Solar Power
Saudi Arabia Promises $109 Billion in Solar Power Investment
Saudi Arabia has long been a wealthy country because of its enormous oil reserves. But the kingdom also is rich in sunlight, and it now promises to invest over $100 billion to develop 41 gigawatts of
Ackroyd and Harvey’s Twist Sculpture in Bristol is Powered by the Sun and the Wind
When driving along a sprawling motorway towards the UK city of Bristol at night, a massive glowing helicoidal tower welcomes visitors and locals. Installed in 2008, the tower, called Twist, was designed
Solar Parasols Charge Laptops, Phones and Tablets While Providing Shade at Milan Design Week
Ombrellone Solare recently unveiled two solar parasols at Fabbrica Del Vapore during this year’s Milan Design Week. Dubbed Eclipse and Kosmos, the designs saw great success, not only because of the
USC Researchers Develop Liquid Nanocrystal Solar Cells that Can Be Printed Onto Plastic
Imagine a solar cell that comes in a jar instead of a big, clunky panel, and that could be painted on a piece of plastic. It might be closer than you think - scientists at the University of Southern
USDA Researchers Want Airports To Double as Renewable Energy Farms
At airports, the usable space is limited to a few areas: runways, terminals and storage facilities. Much of the rest of the land is left fallow, requiring maintenance from airport operators (mowing the
Power in a Box: Princeton’s Disaster Relief Solar and Wind Generator Fits in a Shipping Container
A prototype for a solar and wind power station that fits within a shipping container has placed a group of students from Princeton University among the winners of a national EPA-sponsored sustainable
Poznan Is a Sunny Outdoor Bench That’s Also a Sleek Solar Charging Station
Wouldn’t it be great if you could charge your gadgets while waiting for the bus or relaxing on a bench? Magdalena Czapiewska, Karol Murlak and Zuzanna Lemieszek of Design lab, have taken this
Solar-Powered Painters Hall is a Net-Zero Community Center in Salem, Oregon
Painters Hall is a 100 percent solar-powered building nestled in the beautiful surroundings of quiet Pringle Creek community, in Salem, Oregon. The 80-year-old Painters Hall recently earned
Tesla and SolarCity Team Up to Create New Off-the-Grid Solar Power Storage System
Tesla may be best known for exceptionally good-looking electric sports cars, but their role in the automotive industry has honed their skills in battery-making too. Now, the company is teaming up with
Condo Owners Fight Homeowner Associations For Their Right to Install Solar Power
Do you think homeowners should have the right to install solar panels on their own condos? Many homeowner associations (HOAs) in the United States don’t think so. Even as solar energy becomes
7 Weird and Wonderful Uses For LED Lighting Technology
It’s amazing to think that just a few years ago, many people thought of LEDs as nothing more than the tiny red lights in our laser pointers but my, how the times have changed! With more and more
World’s Largest Solar Thermal Plant Opens in Saudi Arabia
The world’s largest solar thermal plant recently opened in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The new plant is almost double the size of what was previously the largest solar thermal facility (located in Denmark),
Moby1 is a Modern and Mobile Micro-Home for Living in the Wild
Moby1‘s stylin’ XTR is a modern spin on the classic 50s Teardrop Trailer, incorporating new technologies and an array of cushy amenities. Lightweight, small, and quite comfortable, these
PRODUCT REVIEW: Inhabitat Tries Out Ikea’s Solar-Powered Sunnan Lamp
When Ikea came out with its SUNNAN solar-powered desk lamp, we were immediately enamored with the elegant, minimal design, but were curious about how much light the product could actually deliver when
Solar-Powered Spiral Garden Pavilion is a Sustainable and Adaptable Retreat
Designed as an interactive retreat, the Spiral Garden Pavilion is a peaceful solar-powered space for visitors to sit back, relax and enjoy their surroundings. The airy pavilion by Michael Jantzen would
Adele’s New Solar-Powered Seaside Home Will Be Rolling In The Green
Leading British singer Adele isn’t just rolling in the deep – she’s also rolling in the green! We found out this morning that the chanteuse will be giving her new seaside home in
Tokyo Institute of Technology Unveils New Facade Decked Out in 4,500 Solar Panels!
Photo: Eiji Hori for Asahi Shimbun The Tokyo Institute of Technology recently unveiled a shiny new shell made of 4,500 solar panels that allow it to use half of the energy of a similarly-sized building.
United States Pulls Ahead of China in Clean Energy Race
According to a Pew Charitable Trusts survey, the United States has reclaimed the top spot in clean energy investment, toppling China from its number one global ranking. Meanwhile, investment in renewables
“Blackest” Solar Cell Ever Designed Absorbs 99.7 Percent of All Light
Natcore Technology scientists have created a black silicon solar cell with an average reflectance of 0.3%, making it the “blackest” solar cell ever designed. Compared to the most efficient solar cells
Areva Announces Plans to Build Largest Solar Installation in Asia
The French nuclear engineering company Areva was awarded a contract this week by Indian power company Reliance Power Ltd. to build the largest concentrated solar power installation in Asia, which
Walmart’s 100th Solar Power Installation Gets Switched On in Colorado
Yesterday Walmart announced the installation of six more solar projects in Denver, Colorado, bringing the total number of Walmart’s solar power installations to 100. The rooftop solar installations,
Kyocera Announces Plan for Japan’s Largest Solar Farm
Kyocera announced today that it will partner with two other companies to build Japan’s largest solar farm. Located on the southwestern island of Kyushu, the 70-megawatt solar power plant is the start of
New Solar Satellite Could Harvest the Sun’s Rays 24/7 From Outer Space
Since the early 1970s, scientists have been toying with the idea of collecting solar power in space, where solar collection rates are stronger than on the surface of the Earth. But because of the costs
Scientist Develops Self-Sustaining Solar Reactor That Produces Clean Hydrogen Fuel
Hydrogen is a fuel that has seemingly limitless potential, but scientists have only been able to produce it from fossil fuels, like natural gas. That is, until now. A doctoral student in mechanical
How the Media Dropped the Ball on the Solar Trust of America Story
When news broke earlier this week that Solar Trust of America (a big solar company backed by the US Department of Energy) had filed for bankruptcy, conservatives predictably took to the airwaves to
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