Solar Energy, the safest and eternal of all the green energy suffers from just two drawbacks. Most of the solar cells existing do not absorb all the wavelengths of visible light and also fail to convert this little engrossed energy into electricity. Researchers at the Ohio State University headed by Prof. Malcolm Chrisholm, have created a material that can overcome these weaknesses. This new hybrid prepared by combining conductive plastic and metals like molybdenum absorbs all the visible colors and converts them more efficiently in contrast to other solar cells. Read the full story »

“Science” is always busy with its developments in every field. Every passing day sees something new being discovered. The same thing happened with professor Mazur at the Harvard laboratory. Black silicon, an improvised form of silicon was obtained by passing it through vacuum chambers along with hydrogen hexafluoride, and then treating it with ultra-short, high intensity laser. A company by the name SiOnyx has then obtained exclusive rights to the University’s portfolio of black silicon patents Read the full story »

The efficiency of an electric eel in producing electricity is commendable. This defense mechanism has now become the basis for generation of power. Scientists from Yale University have prepared an artificial model of eel’s electricity producing cells using their blue-prints. This shows the possibility of availability of a bio-battery in the future to power tiny electric devices. Read the full story »

Imagine, traveling with stored up energy at your disposal. We have to thank Echarger and their ultra-cool Solar Bags for that. Yes, the latest in energy efficient fashion accessories, these attractive bags are fitted with powerful solar panels.

So, the sun’s rays are nicely soaked up and stored in a battery which is ready to use for charging any mobile device during an emergency. Wow! Now if the dropped jaw is ready for more, well the stored up solar energy can easily be buffered for upto three months. That means, even on days when the sun is hiding behind the clouds, you can still rely on its energy.

All that said the Solar Bags do not look nerdy. In fact, the hip colors, varying styles to suit every thinkable requirement, storage space, waterproof quality make them a must-have. So next time you out camping or on a business meeting, do not fret if your mobile phone runs out of battery because Solar Bags ‘hai na’!

Via Echarger

This could be a breakthrough in technology. Researchers in the US of A have come up with a method that will give flexibility and transparency to efficient silicon-based solar cells. So much so that they can actually be wrapped around a pencil as well as used to tint windows on buildings and cars.

The technique involves processing silicon by slicing its brittle wafers into ultrathin layers and then transferring them onto a flexible surface. We have seen how the popularity of solar cells has increased many folds with the energy crisis cornering America. More and more people are willing to utilize the sun’s energy over oil.
Companies like Sharp Corp are already manufacturing thin-film solar cells but they are a little less efficient because of their rigidity. With the new breakthrough flexibility, solar cells can be easily transported.
License for the technology has been given to a new company called Semprius Inc in Durham, North Carolina.
Via tvnz

Believe it or not but even music can be eco-friendly. I am not just talking about the green lyrics but the production bit as well. Caribbean musician Turtuga Blanku creates music that is powered by the sun.

The studio that he records his blend of rock, reggae and pop is called the Green Machine and is lined with strong photovoltaic cells. These cells absorb solar energy during the day in a battery such that the studio can utilize them at night. Plus Blanku keeps the recording process very simple to make it solar power friendly. He used recording hardware only for drums, bass, guitar, piano and voice keeping the rest for software, also instrument overload is avoided. And we thought Cloud Cult had given us the greenest music.
Hats off to Blanku for giving us a rare bare music in times when digital studio experimenting is a huge fad. And must we add Blanku’s music is good what with his strong focus on well-developed guitar hooks, rhythms and beautiful piano melodies.
Via treehugger

We had been hearing of it unofficially for some time now, but finally Toshiba has come out with the actual schedule of the fuel cell-powered mobile devices. Releasing in March 2009, the new mobile devices will be equipped with a methanol fuel cell that gets charged with a dedicated cartridge. However, there will be a second built-in-Li-ion battery that will provide a strong back up.

Hear hear the cartridge can make space for around 50 ml of 99 per cent methanol which can charge a mobile phone 10 times. Priced at 700 yen, the cartridge has already become hot property but Toshiba is planning to reduce the cost price further down to 100 yen. A wise move as it will increase salability manifolds.

The big Toshiba plan is to use these fuel cells in digi cams, lappy etc as well. And the best part is, the cartridge being designed will be of a single type and will be compatible with many devices.

