Sharp just signaled a bright future for renewable energy as it achieved a new solar cell efficiency record of 43.5%, eclipsing its previous record of 36.9% set in November. Sharp shattered the efficiency
The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (OTV) – the US Air Force’s top-secret automated space plane – is finally set to return to Earth after a year in space. Although not much is known about the
Germany fed a whopping 22 gigawatts of solar power per hour into the national grid last weekend, setting a new record by meeting nearly half of the country’s weekend power demand. After the
Despite recent clashes between the US and Chinese solar industries, it seems that the entire solar power sector is prospering. As stated in a new report from GlobalData, with the ever-increasing number
While solar energy has long been touted as the key to solving the planet’s energy demands, the problem of efficiency has always hampered it. However, a team of engineers from the University of
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
The US military spends up to $20 billion on oil every year, and as oil prices climb that amount is steadily increasing. But oil doesn’t just cost the Pentagon in the form of tax dollars — it
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
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
Kerosene lamps have been known to cause serious accidents in developing countries, but this new design by Alain Gilles provides a safe lighting alternative that relies simply on the energy of the sun to
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
Why do cloudy European countries produce so much more solar energy than the United States? Because countries like Germany, for example, have programs that require local utility companies to buy solar
For the first time ever, a solar plane will attempt to fly from Switzerland to Morocco. Back in 2011 Bertrand Piccard and Andre Borschberg flew their Solar Impulse plane from Paris to Brussels, however
Charging your phone just got a whole lot easier and more energy-efficient with XD Design’s brilliant solar charger, which sticks to windows to maximize its exposure to the sun’s rays. Instead
In disaster zones, emergency rescue services need reliable appliances to help provide the basics to victims who may suddenly be without provisions. As a quick-response to emergency
The US solar industry is gaining some serious ground, according to a new industry report charting a recent spike in solar installations. While big bankruptcies — such as government-backed
A team of chemists at the University of California, Davis believe that the future of solar technology may lie in cells made from a film of tiny silver nitrate fractal trees. The research team, led by
These fantastic solar-powered LED lights by LittleSun are designed by German Artist Olafur Eliasson and innovator Frederick Ottesen to provide a practical, safe, and efficient source of artificial light
Power 365 is a concept for a next generation smart power supply that uses a simplistic arrangement of solar cells and light emitting technology. Designed by Phil Pauley, the portable device aims to
Panasonic prides itself on providing “ideas for life”, and it seems like the company is living up to that promise with news that the Panasonic Enterprise Solutions Company will work with
