New Energy Technologies, a developer of see-through solar cells for generating electricity on glass windows, says researchers have successfully achieved faster fabrication time, improved transparency and a two-fold increase in power conversion efficiency. Researchers achieved advances by way of a breakthrough which enables fabrication of large-scale mini-module SolarWindow devices, important to commercial deployment of the
Engineering Developments: The Rise Of Organic Solar PV
May 1, 2013 : 0 Comments
Engineers and architects increasingly turn to organic photovoltaics to satisfy building functionality and aesthetics By: J. Patrick Thompson, VP of business and technology development at New Energy Technologies Architectural design is changing. Energy costs and social trends are making sustainable buildings more attractive and valuable for designers, developers and owners. Sustainable buildings can be more efficient for
Buy vs. Lease In Residential PV Solar Markets
April 24, 2013 : 0 Comments
How the individual selection of financial models affects the diffusion of solar energy in residential PV markets By: Varun Rai and Benjamin Sigrin Acknowledgements Varun Rai is a professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs and the Mechanical Engineering Department, and Benjamin Sigrin is a graduate student in the LBJ School of Public Affairs
New Report Analyses California Solar Installations
April 12, 2013 : 0 Comments
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory offers a new report, “The Impact of City-level Permitting Processes on Residential Photovoltaic Installation Prices and Development Times: An Empirical Analysis of Solar Systems in California Cities.” Business process or “soft” costs account for well over 50% of the installed price of residential photovoltaic (PV) systems in the United States, so
Portal Gives Access To State Energy Data
April 12, 2013 : 0 Comments
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has launched the most comprehensive, dynamic, and interactive view of the U.S. government’s national and state energy data and information currently available to the public. Found at www.eia.gov/state, the state energy portal adds a unique visual dimension to each state’s energy resources and infrastructure. The agency designed the new
Top 10 Solar PV Module Suppliers Of 2012
April 11, 2013 : 0 Comments
Yingli from China became the largest global supplier of photovoltaic (PV) modules in 2012 based on annual merchant shipments, while previous leader and besieged fellow Chinese producer Suntech Power dropped to fifth place, according to the latest analysis from information and analytics provider IHS (NYSE: IHS). In a year that proved very challenging for the
Homeowners Say Solar Is A Better Investment Than Buying A Car
April 2, 2013 : 1 Comment
Seven out of 10 Massachusetts solar-owners believe solar energy is a better investment than a major property renovation or buying a car, according to a recent survey by New England Clean Energy. When asked which of the three was the best investment, 70 percent said solar, 29 percent said a property renovation, and 1 percent
How Solar PV Helps Address World Water Scarcity
March 22, 2013 : 0 Comments
While energy security and climate change have been important drivers for renewable energy adoption, water security provides an additional driver. For example in the United States, thermoelectric power plants have recently accounted for over 40% of total freshwater withdrawals from all sectors, even more than for agriculture. This energy-water nexus associated with traditional energy sources
Solar Photovoltaic Demand Could Reach 31 GW This Year
March 11, 2013 : 0 Comments
Solar photovoltaic (PV) demand will increase 2 GW, from 29 GW to 31 GW during 2013, up 7% Y/Y according to the new NPD Solarbuzz Marketbuzz 2013. For the first time, China will outpace Germany to become the leading PV consumer, while the top 10 PV territories will still account for 83% of global PV
