Tag: solar panels

New solar panel recycling plant recovers valuable materials

Amanda Giasson
Solar panel recycling - Solar Panels on side of road

Geltz Umwelt-Technologie has developed a solution for efficiently recycling solar panel waste. ELSi is a new solar panel recycling pilot plant project developed by the German engineering company, Geltz Umwelt-Technologie. It is an advance recycling system designed to retrieve reusable material from solar modules. Solar panel disposal will only increase in the years to come. Solar energy may be a viable renewable energy solution but it is not waste-free. Solar panels have a limited lifespan and will eventually need to be replaced. For this reason, the development of solar panel…

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A solar tarp could be a practical way to deliver electricity to those who need it

Amanda Giasson
Solar Tarp - Solar energy technology - solar panels

Flexible solar panels could be just as efficient as traditional solar panels. A team of scientists from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) are working on a way to develop a “solar tarp;” flexible solar panels that would be as efficient as a silicon solar panel but also lightweight, thin and bendable. Solar panels are not always a viable option for certain parts of the world. Developing this solar tarp could mean that the many parts of the world that currently do not have regular electricity, would benefit from…

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Coaches on Indian Railways are to be powered by solar energy

Erin Kilgore
Solar Energy - Train in India

The national transporter will reportedly be retrofitting its trains with flexible solar panels. Solar energy is coming to Indian Railways passenger trains. Earlier this week, India’s national transporter revealed the first non-AC coaches retrofitted with flexible solar photovoltaic (PV) panels. The solar PV panels power the coaches’ comforts. The solar energy panels that have been installed on the roofs of the coaches, power lights, fans and mobile charging points. The solar panels were developed by the Indian Railway Organization for Alternate Fuels (IROAF), and most of the panels have been…

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Simple solar energy technology could change the world

Amanda Giasson
Solar energy technology - SunSaluter - Image from YouTube

The SunSaluter solar panel has gone open source. The solar energy technology behind the simple solar panel efficiency device known as the SunSaluter has been made open source so that anyone can build it. Now that it is no longer patented, the device can bring renewable energy to those who need it the most. The SunSaluter also produces clean drinking water. Developed by Chinese-Canadian software/mechanical engineer Eden Full Goh, the SunSaluter rotates and follows the sun throughout the day and boosts efficiency by 30%. Additionally, it produces four liters of…

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Solar energy systems could power all new homes in California

Angie Bergenson
Solar Energy Systems - Solar Panels on roofs

State could become the first to require all new homes to be powered by solar panels California may become the first state in the country to require all new homes to have their own solar energy systems. The California Energy Commission is set to vote on the matter this week. If approved, the new measure will go into effect in 2020. For the past seven years, solar energy has been optional for new homes being built in the state. The measure is meant to accelerate the adoption of solar power…

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New solar energy fund emerges in Wisconsin

Tami Hood
Solar Energy - Solar Power - Solar Panels

New fun aims to help companies embrace solar power A new fund that aims to support solar energy adoption has emerged in Wisconsin. Cal Couillard, president of Componex, has committed some $125,000 to this fund in order to ensure solar power continues to thrive. The fund exists to provide the money needed to install solar panels on rooftops, something that is becoming increasingly interesting for businesses throughout the United States. Non-profit organization are looking to make use of the fund Ten non-profit organizations have already applied to receive money from…

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Global solar energy capacity to surpass nuclear capacity by end of year

Stephen Vagus
Global Solar Energy Capacity

Report highlights the rapid growth of the solar energy sector The world’s solar energy capacity may soon surpass global nuclear energy capacity, according to a new report from GTM Research. Solar power has been attracting strong support throughout the world in recent years. Several countries have embraced this form of clean energy in order to become environmentally friendly. They have also done so to take advantage of various economic prospects that are offered by new solar energy projects. This is all happening as many countries begin to move away from…

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Rooftop solar energy market set to reach new milestone by 2022

Tami Hood
Solar Panels on Rooftop - Solar Energy

Report predicts that rooftop solar market will reach $4.14 billion by 2022 The solar energy industry has been growing quickly in recent years, especially within the residential sector. Many homeowners are beginning to invest in solar panels as a way to generate their own electricity. A new report from Crystal Market Research shows that the rooftop solar market will reach new heights in the near future. According to the report, the rooftop solar market will be valued at approximately $4.14 billion by 2022. Solar panels are becoming more accessible to…

