• Category Archives: Alternative Energy

    Solar-powered air-conditioning system cuts energy consumption by 90%


    The sun has never really been associated with cooling before. More often than not, particularly on hotter days, the best of us look up at the sun frowning, cursing it for its ever abundant heat. This heat could very well be used to cool our homes, with a little bit of technological ingenuity, like this recent development from the Queensland University of Technology. Using the energy from the sun, this eco-friendly air-conditioning system is stated to cut energy consumption by nearly 90% and could very well make use of a solar collector running an ammonia based absorption air conditioning system. The waste resultant heat is then used to heat domestic water, making this system an ideal way to control the temperature of our homes in an energy-efficient manner!

    Posted in Alternative Energy on August 31, 2012
    Continue reading

    SunStation solar-powered EV charging system makes energy-efficient vehicles greener


    Electric vehicles are a promisingly green way to travel, however the very fact that these plug into coal-fired grids to power up somewhat make their efficiency questionable. Helping EVs go truly green, a New Jersey company called Princeton Satellite Systems has come up with an innovative way to juice up green cars, called the SunStation. In essence a solar-powered EV-charging station, this one uses photovoltaic panels to charge electric vehicles with a 240-volt AC output. Capable of charging a 1.6-kilowatt battery in less than 10 hours, there are however doubts in regards to the systems feasibility, given the fact that these don’t really come cheap. Priced at nearly $27.000 for the smallest system packing four solar panels, a full-sized version costs a pocket-wrecking $55,000. And given the fact that electric cars these days don’t really come cheap either, driving green in these days might just remain a day dream.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on August 31, 2012
    Continue reading

    Chewing Gum Battery Concept dispenses paper RFID batteries for quick charges while outdoors


    Running out of charge while outdoors can be a downright frustrating and infuriating event, and more often than not, looking for a charging port away from home isn’t all that simple. Designer Ping-Yi Link has come up with a fantastic way for those outdoors looking for a quick charge to rejoice their gadgets. Called the Chewing Gum Battery Concept, this solar-powered dispensing machine basically dishes out paper batteries which can be used to give your device a quick energy boost. Once used, these RFID paper batteries can be tossed inside the accompanying recycling bin. Essentially an eco-friendly way to juicing up your device while outdoors, this one’s designed for tourist spots and college campuses and dispenses paper batteries of different voltages.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on August 30, 2012
    Continue reading

    Solar powered Heating Lounger chairs sport temperature-indicating LEDs


    Outdoor lounge chairs used for sunbathing are known to spend longer hours in sunlight and are built to bear the harshness of nature. Designers at the Nea Studio have now come up with an innovative way to turn these pieces of outdoor furniture into energy-generating devices. Called the Heating Lounger, these lounge chairs placed on the Riverdale waterfront in Bronx are made from recycled materials and use photovoltaic panels at the back of the seats that soak in the sun. The energy generated can then be used to supply small doses of electricity to passersby in need of juice for their devices. And that’s not all. The Heating Lounger also sports temperature indicating LED lights which work as an aesthetic treat unlike any other.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on August 30, 2012
    Continue reading

    IKEA unveils Minnesota’s largest solar array with 4316 photovoltaic panels


    Furniture retailer IKEA has just unveiled Minnesota’s largest solar array, capable of generating enough energy to power up a 100 homes annually! Propped up on the roof of the retail giant’s Twin Cities store in Bloomington, this array is part of IKEA’s Solar Panel Initiative and is one of the company’s 31 solar projects. With the store covering nearly 142,000 square feet, IKEA has put into place 4316 solar panels in all to power up its facility and lighten its carbon footprint substantially. The array will help IKEA displace the CO2 equivalent of nearly 157 cars on an annual basis and is an inspiration to other large retail chains to step towards greener energy sources to power up.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on August 29, 2012
    Continue reading

    First Solar looks forward to developing solar-power industry in India after consecutive blackouts


    India has been facing regular blackouts these days with the aged power grid buckling under the load of the quickly developing country. So, in order to keep the lights glowing bright in urban Indian homes, First Solar is now drawing plans to build solar projects across the country that will in turn contribute green juice to the overburdened grid. The company in particular has been supplying cadmium-telluride-based solar panels since quite a while now, manufacturing these at comparatively inexpensive prices. As per report, Indian businesses use nearly 30GW of diesel-powered backup systems during blackouts and First Solar thinks switching these with solar panels indeed could prove to be a boon for the country and the environment as a whole.

