Making a difference with solar
Abandoned housing and abandoned factories might be rife across the world, but Japan has a problem with derelicts you might not have heard of before
Category: Solar Energy News
AN energy expert on solar power, Engr. Francis Oludemi, has advocated massive deployment of solar power across the country for rapid diversification of the economy. Solar power plant Oludemi who is the Chief Executive Officer of Solar Affairs Institute, made the call on the Federal Government while delivering a lecture titled,
Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are now a major business, with the global market capitalization of these coins exceeding $170 billion at their recent peak, according to Coin Market Cap.
Bitcoin alone has reached over $70 billion in value, up from nothing when it was created just eight years ago.
A major issue with Bitcoin, which may eventually undermine success unless it is remedied, is the massive amount of power required for
With more than 2,500 hours of sunlight every year, South Africa has embarked on a mission to tap into this unused local resource by creating solar-powered airports across the country.
So far, there are six
Large available roof areas and improvements in solar PV technology are making l solar arrays more viable for companies looking to reduce overheads and take control of their energy future.
Australian National University
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Tunisia building
Tunisian sunshine could soon be powering homes in the UK if an ambitious North African project gets the green light.
The TuNur project aims to power up to 2.5 million UK homes by 2018 using solar energy captured in the vast Tunisian plains.
Its investors have already spent
Stanford scientists outline the infrastructure changes needed to make 139 countries powered 100 percent by wind, water and solar energy by 2050.
A transition of this kind could mean less worldwide energy consumption due to the efficiency of clean, renewable electricity — leading to a net increase of more than 24 million long-term jobs, an annual decrease in 4 to 7 million deaths related to air pollution, stabilization of energy prices and annual savings of more than $20 trillion in health and climate costs.
“Both individuals and governments can lead this change. Policymakers don’t usually want to commit to doing something unless there is some reasonable science that can show it is possible, and that is what we are trying to do,” Mark Z. Jacobson, director of Stanford University’s Atmosphere and Energy Program and co-founder of the Solutions Project, said in a news release.
“There are other scenarios. We are not saying that there is only one way we can do this, but having a scenario gives people direction.”
The research, published today in Joule, shows the raw renewable energy resources available to 139 nations and the number of wind, water and solar energy generators needed to make those countries’ power sources 80 percent renewable by 2030 and 100 percent by 2050.
Researchers examined each country’s electricity, transportation, heating/cooling, industrial and agriculture, forestry and fishing sectors.
The study showed that countries with a greater share of land per population, such as the United States, China and the European Union, would have the easiest time making the transition to 100 percent wind, water and solar energy. Small countries or those surrounded by oceans and that are highly populated such as Singapore, would have a harder time meeting this goal.
“Aside from eliminating emissions and avoiding 1.5 degrees Celsius global warming and beginning the process of letting carbon dioxide drain from the Earth’s atmosphere, transitioning eliminates 4-7 million air pollution deaths each year and creates over 24 million long-term, full-time jobs by these plans,” Jacobson said.
“What is different between this study and other studies that have proposed solutions is that we are trying to examine not only the climate benefits of reducing carbon but also the air pollution benefits, job benefits, and cost benefits”
Audi Cooperates with Alta Devices on Automobiles with Solar Roofs
 “The range of electric cars plays a decisive role for our customers. Together with Alta Devices and Hanergy, we plan to install innovative solar technology in our electric cars that will extend their range and is also sustainable,” stated Audi Board of Management Member for Procurement, Dr. Bernd Martens. |
Audi and Alta Devices, a subsidiary of solar-cell specialist, Hanergy Thin Film Power, plan to work together to integrate solar cells into panoramic glass roofs of Audi models. With this cooperation, the partners aim to generate solar energy to increase the range of Audi electric vehicles. The first prototype will be developed by the end of 2017.
As the first step, Audi and Alta Devices will integrate solar cells into a panoramic glass roof. In the future, because Alta’s technology is uniquely flexible, thin, and efficient, almost the entire roof surface is to be covered with solar cells.
The electricity generated from the cells will flow into the car’s electric system and can supply, for example, the air-conditioning system and seat heaters – a gain in efficiency that has a direct positive impact on the range of an Audi electric vehicle.
“The range of electric cars plays a decisive role for our customers. Together with Alta Devices and Hanergy, we plan to install innovative solar technology in our electric cars that will extend their range and is also sustainable,” stated Audi Board of Management Member for Procurement, Dr. Bernd Martens.
At a later stage, solar energy could directly charge the traction battery of Audi electric vehicles.
“That would be a milestone along the way to achieving sustainable, emission-free mobility,” continued Martens. The green electricity will be generated by Alta Devices’ innovative solar cells. These solar cells are very thin and flexible, hold the world-record for efficiency, and perform extremely well in low light and high-temperature environments.
Dr. Jian Ding, SVP of Hanergy Thin Film Power Group Ltd., CEO of Alta Devices, Inc. and co-leader of the Audi/Hanergy Thin Film Solar Cell Research and Development Project, said “This partnership with Audi is Alta Devices first cooperation with a high-end auto brand. By combining Alta’s continuing breakthroughs in solar technology with Audi’s drive toward the future of the auto industry, we will define the solar car of the future.”