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ITC ruling could have an impact on the solar energy industry

Stephen Vagus
Solar Energy Industry - Solar Panels

ITC finds that imported solar panels have been a problem for domestic companies A recent ruling from the International Trade Commission (ITC) could have a major impact on the solar energy industry in the United States. The organization is now suggesting that low-cost, imported solar panels, specifically from China, have caused problems for two domestic panel manufacturers. These companies are Suniva and SolarWind, which may have experienced some economic damage due to the influx of solar products that have been manufactured outside of the United States. Companies are having trouble…

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The State of Solar Energy in Africa

Stephen Vagus

Solar energy has found a very promising home in Africa. The continent has massive solar potential, receiving as much as 4,300 hours of sunlight every year. Many African countries also receive the world’s highest levels of solar radiation, making them ideal locations for solar farms. Solar products are beginning to flood into Africa, providing countries with the ability to tap into a resource that is in vast abundance but very rarely used to generate electricity. Currently, the distribution of solar energy systems throughout Africa is uniform. Countries that experience more…

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Tesla begins production of its new solar cells

Angie Bergenson
Solar Cells - Collection of solar tiles

Tesla facility in New York has begun manufacturing new solar products Tesla Motors has begun production of its new solar cells in Buffalo, New York. These new solar cells will be used in the company’s roof tiles. These roof tiles are designed to generate electricity from the sun, providing power to homeowners. While Tesla has, traditionally, been involved in clean transportation, the company has embraced a strong interest in solar energy. Recently, Tesla acquired its sister company, SolarCity, in order to establish a foothold in the solar market. Establishing a…

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Ikea to begin offering solar energy products in the UK

Alicia Moore
Solar Energy - IKEA Store

Ikea is bringing solar panels to its UK stores Retail giant Ikea has plans to break into the solar energy market. The company has announced that it will begin selling solar panels and energy storage systems at its stores in the United Kingdom. These products will be sold alongside similar solutions provided by Solarcentury, a solar energy company based in the UK. Ikea is the latest in several retailers that have begun to offer solar panels and related services. These retailers are benefitting from the growing demand for clean energy,…

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China’s solar energy industry to increase production of solar panels

Bret Williams
Solar Panels - Solar Energy Industry

Solar panel manufacture to increase by 25% this year China’s solar energy industry is poised to become yet more active throughout the remainder of this year. The industry has already established significant momentum in 2017, but manufacturers and developers are not ready to rest easy. The solar energy industry is expected to produce 25% more solar panels this year than in 2016, according to Wang Bohua, secretary general of the country’s solar industry association. Notably, production is set to increase significantly due to foreign demand, much of which is coming…

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US officials to investigate tariffs on imported solar energy products

Angie Bergenson
Solar Energy Tarrif

Petition calls for safeguards to be placed for the sake of the US solar energy market The United States government is considering imposing tariffs on solar panels that are imported into the country. The International Trade Commission has announced that it has launched an investigation concerning the matter. The investigation is in response to a petition filed by Suniva, a solar manufacturer that has declared bankruptcy. The company suggests that China is responsible for flooding the U.S. market with photovoltaic products. This has caused the price of such products to…

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REC Solar begins production on its new solar panels

Bret Williams
Solar Panels - Solar Energy Panel

Company has begun production on its TwinPeak 2 solar panels REC Solar, a company specializing in the manufacture of photovoltaic products, has become the largest solar manufacturer of solar panels in Europe. The company has now begun production on its new TwinPeak 2 solar panels, each of which can produce a maximum of 350 watts of electrical power. The new panels could further bolster the company’s position in the solar energy market, which is expanding at a rapid pace, especially in European countries that are showing a strong interest in…

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Cost of solar energy falls below fossil-fuels in Australia

Tami Hood
Solar Energy - Australian Sun

Solar energy is now less expensive than fossil-fuels A new report from Climate Council suggests that solar energy is now less expensive than fossil-fuels in most major Australian cities. Over the past five years, the cost of solar power has dropped significantly. According to the report, this cost has fallen by 58% over that time period. The falling price of solar energy has made it more attractive, encouraging more businesses and consumers to embrace this form of clean power and distance themselves from fossil-fuels. Costs continue to fall for the…

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