Ecotality Life covers green tech, green gadgets, and green gizmos. We like playing with toys as much as we enjoy learning about the companies behind green products. Join us as we explore green business and green investing.
Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland, is debating the implementation of a naturally-inspired solar design to help ease the use of traditional power sources and add some green to the city. Called a “Solar Lily”, the pads of photovoltaic cells would be anchored in the Clyde River — and potentially even computer-controlled — to take advantage of the changing angle of the sun’s daily path. From Ecofriend,
“Already, the winner of the International Design Awards, the concept of these lily shaped discs, from Glasgow-based ZM Architecture, has been handed to the city council with the hope that a trial project could go-ahead. Effectively, the energy gathered by these discs will be transformed and to the national grid, and integrated motors could rotate the pads in order to follow the sun for maximum output.”
One thing I would be concerned about (judging from the concept photos) is how these ‘pads’ might appear visually. It’s one thing to throw a few wind turbines up on a hill — but to choke a river with electronic pads might cause some protest. If any measure of water recreation exists on the Clyde River, such restrictions would also have to be addressed. I’m all for attempting unique ideas to make us more sustainable, but I also believe a certain level of finesse in design and aesthetic appeal is important too.
The Powercube is a solar generator taken to the extreme. Weighing in at almost one ton and costing just under $25K, you’re not going to be using this thing to solely charge your iPod. We’re thinking the military and power-hungry camera crews or event planners might have one of these tucked in their budgets. As it is, you’re going to need something with pretty decent towing capacity — or a chopper to drop it to your location in the first place. The specs, however, are mighty impressive. Here are the details from Ecofriend:
“The 1 ton device has a host of solar panels, three to be precise, each generating 200 watts of power each. The generated power is stored onto the powercube’s 6, 200amp-hr batteries to give you power when you need it the most. To make it that bit more rugged to take on tough conditions, the powercube is (also) waterproof.”
In addition, you can also add on such options as six additional batteries, a telescopic windmill and wimax support. How do you like them apples?
Just look at this thing! While it may seem like something Bruce Wayne would deploy in one of the Batman movies, it’s actually a concept under development between the US Military and scientists at the University of Michigan. Not only is it a small bionic bat with stereo cameras, miniaturized radar, and ultra-sensitive self-guidance — but it also is a renewable critter mean to take advantage of energy from solar, wind, and vibrations.
Here’s what Gizmodo had to say on the development of this cool technology:
For energy recovery, UMich will work to develop “quantum dot solar cells,” making current solar cells twice as nice. The bat’s autonomous navi system will be 1,000 times smaller than current systems, and that much more energy efficient too. The comms system will be shrunk to one-tenth the current size, too. You can see how all of this shrinkage will have positive impact outside the bionic-bat community as well.
The bat-bot’s intended use is to run surveillance ops and relay data in realtime (as well as radiation and poison gas readings) back to HQ. UMich will receive $10 million over 5 years to develop the technology. You can grab more details here.
While no one is exactly sure what the lifespan of a solar cell is, we do know that they degrade over time due to the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. As a result, you lose efficiency in the panels. Generally, manufacturers will cover a panel against defects for 20-25 years — but after that, it’s a guessing game into how much juice will continue to flow.
Those estimates, however, may soon get a bump higher. Scientists have found a way to increase the lifespan of solar cells by coating them with a material that converts ultraviolet photons into ones of visible light. Essentially, this takes UV rays and stretches them into longer wavelengths, resulting in greater efficiency for the panel and reducing damage to the cells. From the article,
“The researchers have demonstrated through some experiments that the PCM could be made of a liquid, a gel, nanoparticles or a solid. In experiments, the research team added the polymer blue polyfluorene to solar cells and found that it did indeed reduce the damage caused by UV light.”
This is good news — especially for applications like planetary exploration where the use of solar energy to power spacecraft can be exclusive. Of course, back home, it also means your investment will last that much longer.
This week in Spain (where a multitude of cool, green projects are underway), the switch was flipped on the largest installed photovolatic installation in the world. With a peak power output of 20 megawatts — and an average of more than 300 days of sunlight per year — it is expected that this massive array will provide enough power for roughly 20,000 homes. From the article,
The solar panels are owned by groups of investors. It’s expected to generate an estimated annual income of $28 million (€19 million) and a reduction in CO2 emissions of 42,000 tons a year. Powerlight provided single-axis solar trackers to improve the system´s performance.
You may wonder about the environmental impact of this huge development. A local Spanish association called Juncellus, was called on to ensure high environmental criteria in the construction of the plant. They included replanting around the plant, water deposits for fires, drinking troughs for birds and other such details.
Not counting this installation, renewable energy in Spain currently accounts for 7% of energy output. As one of the largest consumers of solar panels in the world, this is only expected to increase. We’re also keeping an eye on the massive solar tower being built there. Output is expected to provide enough power for 70,000 people.
