Define Solar Energy

SunPower sets New WORLD RECORD for SOLAR CELL EFFICIENCY

Wednesday, June 30, 2010 by Craig Zamary

In a press release issued today, SunPower Corp., a Silicon Valley-based manufacturer of high-efficiency solar cells, solar panels and solar systems, announced that it has produced a full-scale solar cell with a sunlight to electricity conversion efficiency of 24.2 percent at its manufacturing plant in the Philippines.

New World Record: This is a new world record, confirmed by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), for large area silicon wafers.

"This new world record demonstrates SunPower's ability to extend our lead in manufacturing the world's highest efficiency solar cells," said Bill Mulligan, vice president of technology and development for SunPower. "Our patented and proprietary, high-efficiency solar cell technology drives down the cost of solar energy by increasing the energy production from each solar panel."

SunPower awarded the Two Green Thumbs Up Award

Improved cell efficiency reduces the levelized cost of energy by increasing the energy production from each wafer manufactured into a SunPower solar cell. For the same reason, increased efficiency reduces the cost per watt and cost per kilowatt-hour for feedstock and materials, depreciation and other manufacturing expenses, installation time, land and system operations, and related maintenance.

"As we celebrate SunPower's 25th anniversary this year, I am thrilled to see the company achieve technology milestones that were inconceivable only a few years ago," said Dr. Richard Swanson, SunPower founder and chief technology officer. "SunPower's research and development and engineering teams have increased cell efficiency by a full four percentage points over the last five years while radically driving down manufacturing costs. We are extremely proud of their continued success."

Great work and congratulations to all the people working at SunPower. You guys are creating a new way to define solar energy, energy innovation and green jobs in the process! Keep it up.

iPhone & iPod Solar Charger by Regen

Wednesday, May 5, 2010 by Craig Zamary

Regen came up with a way to define solar energy for your iPod & iPhone. Their new product is called the ReNu, a solar powered charging dock.

Their eco friendly products allow you to charge your devices in a green way.

ReNu Eco FRiendly Products and green inventions

This device will be sold in Spring, 2010. Let us know your thoughts and feel free to share your story if you have any green inventions or eco friendly devices you recommend.

YSU Sustainable Energy Forum June 7-8, 2010

Friday, April 30, 2010 by Craig Zamary

Youngstown State University is having their second annual Sustainable Energy Forum on June 7 and 8, 2010 on the YSU campus. They are planning a diverse and broad agenda, a particular focus this year will be on Advanced Materials for Sustainable Energy - that is, those new composites, platings, metals and ceramics which are being developed to enable and accelerate Sustainable Energy Initiatives.

This focus on Advanced Materials should enable a broadening of attendees to include developments in advanced materials which are enabling and defining the Sustainable Energy direction. They will especially welcome presentations which feature research which is approaching or already in the commercialization phase.

Building upon the format from last year, they will feature presentations and discussions led by regional and national researchers, developers, manufacturers, technical experts, and government leaders in the field of Sustainable Energy.

Forum presentation topics will be centered around:

• Energy Efficiency
• Energy Storage and Grid
• Fuel Cells/Electric Vehicles
• Carbon Capture/Sequestration
• Landfill Gas
• Renewable Energy: Wind/Solar
• Bio Fuels
• Liquid Fuels from coal or natural gas

For registration and abstract submissions please go to www.ysu.edu/sef

Overnight guests may wish to reserve rooms at the Holiday Inn in Boardman, Ohio by calling 800-718-8466, or at www.hiboardman.com. Mention YSU Sustainable Energy Forum for a preferred rate.

This will be a great event, so make sure you sign up!

Dow Jones - Define Solar Energy

Tuesday, April 13, 2010 by Craig Zamary

Dow Jones knows how to define solar energy. They recently announced that they will build a 4.1 megawatt solar installation in New Jersey.

There are a lot of companies going green and there are many tax incentives for going green as well. This solar installation near the Dow Jones corporate office is one of the largest solar installations on a commercial site.

Dow Jones said that the company will reduce its annual energy costs and provide tax incentives. The installation will provide 50% of their energy needs during peak performance and they will have more than 13,000 solar panels, which will cover 230,000 square feet of parking space.

The system will create 5 million kilowatt hours of electricity that will power Dow Jones’ IT infrastructure and create green jobs.

Google making Solar Energy Affordable

Tuesday, March 2, 2010 by Craig Zamary

Google invested in a couple solar energy companies over the last few years. One of the companies is called eSolar and the other is BrightSource.

Google invested in both these companies because they have the potential to reduce the cost of Solar Energy by 50% or more.

