Researchers at Wake Forest University developed a device that capable of capturing two forms of energy from the sun, photons and heat, simultaneously. According to their claims, this technology is the first in the world.

David Carroll, Ph.D., director of the Center for Nanotechnology and Molecular Materials at Wake Forest University, said, “It’s a systems approach to making your home ultra-efficient because the device collects both solar energy and heat,”

Most of the currently solar cell technology is only able to absorb 25% of solar energy, while the remaining 75% consisting of infrared photons with the longest wave thrown away. This solar cells type only works optimally at 10:00 am to 14:00 pm.

To be able to capture solar energy and heat, the team designed a transparent tube with a diameter of five millimeters as the flow of oil mixed with a special dye. Visible light from the sun will enter into the tube and oil in it, and then by a thin layer of polymer solar cells that are in the back of the tube is converted into electricity.

In addition to solar heat absorbed by the oil, in this way visible light can also be accepted in a layer of solar cells. Based on the experiments, the system efficiency in converting solar energy into electricity reaches 30%, much higher than the solar cells with polymer-based solar energy absorber which only reached 8%.

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MIT Researchers in the opening of the Eni-MIT Solar Frontiers Center (SFC) that was built to promote research in advanced solar technologies has showcased a lightweight and flexible solar cell technology.  This new solar cell made by using a process similar to inkjet printers. The paper used is coated paper with organic semiconductor materials.

To print solar cells, the ink is carbon material but unfortunately the level of efficiency to absorb sunlight and convert it into a power source only 1.5% – 2%. For information, the efficiency of ordinary solar panels is about 40%.

With an easy process and the use of paper material, you can imagine how easy to install solar panels at home, just use staples to stick it.

[Via]

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Kyoto Institute of Technology introduced a new solar cell that can generate electricity from various sources of light or not just depends on the sun.

With this new technology, solar panels can generate electricity from sunlight, lamp light and infrared light, so it does not have to depend on the sun alone, and more flexible in its placement.

The PV cell prototyped at the Kyoto Institute of Technology by adding cobalt to a p-type GaN thin film and laminating an n-type material (right). The cell with an absorbing layer measures 10 x 10mm. The surrounding thin rectangular patterns are electrodes. And the p-type GaN thin film without cobalt (left).

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Revolutionary of photovoltaic applications in the architectural building has undergone rapid development, starting from ordinary technology to high technology in the 3rd generation, they are:

1. First generation (the 1980s)

PV panel module with an iron framework just mounted on the field of building flat roof with a brace (tracking).

2. Second generation (the 1990s)

Photovoltaic cells (PV) developed more integrated part of building materials: roof materials (tiles, shingles).

3. Third generation (year 1997)

Rows of PV modules as atrium cover

Rows of PV modules as a canopy

Chip / PV module was developed into a whole architectural integration in building materials and advanced applications.

Applications of PV Third Generation

a. Form of shingles (thin film crystalline)

Rows of PV modules as roof cover

b. Form of cladding (curtain walls)

Rows of PV modules as a facade covering

In general, the energy utilization of solar PV have been popular in the world in the field:

• Housing & villa / lodge (the most common areas far from power lines).

• Commercial (offices, hospitals, institutions, and bus stop lighting, street lights).

• Industry (telecommunications, power generation, water pumping stations, electric backup).

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One of the things that a potential obstacle in the development of solar energy is limited space. All existing solar panels in a solar power generation should receive sunlight for at least the same intensity to produce electrical energy optimally. Therefore, all the solar panels should be installed in rows, which mean that also require large open space.

In addition, the performance of solar panels that are widely used today are still influenced by the temperature generated by the environment and direct sunlight. The higher the temperature, the performance of a solar panel will also decrease.

If ZM Architecture in Glasgow, Scotland to make the concept of floating lilies, then to prototype version and at the same time deal with these constraints, two companies from Israel and France, Solaris Synergy and EDF Group, collaborated to develop a floating solar panel system which they call AQUASUN.

More description after the photos…

AQUASUN has a concentrator system that serves to concentrate sunlight onto solar cells. With this method, in addition to increased system efficiency, the heat received by a solar cell will also be getting higher.

The silicon solar cells type used in the AQUASUN system strongly influenced by temperature. Its performance will decrease if the temperature of solar cells is increasing. Hence, AQUASUN designed by the two companies to use the water as a cooling system.

According to both companies, AQUASUN offer convenience for users to adjust the output power generated by simply adding or reducing solar panels. Each solar panel module is able to produce 200 kilowatt electricity.

