Is it possible to harness solar energy without the use of solar cells? A recent discovery on the magnetic effect of light indicates that this may someday be a reality. Scientists have long known that magnetism is a component of light, however this magnetism has largely been dismissed as being too weak to provide much [...]
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CPV Solar Cell Reaches New Efficiency Milestone
Just last month the solar industry was set abuzz by news that Solar Junction, a Silicon Valley concentrating photovoltaics (CPV) startup, had produced a multi-junction solar cell operating at 40.9 percent efficiency. The latest news is that the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has verified the company’s production cell at an even more impressive 41.4 [...]
Could Fool’s Gold Lead to Cheaper Solar Energy?
Could iron pyrite, the mining waste product commonly known as fool’s gold, soon be used in the production of low-cost photovoltaic panels? It’s a distinct possibility according to researchers at UC Irvine. While fool’s gold is perhaps best known for its use as a cheap novelty gift, the research team found several characteristics that make [...]
Cincinnati Zoo Begins Contruction on Solar Canopy
Congratulations to the Cincinnati Zoo. The zoo, known as the second-oldest zoo in the US, has begun construction on a 1.56-megawatt solar array which is expected to be completed this spring. The zoo expects the solar project to provide about 20% of the park’s energy needs. As a result the array becomes the largest publicly [...]