Via nikkei

Suniva Inc., a manufacturer of high value crystalline silicon solar cells, recently announced that its R&D team has developed several silicon solar cells with over 20% conversion efficiencies using a patented combination of simple cell designs and screen printing technologies. These high efficiency milestones have been verified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the U.S. Department of Energy’s premier laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. Following the company’s two recent customer agreements with Germany’s Solon AG and India’s Titan Energy Systems Ltd, together worth approximately USD$1 billion, this demonstrates “Suniva’s advanced technologies in diffusion, surface passivation and contacts increase conversion efficiency while reducing processing time and maintaining low cell cost.” according to Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi, its founder and CTO.

Suniva’s current ARTisun(TM) cell technology has produced a verified efficiency of 18.5% in the lab and its techniques can produce solar energy for 8 to 10 cents per KWh— a comparable price to conventional energy sources in the United States. Suniva can create a higher sheet resistance emitter as well as enhanced surface passivation dielectrics in a single high temperature step. It produces narrower screen-printed contacts on the front of the cell and a high-quality surface reflector on the back. These components, combined with improved texturing methodologies, allow it to trap light and achieve high efficiencies while keeping costs low.

Though it’s still time for long way to go before the cheap solar cells are on the market, this one is sure to be a cost-effective and environment friendly device & indeed worth being called a breakthrough in the cell technology.
Via Earth2Tech

Ever wondered if your handbag could carry more than it usually does? Do you have to choose between your cell phone charger and lip-gloss to have space in your bag? You are listening to you favourite song during a road block and your i-pod conchs off…and you don’t know what to do?
Well, for all those who have faced this and other power issues, there’s a good news. A handbag that can charge your electric gadgets while on move. Don’t believe me?

Solar bags are not a new but so far have proved to be an expensive option. From $1500 for a briefcase, to $300-$400 for a carry-on style bag, to $250 for a beach bag. All of which are fairly ugly. They grasp desperately onto some appeal factor by looking like anything you can pick up at a designer store, but end up utterly unspectacular except for the sore-thumb solar cells on the sides. Luckily, women - or men exceedingly comfortable with their sexuality - will be able to have their style and solar power too.
Cost competitive for other bags we’ve seen (though still pretty pricy), is the new Solarjo Power Purse. Coming in at $285, it’s about what someone with extra cash would spend on a fancy purse. And this one looks like something you might find at a nicer department store – in fact, it looks really stylish. The handbag, which is the brainchild of mechanical engineering student Joe Hynek, has already been well-received by eco-conscious fashion websites.

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The purse is covered in solar cells that can soak up enough sun in two hours to charge a cell phone battery. The PV cells are laminated for protection from scratches, and two batteries held in the lining of the purse hold a full charge that can last for up to a month. A USB port inside the purse can be used for charging most any small device, from phones to cameras, palm pilots to iPods. Basically, someone can just plop it on a window sill at work or some sunny location, wait for a charge, and plug in their doo-dads, all with the purse functioning exactly as a purse should – no obtrusive wires or obnoxiously geeky give-aways.

It’ll be available by the end of 2008 for people who want to flash their attachment to the green movement with something that won’t clash with their outfit. It definitely has the potential to get picked up by some hip celebrity and then they’ll go flying off shelves.

Considering it’ll cost no more than a designer bag already costs, it looks great, and you’ll get free solar power, I think this is a pretty big breakthrough in solar power fashion. Simply plug in your mobile phone, camera or iPod� -� and begin praying the sun will come out.

Via DailyMail

Hollywood actor Jamie Lee Curtis aka ‘Wanda’ has set an example to the world with her Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell car. She and her husband Christopher Guest are the second couple after Ron Yerxa and Annette Ballester to do so in Southern California. Though I must mention that the hydrogen fuel is a topic of debate but everyone will agree that Honda’s most recent fuel sedan isn’t better than the first one. However, the latest fuel car is extremely stylish with its electricity-generating fuel cell stack. Curtis herself admitted so by saying that she “wasn’t expecting the car to be so luxurious”. “I love the interior layout, design and access to controls. It is a user-friendly vehicle and is very modern,” she exclaimed happily.

While the Clarity is the first publicly available hydrogen-powered vehicle to hit the market, don’t go rushing off to buy one at your local dealership. The vehicles are only being released in Southern Cal and Japan, and there won’t be many of them available.

Via autobloggreen