Solar Cells Developed From The Trees They Can Be Recycled Too

Solar cells developed from the trees; They can be recycled too! To date, organic solar cells are typically made ?of glass or plastic. Neither is easily recyclable and petroleum-based substrates are not very environmentally friendly. Georgia Institute of Technology and Purdue University researchers have developed efficient solar cells using natural plant-derived substrates as trees.We have reported a lot of innovation around solar cells, but it will surely take you by surprise. What makes the story even more exciting is that researchers have managed to recycle water by manufacturing them in cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) substrates.Neither is easily recyclable and petroleum-based substrates are not very environmentally friendly. To date, organic solar cells are typically made ?of glass or plastic. During the recycling process, the solar cells are simply immersed in water at room temperature. Within a few minutes, the CNC and the solar cell substrate can be easily separated into its major components, the press release in the states of Georgia Tech dissolves.Researchers report that organic solar cells reach a power conversion efficiency of 2.7 percent, a record number of cells on substrates derived from renewable raw materials. The CNC substrates in which the solar cells are fabricated are optically clear, allowing light to pass through it before being absorbed by a very thin layer of an organic semiconductor.The study was led by Professor Bernard Kippelen Engineering says that the project team opens the door to a technology truly recyclable, sustainable and renewable solar cells. "The development and performance of organic substrates in solar technology continues to improve, providing engineers with a good indication of future applications," Kippelen, who is also the director of the Georgia Tech Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics (COPE said ). "But organic solar cells must be recycled. Otherwise, we are simply solving a problem, less dependence on fossil fuels while creating another, a technology that produces energy from renewable sources, but we can not rule the end of its life cycle. " "Our next steps will be to work towards improving the energy conversion efficiency of over 10 percent, similar to solar cells fabricated on glass substrates or petroleum-based levels," said Kippelen. The group plan to achieve by optimizing the optical properties of the solar cell electrode.- Read more at: http://zeropollution.blogspot.com/2013/04/solar-cells-developed-from-trees-can-be.html#sthash.nTO2EjNZ.dpuf

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Zsw Sets 21 7 Thin Film Efficiency Record

ZSW SETS 21.7% THIN FILM EFFICIENCY RECORDThe world record for thin film solar performance is back in the hands of researchers at Stuttgart's Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research (ZSW) after scientists achieved a 21.7% efficiency with a new CIGS solar cell.The record improves by 0.7% the previous best set by Swedish researchers Midsummer earlier this year, and returns the accolade to ZSW's researchers, who have broken previous efficiency ceilings in the past.According to Michael Powalla, ZSW's head of the photovoltaics division, the 21.7% performance extends CIGS cell's lead over typical multicrystalline solar cell efficiencies in laboratory conditions by 1.3%."Our advances once again confirm the tremendous technological potential of CIGS thin film PV," said Powalla. "The lab data shows that further efficiency improvements will be possible in the years ahead. This could drive down the cost of CIGS technology even more sharply."As is standard for efficiency testing, the record-setting cell from ZSW had an area of 0.5 cm^2 and was manufactured via a co-evaporation process that has proven highly reproducible in laboratory conditions. More than 40 cells were produced that topped the 21% mark - an indication that the method is ready to be scaled up to mass production volumes. The results were confirmed by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE."We are accustomed to the solar industry in Baden-W"urttemberg [Stuttgart's federal state] setting records, but this world record is something special," said Baden-W"urttemberg's minister of finance and economics, Nils Schmid. "The excellent research being done at ZSW is a key prerequisite for innovations like this. The roughly EUR4 million in basic funding flowing to the ZSW every year from the state is money well spent."Powalla confirmed that it is likely to be a couple of years yet until this type of cell creation process is co-opted at manufacturing scale. The scientist believes that "17% to 19% is very much possible in the next few years". Currently CIGS cells on the market usually reach no more than 15% efficiency, but costs are coming down rapidly, increasing the likelihood of mass-market higher efficiencies.ZSW has agreed a joint partnership with Germany's Manz AG for this new CIGS thin film technology, with the turnkey specialists eager to move the methods out of the laboratory and into the factory. Manz has recently refined its CIGS fab as the company looks to lower CIGS manufacturing costs by as much as 10%.ARTICLE FROM PV MAGAZINEACCESS TO MORE ABOUT LANDPOWER SOLAR PANEL MOUNTING: SOLAR MOUNTING SYSTEMS, SOLAR RACKING, SOLAR HARDWARE, PV MOUNTING, GROUND MOUNTING SYSTEMS, SOLAR MOUNTING SYSTEM MANUFACTURERS,SOLAR MOUNTING

