Tag Archive for: solarinnovation

Researchers at LUANAR tested a solar-powered milking device in Malawi, reducing milking time & improving efficiency, milk quality, and farmers' livesResearchers at LUANAR tested a solar-powered milking device in Malawi, reducing milking time & improving efficiency, milk quality, and farmers' lives

Solar milking tech boosts dairy farms in Malawi

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When Robert Mbendera started out as a small-scale dairy farmer in rural Malawi 20 years ago, milking the one cow he owned was an arduous, time-consuming process.

“It would take about 80 minutes to milk the cow—that’s 80 minutes in the morning and 80 minutes in the evening,” he told SciDev.Net.

“I would start imagining what a lot of hard work and expense it would involve if I were to have three or four cows.”

But this changed in 2020 when researchers at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) trialed a solar-powered milking device and water pumping system at Mbendera’s farm in the Dedza district of central Malawi.

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Source: PHYS.org

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Highland Materials president Richard Rast told PV Tech Premium that there is an “opportunity for innovation” in the US manufacturing sector.

Highland Materials’ US silicon production could be ‘game changer’ for US solar

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New entrants into the US polysilicon manufacturing space could be a “game changer” for the US solar sector, Solar Media head of research Finlay Colville told PV Tech Premium this week.

Colville spoke to PV Tech Premium about Highland Materials’ receipt of US$256 million in tax credits to build a polysilicon manufacturing facility in Tennessee, with Highland Materials president Richard Rast noting that there is an “opportunity for innovation” in the US manufacturing sector.

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Source: PV Tech

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247Solar’s innovative concentrated solar power system stores sunshine for continuous clean energy, day & night.

MIT spinoff unveils continuous solar power solution technology

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For the past two decades, solar and wind farms have become a familiar sight, revolutionizing how we generate electricity. However, complete decarbonization requires a broader arsenal of technologies. This is because renewable sources like solar and wind are intermittent, meaning they don’t produce power consistently. Additionally, they can’t provide the high temperatures crucial for many industrial processes.

Enter 247Solar, a company pioneering a novel approach to concentrated solar power (CSP) that addresses these limitations. Their high-temperature systems boast overnight thermal energy storage, enabling them to deliver round-the-clock clean power and industrial-grade heat.

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Source: Interesting Engineering

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The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has been at the forefront of the solar revolution for the last 50 years.

The solar century: Landmark moments in the history of solar energy

The history of solar energy is an American success story.

Since the creation of the first silicon solar cell 70 years ago, solar leaders have been innovating, improving efficiency, lowering costs, and growing this American-born technology into an essential part of our nation’s energy system.

In 2023, solar accounted for over 50% of new electricity generating capacity added to the grid and employs over 260,000 Americans. With over 179 GW of installed capacity and growing, the solar and storage industry has become an American energy powerhouse.

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Source: SEIA

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First Solar is spending $450M to establish a research and development center focused on the production of thin film photovoltaic modules.

First Solar invests $450M into thin film PV module R&D

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First Solar is investing $450 million in a new research and development center in an already-existing manufacturing facility. This research will be focused on creation and development of environmentally friendly and high-performing thin film photovoltaic (PV) modules for semiconductors.

“The company’s two existing facilities in Perrysburg and Lake Township comprise the largest vertically-integrated complex of its kind in the Western Hemisphere. They will now expand by 0.9 gigawatts (GWDC).” – WTOL11, October 27, 2022

“Designed and developed at its R&D centers in California and Ohio, First Solar’s advanced thin film PV modules set industry benchmarks for quality, durability, reliability, design, and environmental performance. The modules have the lowest carbon and water footprint of any commercially available PV technology today. Each module features a layer of Cadmium Telluride (CadTel) semiconductor that is only three percent the thickness of a human hair. Additionally, the company continues to optimize the amount of semiconductor material used by enhancing its vapor deposition process through continued investment in R&D focused on more efficient module technology with a thinner semiconductor layer. First Solar also operates an advanced recycling program that provides closed-loop semiconductor recovery for use in new modules.” – First Solar, October 27, 2022

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Source: American Progress

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With soaring energy prices at the pumps and in homes, the solar-powered car could well be the solution for transport

Solar-powered cars: Solving the issue of high fuel prices and low EV charging capacity

With bans on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles coming as soon as 2030 in several countries, the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles (EVs) has some way to go before it is capable of meeting demand. Furthermore, there is also the issue of the extra strain on the national grid placed by more EVs being connected to it.

These problems can be avoided thanks to Netherlands-based company Lightyear, which has developed an EV that gets the majority of its energy via solar panels built into the roof and bonnet. The vehicle can go for months without requiring the battery to be plugged in for a charge, meaning that drivers do not have to plan their routes based on access to charge points.

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Source: Verdict

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Solar growth is spreading into new U.S. markets as developers tackle grid challenges and new demand pockets open up in central states.Panel The Planet

Solar nanowire-nanotube filter offers easy access to clean drinking water

Scientists at EPFL have developed a highly efficient water purification filter that uses only solar power. The prototype can supply clean drinking water even at remote places to small populations and can be easily scaled-up.

“In a close collaboration between chemists, physicists, and biologists, we have developed a very efficient water purification device, which does not need any energy source but sunlight,” says Forró. “Our prototype can supply clean drinking water even at remote places to small populations and could be easily scaled-up. It is a great achievement and an important “side-product” of this project is that it has attracted a large number of talented and motivated students who care for environmental issues, for sustainability”.

In their paper, published in the Nature partner journal npjClean Water, the researchers showcase a prototype of the filter and make suggestions for further improvements. “I am convinced that it will create a strong follow-up in versatile scientific communities and hopefully funding agencies,” says Endre Horváth, the lead scientist on the project.

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Source: Science Daily

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