No, the idea isn’t to power commercial air travel with photovoltaic solar – that’s being left that to super-lightweight, experimental efforts like Solar Impulse. Nevertheless, a French collaboration this week plans to unveil a new way of bringing solar power to aircraft, with a photovoltaic window. The pitch is that it can automatically adjust the… Keep reading →
We’re only eight months into the year, and utility-scale solar installations in the United States have already surpassed the total for all of last year. Data from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [PDF] shows 1,774 megawatts of new Big Solar capacity as of the end of August – compared to 1,476 MW for the entire… Keep reading →
The unpredictability of renewable energy sources like wind and solar creates reliability challenges for utilities seeking to balance power supply and demand across centralized grid networks. Policies compelling energy providers to incorporate more renewable energy into their portfolios make the challenge more urgent, but also create business opportunities for companies finding solutions. Those who crack… Keep reading →
Hoku Corp just filed for bankruptcy in Pocatello federal court according to reports in the Idaho State Journal. Hoku started out as a fuel cell membrane and materials company, went public in 2005 on little revenue, and then pivoted to becoming a solar polysilicon manufacturer. The company also tried its hand at solar installation… Keep reading →
Solar cells that convert sunlight to electricity at 1 or 2 percent efficiency don’t sound very exciting in a world where standard silicon cells produce at rates in the teens and even higher. But what if the cells were so thin and light that you could stack layers of them atop each other? That might… Keep reading →
Renewables are making large gains globally, but if they are to continue grabbing market share from fossil fuels, they will require reliable policy backing, according to International Energy Agency Executive Director Maria Van Der Hoeven. The IEA’s 2013 Medium-Term Renewable Energy Market Report maintains a positive outlook for growth in renewables worldwide. “Despite a difficult economic… Keep reading →
Forget “Planes, Trains & Automobiles,” the 1980’s John Candy/Steve Martin comedy classic, the world’s first solar-powered plane and the world’s largest solar-powered boat are on their way to the city that never sleeps. Solar Impulse is an innovative demonstration project designed to develop and showcase cutting-edge materials and solar technology. Breaking Energy met with project… Keep reading →
