The photoshopped image here features the “Smart Flower,” a solar PV device that tracks the sun through the sky, then (for some reason) folds up at night, only to unfold the next morning. How do I know it’s photshopped? Let’s …
Category: Photovoltaics
Greentech Media: In Blow to Natural Gas, Puerto Rico Regulators Affirm Solar-Centric Grid Overhaul
Shortly after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico in 2017, speculation began as to whether or not a newly rebuild grid could be powered with renewable energy. This from Greentech Media: The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority will be required to …
Tagged with: Solar-Centric Grid
Take a Cool Guess—The Fun Quiz on Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability. Today’s Topic: What Is It?
Question: What’s shown in the photo here? Answer: Can be found at Clean Energy Answers.
A Questionable Solar PV Installation
When I walk by a house with a solar PV array, I often think about the specific design. Is it facing the right direction, at approximately the correct angle, etc? In our neighborhood, there is such an array built too …
Sometimes You Get the Bear, and Sometimes the Bear Gets You
In the normal course of operation, human beings make productive but nondestructive use of nature, as in the case of our harvesting sunlight and using that energy for HVAC, transportation, etc. Sometimes, however, nature’s just not havin’ it. That’s certainly …
Sometimes You Get the Bear, and Sometimes the Bear Gets You Read More »
Tagged with: harvesting sunlight
SunFlower Solar PV
Here’s a solar PV device that’s been around for at least the last 8 – 10 years. It opens in the morning and contracts in the evening, and has double-axis tracking like so much of the world’s PV. Their claim: …
Solar PV and Land Use
There are lots of cool, win-win combinations of renewable energy and environmentally friendly uses of land. Here’s a short podcast on sheep and solar PV, explaining how ground-mounted solar can team up with the raising of sheep for the benefit …
Air Elevator
Here’s a home elevator that its creators say is “Powered by the Most Abundant Resource in the World… AIR!” And here’s a discussion with their support team: Support: Thank you for your interest in our Vacuum Elevators! How may we …
Bi-Facial Solar PV
Reader Ron Reasoner, ridiculing the idea shown here, writes, “A 30% increase in production raises a PV solar panels output from 15% efficiency to 19.5% efficiency. All that for double the price plus added installation costs.” It’s actually worse than …
Tagged with: Bi-Facial Solar PV
Semi-Transparent Solar PV
Obviously, every photon of light that passes through a solar panel is one fewer that has the opportunity to dislodge an electron and contribute to the flow of electricity. Having said that, there are architectural applications that make this trade-off …
