Oh! You Pretty Things: Our Favorite Designs at CES
SolarPower posts
Revolutionizing Solar Energy by Taking It Underground
Here's how it works. Light is absorbed at the tip of the wire, and zips down its length and back, letting the zinc oxide convert it into electricity along the way. How effective is this process? Dr. Zhong Wang, who led the team of researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology, says the wires only convert about 3.3-percent of the light that passes through. He hopes, though, that the number will soon jump to 8-percent.
Forget Panels, New Solar Shingles Offer Easier Installation
While these shingles are only about 10-percent efficient, Dow managing director Jane Palmieri says a lower price and easier installation could create a $5 billion market by 2015. The solar-powered shingles are about 10-to-15-percent cheaper than a mounted rack of solar panels. That still doesn't change the fact that you'll need a lot of these to really make a dent in your electricity bill. Unless you're putting new shingles on Bill Gates's house, it's probably not quite practical to use them. [From: The New York Times]
Google Developing Cheaper Mirror Technology for Solar Panels
Google is looking to cut current mirror costs by at least one half, and hopes to eventually make the new technology even cheaper. These mirrors would potentially be used in the construction of solar thermal plants, which -- with the improved panels -- could cost 25-percent less to build. Results from current research reportedly won't be ready for at least a few months, though. Google still has to perform extensive testing on the durability and longevity of its current technology in order to ensure that the mirrors can withstand harsh weather conditions.
Hair-Brained Teen May Revolutionize Solar Panel Industry
Milan Karki, an 18-year-old Nepalese student who idolizes inventor Thomas Edison, has been experimenting with electricity since he was a child. His goal is to create low-cost, low-maintenance providers of energy in order to cheaply and efficiently bring power to remote, impoverished villages.Karki and four of his classmates now believe they have successfully accomplished that task and are publicizing the details of their attempts to revolutionize solar electricity. Instead of the expensive silicon components typically used to conduct energy in solar panels, the Karki team used human hair in their working panel.
Adventurer Unveils Solar-Powered Plane for Around-the-World Flight
Wired reports that Piccard will soon attempt to fly around the world in a solar-powered aircraft that weighs about as much as a small car and has the wingspan of a Boeing 747. While only a prototype at this point, the HB-SIA Solar Impulse features more than 11,000 energy cells, flies at day or night (but not so well in storms, yet), reaches heights of 27,000 feet, and cruises around 45 mph.
Vatican Plans to Build Europe's Largest Solar Plant
Christians tend to gaze skyward for guidance, so it's no surprise that their leaders have chosen the sun as their power source of the future.
According to Fox News, the Vatican is planning to spend $660 million on a new 740-acre solar plant near the village of Santa Maria de Galeria. The plant, which would be largest of its kind in all of Europe, is expected to be ready by 2014. The Guardian also reports that the 100-megawatt solar plant, if completed as planned, would be able to provide energy to 40,000 homes throughout Italy.
We applaud the Vatican for taking a huge step toward embracing renewable energy, especially in today's global economic climate. We would also like to take a moment to congratulate the incompetent governments of established nations around the world -- you just made the Vatican look progressive.
Sigh.... [From: Fox News and The Guardian]
Space-Based Solar Power May Come to California
After JAXA's announcement of space-based solar power for Japan, we've been keeping our eyes peeled for some news of similar projects Stateside. Lo and behold, California's largest energy utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, has agreed to do just that, inking a deal with solar power startup Solaren Corp.
The agreement calls for the utility to purchase 200 megawatts of electricity once the company starts beaming power down from Earth orbit beginning in 2016. A solar-power satellite would consist of mirror arrays -- perhaps measuring up to several miles wide -- which would focus sunlight onto photoelectric cells. From there, the electrical power is converted into a microwave beam that is directed downward toward Earth, where it's converted back into electricity and then fed into the grid. According to the company, the system could generate roughly 1.2 to 4.8 gigawatts of power, at a price comparable to that of other renewable energy sources.
When asked for a comment, legendary sci-fi jazz composer Sun Ra was more than enthusiastic. "Space is the place," he said.
[Via Fresno Bee]
The agreement calls for the utility to purchase 200 megawatts of electricity once the company starts beaming power down from Earth orbit beginning in 2016. A solar-power satellite would consist of mirror arrays -- perhaps measuring up to several miles wide -- which would focus sunlight onto photoelectric cells. From there, the electrical power is converted into a microwave beam that is directed downward toward Earth, where it's converted back into electricity and then fed into the grid. According to the company, the system could generate roughly 1.2 to 4.8 gigawatts of power, at a price comparable to that of other renewable energy sources.
