This could be a breakthrough in technology. Researchers in the US of A have come up with a method that will give flexibility and transparency to efficient silicon-based solar cells. So much so that they can actually be wrapped around a pencil as well as used to tint windows on buildings and cars.

The technique involves processing silicon by slicing its brittle wafers into ultrathin layers and then transferring them onto a flexible surface. We have seen how the popularity of solar cells has increased many folds with the energy crisis cornering America. More and more people are willing to utilize the sun’s energy over oil.
Companies like Sharp Corp are already manufacturing thin-film solar cells but they are a little less efficient because of their rigidity. With the new breakthrough flexibility, solar cells can be easily transported.
License for the technology has been given to a new company called Semprius Inc in Durham, North Carolina.
Via tvnz

Imitating nature, this may be called!! With Lianne van Genugte designing an automatic functioning device which lights up with the sun, technology seems to be going the nature way. Intertwined with flexible solar cells that receive power from the sun during the day this device provides shade to its owners or to portions of a house in need of protection from heat or bright light. This innovation has been selected as one of 64 finalists for the Golden Eye, the top award for which is to be given at Dutch Design Week in mid-October.
Though this is a step ahead towards optimum utilization of natural resources, it has its respective loop-holes. Automatic switching may lead in wastage of accumulated energy when not required. Besides this, it also requires a battery to store solar energy to reserve all the power for illuminating the nights followed by cloudy days.

Also such a solar guzzling shade can be utilized to power up few household gadgets. Like a flower opens to the sun, this device opens at daylight and closes at dusk.
Via EcoDesign

Suniva Inc., a manufacturer of high value crystalline silicon solar cells, recently announced that its R&D team has developed several silicon solar cells with over 20% conversion efficiencies using a patented combination of simple cell designs and screen printing technologies. These high efficiency milestones have been verified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the U.S. Department of Energy’s premier laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. Following the company’s two recent customer agreements with Germany’s Solon AG and India’s Titan Energy Systems Ltd, together worth approximately USD$1 billion, this demonstrates “Suniva’s advanced technologies in diffusion, surface passivation and contacts increase conversion efficiency while reducing processing time and maintaining low cell cost.” according to Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi, its founder and CTO.

Suniva’s current ARTisun(TM) cell technology has produced a verified efficiency of 18.5% in the lab and its techniques can produce solar energy for 8 to 10 cents per KWh— a comparable price to conventional energy sources in the United States. Suniva can create a higher sheet resistance emitter as well as enhanced surface passivation dielectrics in a single high temperature step. It produces narrower screen-printed contacts on the front of the cell and a high-quality surface reflector on the back. These components, combined with improved texturing methodologies, allow it to trap light and achieve high efficiencies while keeping costs low.

Though it’s still time for long way to go before the cheap solar cells are on the market, this one is sure to be a cost-effective and environment friendly device & indeed worth being called a breakthrough in the cell technology.
Via Earth2Tech

At the Worcester Polytechnic Institute an ingenious pollster’s team under the headship of Rajib Mallick, an associate professor of civil and environmental engineering has figured out an eccentric source of energy. The researcher’s team has successfully designed a solar collector which would effectively draw out heat captivated by roads and pavements.

This hottest renewable energy substitute would radically recover solar energy contrasting conventional solar cells via a distinctively built up heat exchanger unit. This piece would effectually extract heat engrossed by asphalt roads, parking lots, airport tarmacs, market pavements, etc. not only during sunlight hours but also in dark as the asphalt based heat collectors remain hot even after the sun sets down to produce contemptible springs of electrical energy and hot water.

By now a substantial land is available in the form of set up roads and parking lots which would be easily retrofitted for power production so this innovatively green concept would prove to be economical in addition as no extra territory would be required for setting up solar farms.

Via EcoWordly

Grace Cathedral- San Francisco landmark building is all set to don a green aspect atop its roof. After all the hue and cry over use of renewable energy sources in today’s times to ensure a safer and cleaner future, now this God’s abode will get its power supply via solar energy. Mayor Gavin Newsom announced the news today morning at the church steps. State- of-the art photovoltaic cells will now be installed on the top of Grace Cathedral and the cost incurred in doing that will be taken care by Pacific Gas and Electrics contribution of $65,000. The Cathedral’s dean Alan Jones expressed his happiness over the new initiative. He said, “We’re grateful to PG&E for its generous contribution to Grace Cathedral’s ongoing environmental efforts. This new solar power system will help us conserve valuable resources, and empower us to be a part of the solution to attack greenhouse gases and global warming.”

The drive indeed is a very positive one and will be an inspiration to private owners of huge properties and corporate giants who haven’t yet embraced this cleaner option for energy generation. Now it seems, Grace Cathedral with stand out for reasons beyond its architecture; it will be a repository of faith for all those cynics who believe global warming is only Al Gore’s muse and for all those eco-lovers who believe in a green tomorrow through today’s sustained efforts.

Via Enn

Roberts Radio-a UK based radio manufacturer, has created a super green product. Its first solar powered DAB radio the world has ever witnessed and is appropriately called solar DAB. The radio set range comes in stylish colors like olive green, red, rose pink and the formal black and white. These compact and portable radios are powered by sun’s bountiful energy via a solar panel mounted on top of the unit. The panel absorbs the solar energy and kicks life into the radio sets. But the built in rechargeable batteries require ‘direct’ sunlight. Once fully charged, you can use the radio set till 27 hours even in complete darkness. And if the batteries are exhausted before you have a chance to charge them again using sun head for the electric switch board in your room and charge your little radio using mains adaptor. A single radio set will cost you £79.99 ($158).

So, now you can afford some green music for your ears! Cool isn’t it?
Via Engadget

Expanding the realm of its green technologies, IBM is now set to capture sun’s boundless energy. It has decided to enter the thin-film solar cell industry and be partners with Tokyo Ohka Kogyo (TOK). New generation thin-film CIGS (copper, indium, gallium, and selenide) solar cells can be 100x thinner than silicon-wafer cells. However, they are not as much efficient as the wafer-cell variety. IBM has recently conducted experiments that use magnifying lenses to boost solar energy output. The company’s objective is to produce thin-film solar cells with an efficiency equivalent to that achieved by the traditional solar cells till date (15%). A solar cell has to prove its mettle in multiple efficiency factors like sun unit, energy conversion, thermodynamic efficiency limit, quantum efficiency, maximum power point etc. IBM and TOK’s focus is to co-produce the technology behind efficient thin-film solar cells which, can be used by other solar companies later on. When this happens another chapter will be added to usability of solar energy.

Via GoodCleanTech