The videos for both of these companies showing their energy innovations, green inventions and the way they both define solar energy can be seen on our main site.

eSolar video http://greenenergytv.com/Watch.aspx?v=1333254994
BrightSource video http://greenenergytv.com/Watch.aspx?v=1608810738

Sunflower Solutions - Two Green Thumbs Up Award

Tuesday, February 9, 2010 by Craig Zamary

I saw a recent newsletter from the Civic Innovation Lab out of Cleveland, Ohio that one of the companies they funded is offering Low-tech solar panels to developing nations.

The newsletter stated that around the world 1.6 billion people do not have access to electricity. Cleveland-area native Christopher Clark wants to change that.

The 26-year-old Clark founded Sunflower Solutions after becoming aware of the rampant lack of power in developing areas and the myriad problems that stem from living without electricity.

Green Energy TV has given his company the Two Green Thumbs Up Award for his energy innovation, green inventions, being one of the best green companies and their eco friendly products that give a new way to define solar energy. For more info, check out their site at http://www.thesunflowersite.org/ Keep up the great work!

Sunflower Solutions - Two Green Thumbs Up Award

Best Green Companies - Define Solar Energy

Solar Powered Water Purifier in Kenya

Thursday, December 10, 2009 by Craig Zamary

There are many ways to define solar energy, and for some, the use of solar energy can be used to save lives.

In Kenya, people have to boil their water and do so by using wood or coal. Now, in some parts of Kenya, they are using a Solar Powered Water Purifier.

Fact: There are currently 1.2 billion people in the world living without clean drinking water.

Check out the video below and see how the green inventions such as these are helping to provide clean drinking water solutions:

Interesting Fact: Given the number of people worldwide currently treating their water by boiling with firewood, WWF estimates that, with widespread distribution, Solvatten could be reducing CO2 emissions by 26 million tonnes per year by 2020. The use of Solvatten can reduce dependence on firewood and other fuels, since it uses the sun's rays.

We will continue to focus on green inventions, eco friendly products, energy innovation and more in upcoming posts.

Manufacturing Energy - Applied Materials

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 by Craig Zamary

I had a great phone conversation last week with Rob DeLine from Applied Materials. Rob works with Energy & Environmental Solutions for Applied Materials.

I am very impressed with the direction their company is headed when it comes to manufacturing energy. Applied Materials has a new way to define solar energy and one of the ways is through energy innovation and green manufacturing.

But first, here are some interesting facts:

Applied Materials is #1 in Silicon Process Equipment
They Produce the world's largest and most powerful thin film panel
#1 in LCD display equipment
#1 Solar PV Process Equipment & experienced world leader in Solar PV technology

One of the things I loved hearing about was the Applied SunFab Solar Module Production Line which enables customers to manufacture world class, 5.7m2 thin film silicon photovoltaic modules.

The Applied SunFab Line delivers state-of-the-art green manufacturing capability needed to produce the lowest cost per watt modules. There are no factories in the US at this time, but there are many of these factories throughout the world that are in production and seeing the benefits.

Green Energy TV is giving the Two Green Thumbs Up Award to Applied Materials because what's great about them is the fact that these factories are creating thousands of green jobs, delivering hundreds of millions of dollars annually in local economic growth, enabling clean energy to be produced locally, they are helping to create energy independence and their business model helps keep jobs local. Maybe cities going green and states going green need to look very closely at Applied's model for here in the US and look to create real green jobs that sustain cities, communities and provide clean energy solutions.

Keep up the great work Applied Materials. For more info, visit their blog at http://blog.appliedmaterials.com/

The World's Fastest Solar Installation

Tuesday, November 17, 2009 by Guest Blogger

Applied Materials knows how to define solar energy. Check out this Time Lapse video of a Solar Installation that took place in Santa Clara, CA.

Applied Materials installed solar panels manufactured using Applied's SunFab Thin Film Production line in Santa Clara.

Check out the video on this 35 kWp Installation, and take a look at the most powerful PV Modules in the world:

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2009 Solar Decathlon Winner - Team Germany

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 by Craig Zamary

The final results are in for the winner of the 2009 Solar Decathlon. The 2009 Solar Decathlon is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and was held October 9-13 on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.. The event challenged 20 student teams to design, build, and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered house.

This year's Overall Winner was Team Germany (Technische Universität Darmstadt). They won the Solar Decathlon in 2007 and did it again with this amazing eco friendly home and have a new way to define solar energy.

Team Germany focused on producing surplus energy by using the maximum overall building dimensions allowed, applying photovoltaics to every available surface, and pushing the envelope with energy innovation and green inventions.

Check out Team Germany's Solar Decathlon video below. We also Awarded them with Two Green Thumbs Up!

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Upcoming Posts: We will focus on other winners of the 2009 Solar Decathlon and how they define solar energy as well as built green homes, create green jobs, energy innovation and green inventions.

Solar Backpacks - Define Solar Energy

Tuesday, October 13, 2009 by Guest Blogger

My wife and I have two kids that are in college now and they have everything they basically need at school.

