The World’s Thinnest, Lightest Solar Cell
This solar cell is so light, it can be placed on a soap bubble – it’s just a fraction of the thickness of a human hair. Researchers at MIT developed the proof-of-concept solar cells with view to ultimately helping to power the next generation of portable devices. A common flexible polymer called parylene was used […]
RMIT’s Design Hub To Go Solar
The façade of RMIT’s Design Hub building in Melbourne is about to get a major solar facelift. Officially opened in 2012, Design Hub’s current façade consists of 17,000 semi-translucent, sandblasted glass cells; which contribute to energy efficiency and a high quality indoor atmosphere. The cells not replaced with Building Integrated PV (BIPV) will also be […]
Mandatory Solar Power In San Francisco?
San Francisco Supervisor Scott Wiener has introduced legislation that would require solar panels to be installed on new residential and commercial buildings constructed in the city. If the legislation should pass, San Francisco will be the first major city in the USA where solar was mandatory on new builds. “This legislation will activate our roofs, […]
WTO Rules In Favour Of US In Solar Dispute
The U.S. has won a long-running trade dispute with India over the country’s rules restricting the import of foreign solar cells and panels used under India’s National Solar Mission. A World Trade Organisation panel has ruled that India’s domestic content requirements (DCRs) – which force Indian solar developers selling electricity to the government to purchase […]
New Concentrated Solar PV Mini-Module Efficiency Record Set
Germany’s Fraunhofer ISE has broken its own record for the conversion of sunlight into electricity using concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) systems. Announced on Tuesday, the Fraunhofer ISE team state they achieved a confirmed world record of 43.4 percent for a mini-module consisting of four-junction solar cells. “This value is a new milestone in the history of […]
More Solar Airports: Antigua
The official inauguration of a 3MWp solar power plant at V.C. Bird International Airport in Antigua will occur later today. Named sun2live, the solar installation incorporates more than 12,000 solar power panels and will generate up to 4,645 MWh of clean electricity annually. Power generated by the facility will cover the energy consumption of the newly-constructed passenger […]
SunEdison Announces 2.7MW Of Solar PPAs
SunEdison, Inc. (NYSE: SUNE) has announced the signing of two 20-year power purchase agreements (solar PPA’s) with Southern California Edison for 2.7 megawatts DC of solar. Southern California Edison has been investigating how clean energy resources could delay or eliminate the construction of a new gas power plant in Orange County. “Solar is a great […]
Intel’s Massive Solar Carport
Large enough to park nearly 3,000 vehicles, Intel’s solar carport installation is said to the largest private project of its kind in the USA. Constructed at its Folsom, California campus, the new 6.5 megawatt addition brings total on-site solar energy generation at the campus to 8.7 MW; enough to provide half of the campus’s energy […]
Australia’s First Tesla Powerwall Competition Announced
There’s now another very good reason for Australians to go solar with Energy Matters’ parent company, SunEdison. A lucky Australian household* will be the recipient of a fully installed Tesla Powerwall home battery system, or a major cash prize. The Powerwall prize package also includes supply and installation of top quality components necessary to connect […]
U.S. Solar Installations In 2015 Set New Record
7,286 megawatts of solar PV was installed in the USA in 2015 – that’s nearly 50% more than Australia’s entire solar panel capacity. The results, announced by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), represent the largest annual total ever; 17% above 2014. The stunning figures were released ahead of the March 9 […]