When President Bush signed the Energy Act into law last December, the United States took a giant step forward to increasing the fuel efficiency of America’s vehicles by 2020. It also took a step back to helping America’s renewable energy potential by not extending federal tax credits for wind and solar installations. In an effort to find room for these breaks, the industry was hopeful that an economic stimulus package brought to the Senate today might include those forgotten incentives. Unfortunately, the legislation did not address them.
The Senate Finance Committee included measures to extend the Production Tax Credit (PTC) for renewable energy through the end of the 2009 in its version of an economic stimulus package last week. That package was voted down yesterday in the senate as a motion to invoke cloture failed. Under the Committee’s bill, wind companies would have received a continued tax credit of 2 cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated, for each new wind turbine that goes into operation through 2009. The tax credit, which also would have applied to electricity from solar, geothermal and other sources as well as energy-efficiency rebates, would have cost approximately $5.5 billion.
$5.5 billion. That’s all that would have been needed to continue America’s growth in the renewable energy sector; something that did not have to come from vital programs - but instead could have been easily procured by repealing an existing tax break to oil companies. Which is odd that should matter since oil companies like Exxon enjoyed their finest profits this year.
So, the U.S. will continue to play catch-up with the rest of the world. Eventually, the tax credits will be returned. The Solar Energy Industries Association plans on pursuing other opportunities to include the credits in future legislation. In the meantime, it’s business as usual for America’s energy infrastructure.
Not too long ago, I wrote about a new theology library at the University of British Columbia that combined a mix of solar cells and stained glass to create a work of sustainable art. Here was a building with green qualities, but also of artistic value. Now, the Environmental News Network is reporting a new breakthrough in solar cell production that combines nanoparticles and organic dyes. This union allows any number of colors or designs to be created within the panels themselves. From the article,
The solar module prototype is amber in color. It is possible, however, to produce the modules in other colors, or even to print images or text on the module so that it serves as a decorative element. These design options open up an entirely new range of possible applications. Instead of mounting the solar module on the roof of a building, the electricity producer could be integrated into windows. Used in this way, the new technology not only prohibits direct sunlight from entering the building interior but also generates electricity at the same time.
No longer would people, businesses, or organizations be limited to the blue/purple hues associated with today’s panels. Imagine giant corporate logos on the sides of buildings that also generates energy — or a mosaic of artwork creating electricity while also dazzling in beauty. Once the research and production of these panels is solidified, the sky is the limit in terms of their application. Check out the ENN article for more detail!
Bob Schneeveis, professor of neurology at Stanford, has invented a solar powered bi-pedal chariot pulled by a rollerblading robot. Yup. The entire system is driven by one 25lb electric motor that receives energy from batteries charged by solar panels on Schneeveis’s roof.
Oddity aside, this is actually quite a fluid design in terms of motion. Who wouldn’t want a robotic chariot pulling them around town? Would certainly make grabbing groceries interesting. Check out the video below.
Introducing the ugliest solar car to hit the market yet. No, really. You can make a case for looking beyond the aesthetics of this vehicle and holding high the green credentials, but the $25K price tag for this thing will definitely weigh you down in the end. For your hard-earned cash you’ll receive zero doors, odd styrofoam-like bucket seats, and a three-hour battery that will max out at around 43 mph.
The car is being produced by a team of builders and racers from Taiwan’s National Kaohsiung University of Applied Science. The “winning” design was based on a successful vehicle that ranked second of fifty cars in the latest Australian World Solar Challenge. Quite the achievement — but I question why they felt it might be a commercial success for $25K. If you’re not going to have any doors, at least throw some cup holders in there!
It was only a matter of time before the bevy of solar chargers on the market turned their attention to handheld gaming. This latest entry provides a battery charger for Sony’s Playstation Portable, while mimicking the design of the system itself.
The Solar Battery USB Charger for PSP($29) is a 1800mAh capability lithium battery that can charge either through solar or via a DC power source. On the plus side, you can pick up a solar charger for your little gaming system for under thirty bucks. On the downside, this is one more gadget you’ll have to carry with you as you ignore nature while battling aliens on your next camping trip. Additionally, I’m not too sure about the quality of the product itself. Here are some great quotes from the reference manual:
“With exquisite appearance, console direction can be regulated, so as to appreciate movie.”
“It can charge for battery through polysilicon solar plate.”
Clearly, there’s some difficulty in the marketing department with the translations. But, if you’re looking for some Christmas cash to blow on a backup for your gaming habits, give this one a shot!
While no one is exactly sure what the lifespan of a solar cell is, we do know that they degrade over time due to the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. As a result, you lose efficiency in the panels. Generally, manufacturers will cover a panel against defects for 20-25 years — but after that, it’s a guessing game into how much juice will continue to flow.
When President Bush signed the Energy Act into law last December, the United States took a giant step forward to increasing the fuel efficiency of America’s vehicles by 2020. It also took a step back to helping America’s renewable energy potential by not extending federal tax credits for wind and solar installations. In an effort to find room for these breaks, the industry was hopeful that an economic stimulus package brought to the Senate today might include those forgotten incentives. Unfortunately, the legislation 
Not too long ago, I wrote about 
