Solar - Gizmodo

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brianmi40: Huh? Aren't all satellites powered by solar cells? How could this be the first??? more »
TheSonOfKrypton: I wonder how much MORE power they can harness in space as opposed to here on the ground simply because radiation from the sun does not have to deal wi... more »
GitEmSteveDave_ My Brute Dojo Code CDIAFIFE: I'm guessing the fine point here is that these are solar "cells" and not solar/photovoltaic "panels", like what is attached/powers the ISS and other t... more »
SigmundTheSeaMonster: Toxic Solar Panels! Awesome...better stay in Space.... more »
lazerpenguin: weird, I thought that solar cells could already survive in space since the ISS has a huge amount of them. Or do they not count cause its in orbit? more »
oyumurtaci: Why not just build the solar and wind farms UNDER the desert, like a diabolical masterplan? Oh wait... yeah I get it. more »
Yellowexample: Just build a whole bunch on one side of the road. You get 500,000 acres to work with, and if anyone doesn't like it, they can just turn their head a l... more »
Bokusatsu_Tenshi: Should have seen this comming. If a big, green, environment friendly project like that ever came out, what would environmentalists complain about? It... more »
theivth: I think a lot of people in this thread haven't looked any more at the issue than this post on giz. From Feinstein: "Approximately $45 million of pri... more »
HeartBurnKid: Agent of R.O.A.C.H.: Fuck you, Feinstein. Fuck you very much. If we can't build these things in the middle of the fucking desert, then where the hell can we build them? ... more »
Lite: hates Illinois Nazis: Here's a tip. California and Californians don't actually want to deal with the hassle of setting up thier own green energy. They prefer to rob, er... ... more »
Canoehead: I guess Di-Fi doesn't REALLY believe in glow-ball worming. I guess she's just another warm-monger. more »
IN THE FACE!: Yes, let us protect the gravel and rail-tankers for all posterity! more »
B3ND3R: Solution: Have a competent, famous architect design the layout of the solar panels and wind turbines into some really cool artwork (either literal or ... more »
Petey-ed: Second Giz article in the past month where they are disappointed with Democrats. Ironic. more »
daveNYC: So is this because she doesn't want the panels and turbines mucking up the monuments, or is this because the legislation to create the monuments hasn'... more »
jinushaun: BS! Am I the only one who does NOT find solar farms and windmills ugly? In fact, I think windmills are awesome! Surely someone could arrange them arti... more »
W10002: California is awful when handling energy. Seriously, we need the extra energy! And if the national monuments haven't been built yet, even after a deca... more »
Mikestan: How much money do you think she made from energy lobbyists to stop this amazing idea from happening. more »
robm762: Feinstien blocks this project, the Kennedys block the wind farm off the coast. These people claim to be for green energy and saving the environment, b... more »

#space

In Space, Even Sharp's Solar Cells Can Generate Energy
Sharp's made no secret of its interest in solar cell technology, but finally they've shown off the fruit of their efforts, the first solar cell capable of surviving in space. More »
#solar

Mojave Desert Solar Farm Blocked By Senator Dianne Feinstein
The Mojave Desert—last seen on our virtual pages when the SpaceShipTwo was unveiled—has leapt into the news again today, thanks to Senator Dianne Feinstein's legislation which will stop 13 solar plants and wind turbines from moving in. More »
#buildings

World's Largest Solar Office Building Opens in China
This is the largest solar-powered office building in the world, recently built in China. Spanning a whopping 246,000 square feet, it features exhibition centers, research facilities, meeting and training facilities and a hotel, all juiced up by the sun. More »
#plane

Solar Impulse Plane Flies For First Time in Switzerland
The Solar Impulse plane was flown for the first time in Switzerland yesterday, and leading the solar-powered project was Captain Bertrand Piccard, part of the first team to fly the world in a balloon in 1999. More »
#solarpower

California Approves Orbiting Solar Panel Deal, Aims for 2016 Launch
Remember Solaren, the company that's trying to launch those space-based solar panels, the one that signed a deal with California's biggest power utility company? The whole plan got even closer to reality today, after getting approval from California legislators. More »
#concept

Solar iPhone Charger Concept Has Another Use
Although it'll be awkward to have this iPetals solar charger out on the street, taking advantage of the sun to keep your phone charged is just smart. More »
#architecture

