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More efficient Concentrated Solar Power plants inspired by sunflowers

By Damir Beciri
One Comment14 January 2012

ps10_solar_power_tower.jpgIn our article about solar power, we already wrote about concentrated solar power (CSP) power plants. In order to function, these plants need a lot of space and sunlight, and researchers at MIT collaborated with RWTH Aachen University in Germany to come up with a design that increases the amount of sunlight its mirrors collect,… »

Tech»

Pyrite could be used to generate solar power after all

By Damir Beciri
One Comment29 November 2011

pyriteAlthough it has been referred as “fool’s gold” throughout the history, dating to times of ancient Rome and tricking prospectors for centuries, yellow-toned mineral pyrite found its use as an inexpensive and promising option for solar energy. Oregon State University (OSU) researchers discovered related compounds that use the advantages of the material without the downsides… »

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Smart Solar International develops cheaper sun-chasing solar panels

By Damir Beciri
2 Comments4 June 2011

japan-solar-tracking-solar-panelsUnlike the heliotropic technology from MIT which uses difference in temperature to turn the photovoltaic panels in the right direction, a group of researchers from Japan developed moving mirrors that follow the sun throughout the day. The developers from Smart Solar International claim that devices can generate twice the electricity compared to other currently available… »

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MIT researchers developing organic transparent solar cells

By Rob Aid
2 Comments17 April 2011

mit-transparent-organic-photovoltaic-cellsA group of researchers from MIT develops a photovoltaic cell based on organic molecules, which harnesses the energy of infrared light while allowing visible light to pass through, thus enabling power generation in transparent. Coated onto a pane of standard window glass, it could provide power for lights and other devices, and would lower installation… »

Architecture»

Green architecture – Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, Australia

By Damir Beciri
1 February 2011

wolgan-valley-resort-and-spa-1Emirates’ Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa is located on Australia’s Great Dividing Range and borders the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, a region renowned for its unique landscape and natural diversity. Aside the beauty of nature surrounding Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, the luxury accommodations designed by are carbon neutral and feature various features of… »

Gadgets»

Biblio Leaf – a solar powered e-reader from Toshiba

By Damir Beciri
26 December 2010

toshiba-biblio-leaf-lismo-book-storeIn our previous articles, we mentioned how some e-readers or writing board like Boogie Board Paperless LCD Writing Tablet could benefit from solar power, and avoid usage of energy needed for recharging or even the resources needed for battery production. Toshiba and KDDI, Japan’s second biggest mobile carrier, have unveiled a solar powered e-book reader… »

Gadgets| Tech»

Indian school children to test new, low-cost electronic notepad

By Damir Beciri
3 Comments11 November 2010

i-slate-for-india-1Thanks to a partnership between Singapore’s Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Houston’s Rice University and an Indian nonprofit, Villages for Development and Learning Foundation (ViDAL), some of the estimated 100 million Indian children who attend schools without electricity may soon have access to one of the world’s most advanced electronic notepads. Dubbed I-slate, the device is… »

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Photon Enhanced Thermionic Emission process boosts efficiency of solar panels

By Damir Beciri
3 August 2010

new-solar-testing-from-stanford-universityStanford engineers have found out how to simultaneously use the light and heat of the sun to generate electricity in a way that could make solar power production more than twice as efficient as existing methods and potentially cheap enough to compete with oil. Unlike photovoltaic technology currently used in solar panels (which become less… »