Although AQUASUN is designed to float on the water surface, the system is not designed to be installed in the open ocean or areas that are ecologically sensitive with these systems. According to Solaris Synergy, the right area for AQUASUN is water storage for industry and agriculture, in addition to being able to reduce evaporation, AQUASUN also able to suppress the growth of algae.

A prototype will be built on a dam in electricity generating facility in southeast France, on September to be tested in real conditions. The results will be used to prepare the system of commercial scale.

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Glass window as a source of electrical energy can now be realized with ease. Many methods can be done, one of which is transparent solar cells that are used as a coating of glass.

For a team of scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the utilization of solar cells as a coating of glass windows is not enough. The team consisted of Vladimir Bulovi? and Richard Lunt, managed to make organic solar cells are integrated into the glass with a coating on the inside of two sheets of glass, with modern technology, the two sheets of glass are combined into a glass. In this way, a layer of solar cells are protected from outside weather and friction that will cause damage.

The organic solar cells are specially designed to absorb photons of infrared light spectrum, while the other visible light allowed to pass without blocked. With this method, the efficiency of solar cell glass can be improved, which was initially less than 1%, now could be increased up to 1.7%.

Although the research is done only to produce glass with 1.7% efficiency, but they are hoping to increase its efficiency up to 12%. With this achievement, the production cost can be much reduced. No more complex electrical circuit. Their research has been published in the Applied Physics Letters journal.

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Researchers from the University of Cambridge have developed cheaper organic solar cells. Made from organic plastic, the cells have unlimited possibilities for commercial uses, which have become obstacles in the production of solar cell for some time now.

Organic solar cells are cheaper to be implemented into almost all of plastic objects. Not only that, they can be introduced into third world countries, helping them to change the state of the poor into something better.

Organic photovoltaic cell can be made by placing organic polymers (long chains of carbon-based molecules) in plastic, but until now it have not had much commercial success due to low efficiency.

The University of Cambridge team has reportedly come up with a commercial model that combines increased efficiency, long life, low cost (and low toxicity) of raw materials, cost-efficient production processes, and products that focus on economies of scale and ease of installation.

Rainbow Solar Inc. (RSI) has produced a transparent, photovoltaic glass window producing power 80-250 watts. Although this is not the “first solar window,” it seems that the RSI has taken a big step forward.

Full description after the photo…

The potential of this product is very exciting and hopeful. In the hot-house testing, proven energy saving is greater than 50%, according to a study conducted by NTUST (National Taiwan University of Science and Technology), under the director of Professor CH Young (Ph.D.). So innovative, this study received the attention of the Discovery Channel. A super-tempered glass windows system, the PV is fully integrated multi-tier and heat insulation technology (patent pending), was called as a next-generation BIPV (building integrated photovoltaic) and “Window of the Future.”

The window can now be produced up to 9 ‘x 9′ in size and valued anywhere between 80-250 watts each, depending on the size. It will be available with various options to meet the design, climate, weather and building code requirements. They can include privacy curtains, which changed the whole window into a light panel, thus blocking out the already shaded window.

Description from the company:

“The RSi PV-Glass Window uses the sunlight, and heat from the sun, to generate electricity, reducing heat, and providing a semi-transparent window that provides privacy, while maintaining a comfortable level of visibility to the outside world. At the same time, RSi PV-Glass Windows provide a 100% reduction in Ultraviolet and Infrared radiation, adding that extra level of protection not offered by standard glass windows.”

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Sunhope, award-winning project by Joseph Cory and aerospace engineer Dr. Pini Gurfil is a breakthrough low-cost easily-deployable system that collects solar energy with very small environmental footprint.

Traditional solar systems require major resources: large land requirements, high initial investments, and the installation process are complicated. Sunhope avoid these barriers by building “low-cost photovoltaic arrays designed for vertical clearance rather than horizontal sprawl.” Such design has the potential to bring power to the isolated islands, desert, heavily forested landscape and the most significantly disaster and emergency situations thanks to their rapid deployment and the fact that they can be delivered over the air.

A 10 ft Sunhope balloon prices about $4,000 compared with $10,000 it will cost solar field creating the same amount of energy.

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Tegolasolare is the Italian company that works to bring the language of historical architecture in the modern world through solar panels. By combining tradition and modernity, they have developed a roof tile made from red clay that is similar to traditional tiles of terracotta, but by an embedded photovoltaic panel.

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