Tag: Solar cells

Graphene could bring solar PV efficiency to 60%

According to TreeHugger, graphene could offer 60% solar cell efficiency if it were to replace silicon in PV panels. As they note : ” Researchers from the Institute of Photonic Sciences in Spain have just published results from their experiments.” ” While their results so far will probably be more useful to make better image… Continue reading Graphene could bring solar PV efficiency to 60%

Splitting water with solar power

This is a guest post from Mathias Aarre Maehlum, an environmentalist who studies energy engineering. In his spare time he works as a freelance writer. Read more of his stuff at Energy Informative. Researchers at Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have figured out a way to split water molecules (H2O) into hydrogen by using the sun.Hydrogen… Continue reading Splitting water with solar power

A new efficiency record for solar panels

To EcoGeek : ” Semprius, a startup company manufacturing tiny concentrated solar cells that forgo any cooling systems has achieved a truly amazing leap in solar cell efficiency. “ This is truly exciting as ” The company was able to hit 33.9 percent efficiency with their solar panel, the first time a commercially-viable solar technology… Continue reading A new efficiency record for solar panels

Toward super efficient solar panels

I came across two news today that could revolutionize solar panels by drastically increasing their efficiency. Given the current potential of this energy source with today’s technology, tomorrow will be bright for solar ! To the MIT Technology Review :” Replacing flat panels with three dimensional structures (see left) can significantly change the economics of… Continue reading Toward super efficient solar panels

Solar PV to become the cheapest option by 2018

Currently, the world is relying massively on coal to generate electricity as it is cheap, awfully cheap – if you don’t take into account the negative externalities as it is polluting our air, our soil and is one of the main factors to climate change. But what if solar became even cheaper than coal ?… Continue reading Solar PV to become the cheapest option by 2018

GE : Solar cheaper than fossil fuels by 2016

After the quite depressing news from the International Energy Agency yesterday, here is something that might cheer you up. If proven true, this could literally change everything. According to Bloomberg : ” Solar power may be cheaper than electricity generated by fossil fuels and nuclear reactors within three to five years because of innovations, said… Continue reading GE : Solar cheaper than fossil fuels by 2016

Solar film increases efficiency by 300%

To CleanTechnica, a new film developed by HyperSolar, a Californian company, could halve the costs of solar panels and boost their efficiency by 300 percent. The film would replace the sheet of glass currently used with solar PV panels. “With HyperSolar as the top layer, manufacturers can use significantly fewer solar cells in the production… Continue reading Solar film increases efficiency by 300%

Boeing shatters solar power efficiency record

I didn’t know Boeing, the world’s largest aerospace company, was working on solar research and development, let alone that it might push the efficiency of solar panels to new hights with 39.2 percent. As CleanTechies notes : ” Boeing hopes to introduce their high-efficiency C3MJ+ solar cells around the globe as early as January, 2011.… Continue reading Boeing shatters solar power efficiency record