The both are interested in schools going green and sustainability programs. My wife and I are proud they are looking to gain experience and involvement in issues we face concerning our country's energy independence and also committment to our environment with eco friendly living.

We decided to send them a couple gifts, and since they both have their cell phones and portable devices, I found a company that sells and makes Solar Powered Backpacks. I thought this would be a pretty cool gift, and a new way for them to define solar energy and offset their energy use by using one of these cool green inventions.

I found a great deal on Amazon for the backpack and also decided to get them a Kindle since the price has dropped a lot and I can afford it now. I also think the Kindle is one of the many incredible green inventions out there and can help save the environment from printing and the use of paper as well as transporting books.

I hope this helps and can be a cool gift to get for your kids who are in college, high school or enjoy the outdoors. At the very least, they can walk the talk. - Joe Mantel, Guest Blogger

AORA - World's 1st Solar flower

Tuesday, September 29, 2009 by Craig Zamary

Green Energy TV has Awarded AORA with Two Green Thumbs Up for their green inventions and new technology. Based in Israel, AORA created the world’s first hybrid-solar power plant, which looks like a giant solar flower.

Aora is looking to define solar energy in a different way. According to the company, AORA has developed an advanced solar-hybrid power generation unit (IP protected) based upon its long lasting relationship with the Weizmann Institute of Science.

The system offers a unique modular solution to green power generation, comprising small Base Units (100kWe each) that can be strung together, building up into a large power plant, tailored to the customers' needs. When the available sunlight is not sufficient (during cloud cover or at night), the system can operate on any alternative fuel source (fossil fuel, bio fuel), thereby guaranteeing an uninterrupted power supply, 24hr/day.

Check out the photo of the tulip looking Solar Tower:

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Solyndra - Two Green Thumbs Up Award

Thursday, September 10, 2009 by Craig Zamary

Green Energy TV awards Solyndra with Two Green Thumbs Up for being one of the Best Green Companies.

Solyndra knows how to define solar energy with their energy innovation and designs. They manufacture photovoltaic systems, comprised of panels and mounting hardware, for the commercial rooftop market.

Solyndra employs high volume manufacturing based on proven technologies and processes to meet the needs of the global solar market. They use proprietary cylindrical modules and thin-film technology and their systems are designed to provide the lowest installed cost per system and the highest solar electrical energy output for typical low slope commercial rooftops.

They received great news last week with the US Government's $535 Million Loan Guarantee for Solyndra. The funding will finance construction of the first phase of the company’s new manufacturing facility and create thousands of new green jobs.

Annual production of solar panels from the first phase is expected to provide energy equivalent to powering 24,000 homes a year or over half a million homes over the project’s lifetime.

Keep up the great work!

Picture: “US Energy Secretary Steven Chu and California's Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger flanked by Solyndra executives.”

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Voltaic Systems - Two Green Thumbs up!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009 by Craig Zamary

Green Energy TV has awarded Voltaic Systems with Two Green Thumbs up for being one of the best green companies. They know how to define solar energy with their eco friendly products such as the solar backpack.

So what does Voltaic Systems do? They sell Voltaic solar bags that are solar chargers designed to charge virtually all handheld electronics.

Powerful Solar Panels: Embedded in the outside of these solar chargers are lightweight, tough, waterproof solar panels. The new Generator produces up to 15 watts, powerful enough to fully charge a typical laptop from a day of direct sunlight. No other solar bag can do this! The smaller bags produce 4 watts of power so 1 hour in direct sun will power over 3 hours of iPod play time or 1.5 hours of cell phone talk time.

The batteries are included in the bags and all bags include standard adaptors for common cell phones and other handheld devices.

The Generator also includes common laptop adaptors. Even without an adaptor, you can charge most devices with a standard car charger or USB charger.

Voltaic's eco friendly products can help reduce the energy costs for our portable devices and help save the environment in the process.

Another Fun Fact: Voltaic bags use fabrics made from recycled PET i.e. soda bottles.

Good work Voltaic Systems, and here's your Two Green Thumbs up! AWARD.

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Solar Tower - New way to Define Solar Energy

Wednesday, August 5, 2009 by Craig Zamary

EnviroMission Limited has a new way to define solar energy. EnviroMission Ltd. has a new energy innovation and is developing Solar Tower renewable energy technology in Australia.

EnviroMission, which owns the exclusive Australian license to Solar Tower technology, is moving to commercialize the first of five planned Solar Tower power stations in Australia.

A single power station development will have the capacity to supply clean, renewable energy to more than 200,000 households and create thousands of green jobs.

Check out their green inventions and see why this may be one of the best green companies:

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2009 World Solar Challenge

Tuesday, August 4, 2009 by Craig Zamary

The 2009 World Solar Challenge will be held in Australia on October 18-25 this year. The 2009 World Solar Challenge is the ultimate challenge in sustainable energy.