    [gigaom]

    Posted in Alternative Energy on August 24, 2012
    Continue reading

    IBM develops inexpensive high-efficiency photovoltaic cells

    One of the main drawbacks of photovoltaic technology today is the fact that producing and buying these cells is expensive, a cost which however breaks even after a particular amount of time. However, not a lot of us can really afford these expensive home-based electricity generators and use grid connections instead. Recently, IBM’s Material Science team, with help from Solar Frontier, Tokyo Ohka Kogyo and Del Solar has come up with an efficient and comparatively inexpensive-to-produce PV cell that could pretty much pave the way to a greener tomorrow. Using readily available materials including copper, zinc, and tin, the team managed to create a solar semiconductor with 11.1% conversion efficiency! A development like this could pretty much provide the solar-energy industry with an unbeatable impetus and push us further towards an eco-friendly future.

    [inhabitat]

    Posted in Alternative Energy on August 23, 2012
    Continue reading

    Philips to light up1000m2 “lighting centers” in Africa with solar-powered LED lighting


    electronics giant Philips, also known as Royal Philips Electronics, has been drawing plans to lighten up far-flung areas of Africa since quite a while now and is currently planning to invest a whopping $1.48 million in the effort. The company will soon begin lighting up 1000m2 areas in Africa with solar-powered LED lighting. These areas will then be used as spaces for education, entertainment, sports and recreation. Philips has planned 100 lighting centers of the kind and will soon unveil the sites and countries that will enjoy the benefits of the same with installation kicking off in October later this year. Currently, countries including Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morrocco and South Africa play home to these solar-powered lighting centers, each the size of a small soccer field with four 8m-tall poles each, holding LED lighting solutions. A great way to bring sustainable energy to areas off the grid, Philips’ initiative is worth a ton of praise.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on August 21, 2012
    Continue reading

    Sanya Skypump wind-powered EV charging station, installed in Barcelona by GE and Urban Green Energy


    Powering up an EV charging station with renewable energy is indeed an eco-friendly solution to clean and green road transport unlike any other. Putting the concept to practice, General Electric and Urban Green Energy have joined hands to build and install wind-powered EV charging stations called Sanya Skypumps. The first of these has found a home in Barcelona and will be used to juice electric cars belonging to corporate and government drivers. Beautifully designed in an attempt to contribute to the surroundings and not play an eye-sore, the Sanya Skypump uses UGE’s 4Kwind turbine towers hooked up to a GE Durastation. Also, plans are currently being drawn to set up these at malls and universities across Australia before the year-end and we hope to see developments like these being put into place for personal car users too.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on August 16, 2012
    Continue reading

    STG International to setup Solar ORC systems providing hot water and electricity in Africa


    Electricity isn’t really an energy source that can be yet be taken for granted in certain isolated parts of Africa where more often than not, a regular supply is considered a luxury. STG International, an MIT non-profit has come up with a feasible way to power up clinics and schools in such parts of Africa using alternative energy sources instead of complete grid reliance. Using a new hybrid power and heat solar system that’s capable of providing electricity, hot water and space heating, STG International is currently drawing plans to set up five such units in Africa. With MIT graduate PHDs Matthew Orosz and Amy Mueller leading the way, these units will be tested for viability and will use ORC Engine instead of solar electric panels. Capable of providing up to 18-24kW-hr of energy and 200-300 gallons of hot water daily, this system could prove to be a boon for rural development, not just in Africa but also other far-flung areas disconnected from the grid around the globe.

    Posted in Alternative Energy on August 16, 2012
    Continue reading