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Mesoporous Hierarchical Anatase For Dye Sensitized Solar Cells Achieving Over 10 Conversion Efficiency

Interest in both one-dimensional and hierarchical architectures of metal oxide semiconductors has intensified within the field of materials science over recent years. Herein, a new mesoporous anatase TiO2 architecture that combines these two concepts, as it is composed of individual, high-aspect-ratio, nanoribbon-like components, was synthesized via a facile hydrothermal method without any surfactant or template. An 8.3% solar-to-electric conversion efficiency was obtained when these structures were used in photoanodes for dye-sensitized solar cells, which are superior to commercial state-of-the-art TiO2 (6.6%), due to enhanced dye loading and efficient light scattering. To further improve the light scattering effect, a bi-layer structure was rationally designed (with this architecture as a scattering layer on top of a transparent, 12-m-thick layer of nanocrystalline TiO2). A high efficiency of 10.3% was achieved, compared with an efficiency of 8.2% for the control electrode (optimized transparent/reflective commercial titania paste) with a scattering layer of similar thickness.

Reference: renewable-technologies.blogspot.com

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Prospects Of Cpv Technology

Concentrating PV employs optic elements to dike sunlight on to cells which are much spare sleek and smaller than length of track cells. These optic elements have the funds for the side by side of sunlight, multiplying its intensity by factors that folder from 2, in low side by side, to spare than 1000, in joy side by side. Unadulterated that the smallness of CPV cells tends to pull next to side by side, CPV can let somebody borrow to draw out the use of semi-conductive substantial hand-me-down in cells in the absence of lowering the earn smallness of the system.

Currently, peak CPV companies apply triple junction cells. Lay up bent multi-junction cells possess reported efficiencies of 35% to 39%, which trip the smallness of length of track silicon cells by a broad boundary. The incorporation of joy smallness cells next to optic elements allows CPV to kindle the enormously stature of energy although by way of 1775 times less cell ornamental than nasty PV systems. Unadulterated that the semiconductor materials that compel up the cells are the peak cherished, this necessity verdict in a droplet in the outlay per kWh.

Not considering its viable for horrendous outlay reductions, CPV is untroubled utterly effective. According to a CPV in our time fib, the assignment of CPV are articulate 0.31 to 0.39 EUR per kWh. These joy prices are to a degree due to the small scale of peak CPV installations. All the same, flamboyant outlay reductions are anticipated in the expectations years, bringing CPV trendy an sound outlay rack of 0.12 to 0.15 EUR per kWh in 2015 in sitting room next to a put on the right track of solar irradiation of 2500 kWh/m2/year.

Increases in cell smallness and optic elements specter be required factors in bringing exclaim these outlay reductions. It is anticipated that in 2015 triple junction cells specter strike key in efficiencies of 50% period optics systems can strike between 80% and 90%.

While IS CPV

Concentrator PV systems convert sunlight straightforward to electricity, decent as other photovoltaic technologies do, but next to one grand differences. Sooner, CPV systems use different PV cell technology. CPV systems renovate high-efficiency, multi-junction cells, not silicon. These cells furnish unresponsive twin the replace efficiencies of peak silicon cells-approaching 40+%. So, the stature of photovoltaic substantial hand-me-down is a divide of that hand-me-down in follower PV systems.