The Cité du Design Certainly Lives Up to Its Name
This gorgeous building in France is more than just a pretty complex. The Cité du Design does one of the best jobs I've ever seen at concealing the solar panels that help power the structure. More »
#solarpower

Cheap, Printed Solar-Powered LEDs Could Change 1.5 Billion Lives
Photovoltaic cells printed on sheets aren't news, nor are LEDs and ultrathin lithium batteries. What's news is a combination of the three which can help give light to 1.5 billion people who live in impoverished areas without access to electricity. More »
#solar

The Fastest Solar Car on the Planet
In the most recent World Solar Challenge, a Japanese team upset the former 4-time Dutch champs to win the 1,864-mile solar car race across Australia with the vehicle you see here. More »
#solar

Regen Reverb Is 3-Feet of Solar-Powered iPod Dock
If you thought Regen's Renu solar-powered iPod dock was unbelievable, get a load of its big brother, the Reverb. It's 3-feet tall and capable of cranking out 60 watts of power off of the sun's rays. More »
#solarcharger

Charge Your Phone with the Power of the Sun and Hello Kitty
This Hello Kitty solar charger strap provides the dual benefits of juicing up your phone and also making you look like a 13-year-old girl. It's a win-win! [Rakuten via TokyoMango]
#solar

Obama's $8-Billion Plan to Modernize the US Power Grid
Oh, Sr. Presidente, you look so goooood in the middle of the largest photovoltaic farm in the country—-the 180-acre DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center near Tampa, Florida. Maybe that's why you want to put solar panels everywhere. More »
#solar

ReNu: Modular Solar Panel for iPod Docks and Desk Lamps
We'll suspend our general disbelief for a moment to talk about the Renu, an unbelievable but incredible solar product that's actually coming to market next year. More »
#solar

Dell’s New Solar Parking Lot
Think about how hot your car gets on a sunny day. Dell decided to harvest all that wasted energy by installing these solar panels in their parking lot. Now they're keeping cars cool and putting that sunlight to good use. More »
#solar

Sharp Triple Layer Solar Cell Sets New Efficiency Record
The gauntlet has been thrown down yet again in the solar cell efficiency arms race. This time Sharp comes up with a cell that can harvest 35.8% of available sunlight. More »
#solarpower

Kitschy-Yet-Eco-Friendly reNEW Solar Battery Charger
It looks like a battery-eating iPhone case, but the reNEW Solar Battery Charger concept is actually a clever little device that spits out fully-charged batteries while attaching to your windows with suction cups. Your back-of-the-house, no-one-will-actually-see-it-here window. Updated. More »
#architecture

The Solar Decathlon Winner
This year's Solar Decathlon winner generates enough energy to power itself and two other homes. More »
#architecture

Amazing Student-Made Solar Homes Compete in International Solar Decathalon
The Solar Decathalon, a 10-criteria (it's a little bit of a stretch to decathalon, but that's okay) judging contest, just completed this year's competition, and there are some incredible works here. I love that each group used its hometown aesthetic. More »
#architecture

Dubai's Vertical Village Might Suck Up All Of the Sun's Rays
Despite grumbling about economic woes taking a toll on Dubai construction projects, it seems that their Vertical Village is going full steam ahead. The question is, after it's built, will there be any sun for the rest of us? More »
#solar

Dow Powerhouse Solar Shingles Could Finally Have You Hugging Trees
Residential solar has two main obstacles—expense and aesthetics. Even if I could afford it, my HOA probably wouldn't allow it. All of this could change thanks to Dow Solar Solutions and their Powerhouse shingles. More »
#bags

The Nazis, While Unspeakably Evil, Made a Fine Solar Backpack
Do I even need to ask why anyone would want a German army WW2 backpack? More »
#solar

GreenSun Solar Panels Come in Crayola-like Array
GreenSun's jewel-toned solar panels do more than make your yard look pink from the kitchen. They're highly efficient at absorbing certain parts of sunlight's spectrum. More »
#solarenergy

Forget Silicon, This Teenager's Solar Panel Uses Human Hair as a Conductor
If eighteen-year-old Milan Karki doesn't turn out to be the next Tesla or Edison, then I'll chop off my locks. This kid invented a solar panel which uses human hair as a conductor and could solve an energy crisis. More »
#iphone

