Gizmodo: solar panel

Sharp Triple Layer Solar Cell Sets New Efficiency Record

Chris Jacob — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:17:32 EDT

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.

How do they do it? With a triple junction compound solar cell that uses three photo absorption layers made from elements like indium and gallium. I'll leave it to the physical chemistry geniuses among you to explain exactly what that means in the comments.

You might have heard of efficiency ratings that climb into the 40% range. Sharp even lists one in their press release. To clarify, those are different tests. Apparently there's a distinction made in efficiency ratings between concentrated and unfocused light. The more you know, right?

Don't expect to be covering your house in these soon, they're meant for use in satellites. [Akihabara via Engadget]

Spanish Town Putting the Dead to Work Generating Solar Power

Sean Fallon — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:45:00 EST

The phrase "I'll rest when I'm dead" doesn't apply to those living in Santa Coloma de Gramenet, a small town outside of Barcelona. You see, open land is scarce in the area so the local government has put the dead to work, so to speak, by installing solar panels on the top of their mausoleums. So far, a total of 462 panels produces enough energy to power 60 homes for a year (and 95 percent of the cemetery's surface area has yet to be utilized). According to a representative from the company that runs the project, "the best tribute we can pay to our ancestors, whatever your religion may be, is to generate clean energy for new generations." Of course they would say that—but why stop there? Why not dig em' up and use their bones as a cheap material to create the world's most macabre wind turbine? [Huffington Post]

Cylinder Solar Panels Generate More Energy For Less Cost

Elaine Chow — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:35:00 EDT

Solyndra, a California-based solar start up, says it's figured out a way to make solar panels cheaper to install and better at producing energy—rolling them up. The company's solar panels are comprised of rows of cylindrical solar cells deposited on glass tubes, a new type of shape that purportedly lets them absorb more light during the day.

The shape also offers less wind resistance than conventional flat panels, making them cheaper and easier to mount on roofs. These advantages ultimately reduce the cost of generating power from the sun, though Solyndra couldn't give a direct answer on how much.

Considering that everyone, from Google to the Vatican, is installing a solar roof these days, Solyndra's innovations could mean a serious boost for the industry. But what's with not actually giving figures? That seems a little... shady. [Technology Review via Dvice]

Solar-Powered LCD Brings TV to Anywhere the Sun Shines

Elaine Chow — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:00:00 EDT

As part of Sharp's recent efforts to shove itself to the forefront of solar innovation, the company is showcasing a prototype of a 26-inch LCD Aquos TV that can be powered entirely by the sun. Now even the 1.6 billion people on earth without electricity won't have an excuse to miss the next season of Lost.

The set has a contrast ratio of 10000:1 and a 20mm thick display panel. It requires about 30% less power than regular LCD TVs and gets its juice from one of Sharp's triple-junction thin-film solar cell modules. The modules are about the same size as the television's screen.

Sharp plans to market the LCD and the energy system as a pair and says that its product could be a hit with both people living off the grid and environmentally-conscious consumers. The company will be exhibiting this, and other energy-saving technologies, at the G8 summit on Monday. [Physorg]

Soldiers Go Solar

Mark Wilson — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 10:02:53 EDT

Australian soldiers are now beginning deployment with wearable solar panels. Just like most of us, their military is weighed down by too many gadgets that are consuming too much power. But unlike most of us, their use of night vision is for more than "recreational" purposes. So the government has spent £1million developing a 14- ounce solar panel that's even effective on cloudy days by pulling power from solar radiation (as opposed to mere light). The technology should save battery trips back and forth to base, as well as lighten the overall load of the Iraq-based troops. Now if they can just develop generators powered by pissing oneself, I'm all set to enlist. [dailymail via spluch]