The event sets the challenge to design and build a car capable of crossing the vast and imposing continent of Australia using only sunlight as fuel, in the spirit of friendly competition against others with the same goal.

The World Solar Challenge contributes to a cleaner, greener future through the development of new technology.

A video was uploaded to our main site the other day from the Umicore Solar Team that will be competing in the 2009 World Solar Challenge.

Check out the video below and watch how this event is heating up and how the World Solar Challenge in Australia is helping to define solar energy:

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Solar Powered Fashion

Thursday, July 23, 2009 by Guest Blogger

If you want to know how to define solar energy in the fashion world, you know it has to not only look good, but also work.

In the video below, Erin will walk you through on how the sun and these fashionable bags work with solar power.

The solar cells on these bags by Voltaic and Noon Solar are enough to charge mobile phones and iPods. There are many other ways the fashion world is incorporating solar and also liquid crystal into their fashion, but this is just one example.

Check out the video below:

Author: Mary Collins, Guest Blogger for GreenEnergyTV.com
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Green Jobs in Bangladesh

Thursday, July 23, 2009 by Craig Zamary

How do you define solar energy on a small island in Bangladesh? By creating green jobs that make solar energy devices.

In 2005 PSL won an Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy. It realized the need for both quality lighting and employment for unskilled women on the remote island of Char Montaz, in the Bay of Bengal.

There is only a diesel mini-grid on the island for lighting and battery charging. Generally people use kerosene lamps for lighting. They set up the Coastal Electrification and Women's Development Co-operative (CEWDC), and the 35 members assemble and sell solar home systems.

Check out the short Ashden Award Winning video that is airing on our main site:

Solar Energy Foundation: Ashden Awards 2009

Monday, June 22, 2009 by Craig Zamary

The Solar Energy Foundation knows how to define solar energy. The Solar Energy Foundation has opened up new horizons for 10,000 villagers in Rema, Ethiopia and nearby.

Their homes now have electricity for the first time thanks to 2,000 new solar home systems costing families just 75 pence a month. Young people now have the chance to train as solar technicians in an International Solar School. Graduates of the scheme have opened four Solar Centres in other areas of Ethiopia with a further 8,500 solar home systems due to be installed by the end of the year.

The Solar Energy Foundation is creating green jobs, clean energy and endless opportunities for thousands of people.

Check out the video on them below:

Doing something to be green? You can Upload your video to us and share it with millions of viewers http://greenenergytv.com/Login/?next=/Upload.aspx -Stay Green!

We will continue to feature alternative energy videos and Ashden Award winners in the coming weeks that cover subjects on green inventions, energy innovation, green jobs, environmental education for children, eco friendly inventions and more.

The Green Invention Maverick of Solar Energy- Dr. Nate Lewis

Tuesday, May 5, 2009 by Guest Blogger

In the field of solar energy, there is one superstar among us and he's green energy scientist Dr. Nate Lewis. Who is he you ask? Well, he is considered by many to be the world renowned authority and developer of solar renewable energy technology. He is also being hailed by Rolling Stone as one of their 2009 "Agents of Change" and it's easy to see why.

This California native is a graduate of CalTech & MIT and is currently a chemistry professor back at CalTech. His passion is solar energy and he is showing the world that his green invention could change the face of renewable fuels in the near future. When the White House and companies such as Google are ponying up to spend billions on renewable fuels, it's time we all sit up and take notice.

So let's first start and define solar energy. According to the Energy Institute, solar energy is a form of electricity produced from the sun, captured by photovoltaic (solar) cells, and used to turn the energy from the sun into electricity.

According to Lewis, there is more energy from the sun hitting the earth in one hour than all the energy we consume on our planet in an entire year. Therefore, we only need a fraction of our sun's energy to power our planet and it's vital we figure out how to harness and use it!

So, how will he do it? Lewis is engineering artificial leaves that will mimic photosynthesis and thus create hydrogen with the ability for it to be stored and used as renewable fuels. This energy innovation consists of 4 main components: sunlight, a membrane, a catalyst, and water. The hydrogen (fuel) you get from this solar invention is remarkable and not to mention very, very inexpensive.

Lewis states "Energy is the only commercialized field that I have ever seen where people try to cogently and consistently advance arguments against doing R&D to develop the next generation of more advanced, cheaper, better technology. We don't have all the answers, but we know where to look and we need to be going for it". I couldn't agree more.

Check out the video link below of Dr. Nate Lewis talking about his green invention of artificial photosynthesis!

http://www.thirteen.org/curious/episodes/?p=18&cp=1#comments

And as always, we want to hear from you. What do you find exciting in the field of green inventions and renewable fuels? Comment below and let us know!

April Bixel, Guest Blogger, Green Energy TV