Solar power

Using Sun's Energy to Split Water Means Solar Power All Night

Posted by kimberlydelacruzodom from Slashdot

phorm writes "Reuters is carrying an article about a recent MIT development which may pave the way for solar-energy to be collected for use in low-input periods. According to Reuters, the discovery of the a new catalyst for separating hydrogen+oxygen from water requires only 10% of the electricity of current methods. This would allow storage-cells to function as a form of battery for other forms of energy-collection, such as solar panels. The new method is also much safer (and likely environmentally friendly) than current methods, which require the use of a dangerously caustic environment, and specialized storage containers." sanjosanjo points out "coverage of the process at EE Times, which features the MIT group's press release.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Solar powered refrigerator

Posted by Jeff from Environmental News Network

Getting away from it all doesn’t have to mean leaving your frosty cold-ones behind. These SunDanzer energy efficient DC refrigerators can keep your vitals cold while maintaining the off-the-grid status of your mountaintop yoga studio.

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Solar plane flies into the night

Posted by Jeff from BBC News

UK defence firm Qinetiq, which built the Zephyr unmanned aerial vehicle, said it flew for 54 hours during tests. The researchers believe it is the first time a solar-powered craft has flown under its own power through two nights.

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The Walled City of Sustainability

Posted by Jeff from World Changing

Sarah Rich: A couple of months ago, we wrote about Abu Dhabi's Future Energy Company and their plans to build a huge solar power plant as part...

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Solar loans light up rural India

Posted by Jeff from BBC News

Since the project began in 2003, there has been a 13-fold increase in the number of the solar power units being financed within the scheme's pilot area in southern India. A system capable of powering two to four small appliances, or lights, costs about $300-$500.

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How solar ran out of puff in sunny Australia

Posted by Jeff from Smh.com

"If you don't include the environmental costs of coal-fired electricity when comparing them with solar, it becomes very difficult. [Saving money] is not what motivates me and if that's all that motivates the consumer, then perhaps solar isn't for them." Solar is an environmental choice but not a compelling financial one.

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Financially, Solar Power for the Home Is a Tough Sell

Posted by Jeff from New York Times

The calculator provides a lot of other information, but it doesn’t figure in the $1,580 a year your cash outlay would have been making had you left the money in a conservative investment like a government bond. That’s more than enough to cover the monthly electric bill.

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