Solar
HIT Sets 21.4% Efficiency Solar Cell Record
Thanks to researchers at EPFL`s Institute of Microengineering in Neuchatel, Switzerland, a new world record efficiency of 21.4% has been set for solar cells. This feat was done with HIT solar cells (heterojunction with intrinsic thin layer), and is by far the highest conversion efficiency ever achieved with the substrates that were used. These types [...]
Top 3 Solar Benefits for Homeowners
When key members of the solar industry gathered several weeks ago to talk about the best ways to promote the solar message, a debate emerged. What do solar consumers care about more: The technology (or the “Wow” factor of a solar PV installation) The cost savings on their electric bills Doing something good for the [...]
Japan’s Renewable Energy Boom: FiT Fueled
As anyone who has ever played Monopoly knows, if you want to win the game, you’ve got to start buying houses and hotels. If you don’t, getting round just becomes progressively harder and more likely to end with an ‘accidental’ knocking over of the board (or whatever else it takes to stop your 11-year old [...]
U.S Lays Heavy Tariffs on Chinese Solar Cells
The Department of Commerce is standing behind its preliminary decision to impose massive import tariffs on Chinese-made solar technology, despite the threat of potential retaliation from China. The penalties for Chinese-made solar cells range from 18%-250%, with the duties levied on Trina Solar Ltd. (18.32%) reduced and the ones on Suntech Power Holdings Co. raised [...]
The Future of Eco Building Materials
Designing and building an eco house, or renovating your property to make it more energy efficient is a great way to cut down on bills, and not to mention great fun! More and more people are looking to build their own property today, and the number renovating in an effort to save in the long term is [...]
The 10 Biggest U.S PV Plants
The world’s largest PV solar farm is the the massive Agua Caliente deployment in Yuma County, Arizona. First Solar (Nasdaq: FSLR), the developer and panel supplier at Agua Caliente, just announced that the project has hit a peak generating capacity of 250 megawatts AC and is online and connected to the electrical grid. The project [...]
Singapore: Eco-Home Growth Exploding
With the alarming rate of pollutants in the environment, everything is being substituted these days with its ‘eco-friendly’ version. Whether it is transportation, painting colours for children or the house constructing material, the smart minds of the world are trying their best to minimize the effect of green house gases in the environment as much [...]
Avatar Sequels: Solar Powered
The next time the computer-animated, blue-skinned Na’vi of Pandora jump out of the silver screen across the world in Avatar 2, they’ll thank the sun in a brand new way. That’s thanks to the new 960 kilowatt photovoltaic array that covers three of Lightstorm Entertainment Inc.’s (LEI’s) buildings at Manhattan Beach studio. It’s a fitting [...]
DOI and DOE Announce Solar Energy Zones
The Departments of Energy and Interior (DOE and DOI, respectively) just launched Solar Energy Zones on public lands in the U.S. West. The zones are part of the Obama Administration’s plans to make it easier for companies to install large solar facilities on public lands. It represents a major change in how such projects will [...]