Solar Surge Is The First Apple Licensed Solar Charging Case For The iPhone and iPod Touch
It isn't the only solar charging case on the market, but Novothink's Solar Surge is the first to receive an official thumbs up from Apple. More »
#space

Japan to Spend $21,000,000,000 on a Power Plant in F%#king Space
Holy shit, Japan is getting prepped to drop $21 billion on a solar power station in space, one that will beam enough energy back to Earth to power 294,000 homes. With no cables. More »
#nowavailable

Now Available
Snow Leopard is the big launch story today, but we want to make sure you don't miss the other gadgets up for grabs. Nikon's D300s is making it's way to retail, and Scoshe has a new car speakerphone out. More »
#energy

Super-Tough Solar Panels Could Make Every Road Into a Power Plant
Roads do two things well: Carry cars, and soak up sun. What if, instead of just getting really hot, roads could generate electricity with that sunlight? That's exactly what Solar Roadways—and now, the Department of Energy—has in mind. More »
#green

San Francisco Bus Stops to Offer Free Solar-Powered Wi-Fi
By 2013, San Francisco is planning to construct 360 new Muni bus stops that'll further the causes of both solar power and blanketed Wi-Fi at the same time. More »
#art

Retro Raygun Rocket to Take "Flight" at Burning Man
Burning Man, that wacky event taking place in the Nevada desert each year, will soon be visited by a high-flying structure that has little to do with narcotics and everything to do with the 1940's naive view of space travel. More »
#solar

Solar Phone Concept Charges On Your Wrist
Speaking as a guy who rarely goes outside, this concept would be very much the same as a regular phone, but it is a neat looking flexible device that doubles as a watch when not in use. More »
#solarchargers

Sanyo Eneloop Solar Charger Powers USB Gadgets
The Eneloop portable solar pack doesn't look quite as cool as that Energizer charger we've been waiting for, but it will supply 5 volts for 2 hours. More »
#solar

World's Largest Solar Audio System Delivers 105dB to 40,000 Spectators
Earlier this month, Grzebik Design completed work on what they are calling the "world's largest solar powered loudspeaker system" in the Taiwan National Stadium in Kaohsiung. It is capable of cranking out 105 dB of sound to 40,000 spectators. More »
#concepts

Pluggage Luggage Charges Your Gadgets As It Rolls
Pluggage, the brainchild of ITP student Ohad Folman, is a piece of carry-on luggage with a built-in battery/inverter and a solar panel that's capable of charging mobile devices as the bag is rolled or exposed to direct sunlight. More »
#solar

Giant Flowers Give You Free Power, Wi-Fi, Make You Feel Like Alice In Wonderland
Toyota is planting giant 18-feet Solar Flowers all across major cities in the United States. It's all a Prius marketing campaign, but as long as they give me free power and Wi-Fi, I'm game. More »
#diy

Sun-Powered DIY Project List to Geek Out the Rest of Your Summer
While this Lifehacker list of the top 10 DIY sun-powered projects won't be much help here in Boston (where we literally saw the Sun three times in June), you may find some use for it in your sunny neck of the woods. [Lifehacker]
#badideas

Solar Desk Lamp Perfect For Everyone Whose Desk Is Outside
Call me crazy, but I don't think the creators of this Solar Desk Lamp really thought this one all the way out. [GizFever]
#greenart

"Solar Sunflower" Collectors Lend Credibility to "Solar Farm"
In the spot where the old Robert Mueller airport used to be, the city of Austin is building, among other things, a solar farm made of these contest-winning, 16-foot-high "sunflower" style solar collectors. More »
#eink

Future E-Ink Ads Powered By Solar, Still Annoying
Neoluxiim's diminutive e-ink displays are powered by solar, which is great. Now, when I blow by them at the mall in the near future like I do today's traditional point-of-sale ads, my subconscious will cheerfully say "thanks for being green!" More »
#airplanes

100% Solar-Powered Airplane Ready To Go Around the World
Solar Impulse—the 100% solar-powered airplane that will go around the world—is complete and ready to circumnavigate the globe. And for the first time ever, its pilot—actually, the real Piccard—will use a symbiotic suit. More »
#imagecache

Solar Hand Fan
Like solar-powered air conditioners, this solar hand fan makes a lot of sense. Well, save for the part where you have to fan yourself. More »

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