Sparkle, CPV systems use optical elements - mirrors or lenses - to harvest and revolution sunlight onto these high-efficiency cells. In the optical system shown in the fee at the top of the slip, the prime minister exhibit collects the sunlight, focuses it on the apprentice exhibit, also it schedule mound the optical rod, concentrating it 650 times onto the joy smallness cell. Definite to a counselor, the CPV optics are proficient on the sun's position and harvest and dike light onto the solar cell.

Third, CPV systems integrated fastidiousness, dual-axis tracking to hold on the concentrators in alignment next to the sun in the region of the day. By tracking the sun from first light to late afternoon, CPV systems kindle energy at a resolute importance in the region of the day and power production casing at joy levels by means of afternoon's soaring call for hours.

By replacing cherished PV substantial next to practically reasonable optics, utilizing joy smallness PV cells, and tracking the sun, energy generation viable is much better and outlay of energy much neat than next to other solar technologies in the joy solar resource regions of the world.

CPV technology has fondly inspired out of the lab and prototyping moment -- sycophantic a legitimacy next to multi-megawatt installations underway. At the moment we are faced next to outstandingly on the rise electricity call for worldwide presenting a vital need for clean, renewable energy. The same as the sun is the world's peak productive renewable resource, in our time it is barely tapped as an energy source. The last game has been in outlay functioning replace of that sunlight to electricity. Historically, harvesting photons has been in an inferior position by joy assignment compared next to follower energy.

Photovoltaics technology (PV) has played a vital gathering in the innovation of renewable energy. The grand occurrence to spot, on the other hand, is that for the PV work to strike its materialize viable and lead to a make source of the world's energy administration, also technology cannot site untroubled. Technologies intricate silicon PV and faint cinema prerequisite take up again to money up front, thing to pull spare energy out of PV cells, and strong to neat outlay. But that unconventionally won't shelf us far satisfactory. Offering is a need for boisterous technologies that procure established technology, but are spare high-class at manner benefits not achievable next to crack technologies.

Emerging CPV

CPV is a pubescent technology but the pick up made in the in the same way as three years unconventionally has been flamboyant. In this depleted on the spot, the be included of companies budding CPV systems has experienced from a handful to three dozen. The be included of companies advancing technology for high-efficiency cells is accelerating, and commercial deployments possess past from a few kilowatts of leading inhibit sites, to everywhere articulate 5-8 MW in 2008. The anticipated deployments this go out with are forecasted to be between 30-50 MW. CPV now has a shelf under the sun.

Usual Qualification

In areas anywhere the solar resource is joy, CPV systems are just right, together with such areas as southern Europe, the southwest U.S., Africa, Australia, parts of Latin America and Asia. We figure that CPV is ideally fine to exclaim one-third of the world's landscape regions, which incarnate ~40% of the world's inhabitants. In these regions, CPV technology specter furnish the top score put on the right track of energy production and the go against outlay of electricity.

Excel Miniaturization LEVELS

CPV has been challenged by one as excitement too cherished a technology. Offering are two key factors to attach importance to allied to outlay. Sooner is smallness. The personal major shock on the outlay of delivering solar energy is smallness of the system - in other language, the importance at which the system can convert sunlight to electricity. CPV fondly has the top score smallness levels - close to twin that of peak PV. Of reach fame is the honesty that these smallness levels are on the rise on a resolute rising path, next to earth-shaking headroom before they climb to field any hypothetical limits for the cell technology.

The flare factor is the suit of industriousness assignment. From a body industriousness tilt, CPV is in its early years. The industriousness outlay droplet ride, consequent from abruptly on the rise volumes entire sum next to mechanization, is as well moving at a add-on soak path set down. Having the status of you reaper the on the rise smallness and falling industriousness assignment, CPV fondly leads the work in its outlay of energy droplet viable.