When asked for a comment, legendary sci-fi jazz composer Sun Ra was more than enthusiastic. "Space is the place," he said.
[Via Fresno Bee]
Solar-Powered Boat Departing on Worldwide Cruise Next Year
A group of engineers, scientists and sailors have banded together to form a team they call Solar Planet. The group is now building a 98-foot-long solar-powered boat for the express purpose of sailing all the way around the world using nothing but the delicious power of the sun. The $13 million dollar vessel -- which is currently in construction in Kiel, Germany -- will have 5,059 square feet of photovoltaic cells, and should be able to circumnavigate the earth in about 120 days, at a rate of about 10 knots. The project is being funded by Swiss company, Rivendell Holding AG, that has committed to investing in green technology. The group hopes to set sail sometime next year from Marseilles, France, with various stops along the way. They will undoubtedly tire of hearing that Daft Punk song long before they ever leave the shore. Check out a sweet rendering of the boat after the break.
IKEA starts selling totally hip SOLIG solar lighting devices
Geothermal Cave Home Up for Sale on eBay
Have you ever wanted to live in a tricked-out cave? Was the tricked-out cave in your fantasy located in Festus, Missouri? If you answered yes to one of these questions, and have $300,000 lying around, you may want to check out eBay.
The Sleeper family of Festus, Missouri is selling their unique, 17,000 square-foot home on eBay. The eco-friendly abode, complete with kitchen, laundry room, party room and its own water source, is built into a cave and is naturally climate-controlled by passive solar and geothermal energy.
The house looks awesome, but we have some real concerns about the property and the family selling it: one, the house is located in Festus, Missouri; two, the family calls itself the Sleepers and lives in a cave. Sounds like a grizzly bear trap to us. Buyer beware! [From: Wavy.com]
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Audio/Video, Switched Video, CES 2009
Switched Visits the House of the Future at CES
During our trip to the desert, we took some time off from the convention floor to head over to the NextGen Home Experience. This super-green, 5,200 square-foot "smart" home boasts some smooth accoutrements, including a powerful home-automation system and a Microsoft Vista-based, centralized entertainment center and media server.
But there's nothing really new about a media server for your home, even one as slick as this Aspen Media version. No, what really caught our eye was the handsome leather floor tiles made from recycled BMW car leather. We're told they're as easily maintained as any floor surface, and will develop their own patina as time goes on. In a house filled with seen-it-before concepts like televisions disguised as mirrors, wireless remotes in every room and solar panels on the roof, we kept finding ourselves marveling at those dang tiles.
Check out the video after the break.
Cell Phones, Computers, Green Tech, CES 2009
MINIWIZ Unveils Cheap Eco-Friendly Gadget Chargers
If you're more interested in harnessing sunlight (or the cheaper option), you can pick up the miniSOLAR panel, which comes with the same cables and adapters. The miniSOLAR's thin body is encased in recycled cardboard and copper, and the charging device retails for $24.99. You can even daisy chain up to four miniSOLARs together for more power, and accessories are available to mount them on your bike (dorky) or arm (super dorky).
Toyota May Be Developing a Solar-Powered Car
Around half a year ago, we heard that Toyota was engineering a Prius that would get part of its energy from the sun; now, we're seeing an eerily similar story from Japan suggesting that the plan is still on. In a rather odd report, it's noted that the automaker is "secretly (oh, is it now?) developing a vehicle that will be powered solely by solar energy," though it's also working on a partially solar-powered whip that'll come out long before the pure solar alternative. Regrettably, details beyond that are few and far between, though the premise here is completely reasonable given the current economy and the desire for automobiles that run on anything other than petroleum. Guess we'll check back in six months for yet another elusive report on the so-called progress.Eco-Friendly Hybrid Yacht Can Be Yours for $600,000
Yachts are usually pretty environmentally unsound, so the DSe Hybrid just debuted by Island Pilot at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show should be a real breath of fresh air (literally) if green is your thing. And apparently it's really about as eco-friendly as it gets -- using a combination of diesel, solar and electric power (when it goes into commercial production it will also boast wind turbines) the vessel can cruise at up to six knots on a sunny day for an indefinite period of time without any fuel and zero emissions. Possibly best of all (for those like us with delicate ears, anyway), it's virtually silent when not running on fuel. If you need to get somewhere in a hurry however, its Parallel Hybrid Propulsion System in diesel mode will move at up to 13 knots.
There are all sorts of "luxury" amenities on board including a 26-inch HDTV and totally ferocious Bose home theater system. Island Pilot is taking pre-orders now (you have to lay down $5,000 just to reserve one) for delivery in 2009, but fair warning: this thing has a price tag of $600,000. [Via gizmag]