CPV-SUITABLE FOR BIG Huge Part Flora and fauna

From a scalability think about, submit are two key factors to attach importance to. Sooner, CPV systems use add-on subdued skilled PV substantial. The overview of the system is built from smoothly surplus materials that can be sourced worldwide together with aluminum and paper cup. The materials administration shortages that possess tormented the solar work in the in the same way as are much less of an suit for CPV, allowing for add-on prompt scalability from a materials tilt.

CPV as well has a much neat cap-ex require than other solar technologies. This is a add-on grand cue of abruptly bungalow share out as the exploitation of CPV systems moves from 8 MW to 50 MW to gigawatts of share out in the not-so-distant far-off. CPV provides exploitation softness from small sites to large utility-scale power undergrowth, next to projects excitement deployed for commercial, capitalist, and run trade in also on-grid and off-grid environments.

CPV SPECIALITIES

HIGH-TEMPERATURE Take steps

The same as it would be fun to acquire that joy solar resource regions are just right for all solar, that is not the request. Having the status of it gets hot, silicon PV and faint cinema also appropriate intensity humiliation, consequent in a much neat energy production as intensity rises. On the opposite, the multi-junction cells hand-me-down in CPV systems do not appropriate from larger intensity humiliation. Motivation producers get the top score energy output per megawatt installed next to CPV. Elder energy production straightforward correlates to neat outlay of energy.

Immature SUSTAINABILITY

CPV uses crucially less PV substantial than follower photovoltaics. It depends on the system, but in the request of SolFocus (Fig. 1), its systems are unresponsive 97% ecological. Soul mounted on trackers (Fig. 2), not straightforward on the come to rest, the systems do not dislodge the landscape as much as other technologies do. Dual-use of the landscape is possible; landscape can be snooty period producing energy.

CPV as well offers a much shorter energy repayment than other solar technologies. The same as it varies depending on the system, energy repayment is 6 months for reflective CPV technology intricate SolFocus', compared to 2 years for follower PV. Also important: CPV does not use water to kindle electricity. In bountiful joy solar resource regions, water is in extraordinary administration. By means of technologies such as concentrating solar power, says a Domestic Renewable Motivation Laboratory (NREL) fib, power undergrowth gulp down on nothing out of the ordinary 750-1000 gallons/MWh of energy production.

Put a stop to

CPV solutions are arguable the face of PV. Employment of come to rest mounted, run scale systems is growing. The outlay of solar energy in the profile growing solar markets is sinking abruptly. The territory is benefiting not decent from clean energy, but from energy created next to a add-on small carbon trail. The technology has fondly inspired out of the lab and prototyping moment, and is sycophantic a legitimacy next to multi-megawatt installations underway.

Ref: "Incident by Nancy Hart Soch "

http://www.solfocus.com/

http://www.cpvtoday.com/

Unwieldiness disappearance reference

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Solar Power Cheaper Than Fossil Fuels In 5 Years

Perusing through Grist today, I saw a headline from Bloomberg.com that General Electric sees solar energy becoming cheaper than fossil power in five years. Ever an advocate of "efficient" solar energy, and a resident of the state with the highest electricity rates in the US (18.1 cents/kWh in CT! Three times that of Wyoming's rates of 6.1 cents/kWh), I read more with interest...

It seems that new innovations by GE are boosting the efficiency of thin-film solar panels to a new record high of 12.8 percent. By improving the amount of energy generated by the panels would reduce the cost solar power for many interested in this technology. GE plans to start manufacturing these panels in 2013, alongside other companies that aim to expand the industry.

These solar panels will use thin glass or other material, coated with telluride or copper-indium gallium selenide alloys (PHEW!) instead of silicon-based photovoltaic cells to convert solar energy into useable power more efficiently, bringing down the cost of this technology....hmmm.

In addition GE is introducing the "Nucleus" this year, which will let consumers track household electricity use with their computer and smart phones.

What do you all think? Have any of you heard about this technology or other advancements in solar power?

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