Renewable Power News » Gadgets

Apple Might Soon Power Appliances with Solar Energy

Jimmy Eriksson — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 22:53:51 +0000

Recently, Apple earned their patent for the technology enabling electronic gadget to be powered with the use of solar energy.

Apply is going for solar portable devices. In 2009, Apple described how a particular system could charge portable devices with the use of solar panels. They do current hold a patent for the system which claims that one day phones, tablet, notebook computers as well as other portable devices will be charged with solar power.

The system is quite complex. It focuses on converting solar energy harnessed on solar panels into power that can be used by typical portable electronic devices. The system is able to change voltage strength into various standard current outputs. This assures that the power generated from the sun is enough or appropriate for battery recharging.

Pictorial description of the system

The patent maintained by Apple is for a technology that can either be embedded into devices or used separately. The company have been progressing steadily in field of solar powered gadgets since 2006.

Source: ZD Net

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Solar Energy Is Now Powering Portable Desalination Systems – For Clean Water

Jimmy Eriksson — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 01:11:08 +0000

A portable solar-powered desalination plant has been developed by some inventors from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This technology can help to supply clean water for people living in poorer countries.

Solar panels are used to provide the energy necessary to power the desalination system and for a reverse osmosis filtration system – which is responsible for the extraction of particles such as salt from the water. – This makes ocean water drinkable.

Professor Steven Dubowsky the leader of the MIT team has assured that the system is construed to be energy efficient as well as portable.

The focus has been to develop a user-friendly system which is accessible and suitable for everyone. A computer algorithm is integrated to the solar photovoltaic arrays to maximise the potential power that can be generated from the sun. The solar energy generated helps to desalinate or to clean dirty water through the membrane layers of the plant. The structure of the plant is basically construed with PVC pipes.

The solar powered desalination system is still in an early phase of design. However, the team is already envisaging the larger structure of the solar module to handle water shortages, in case of climate change and other natural or man-made disasters.

Obtaining, clean water for small villages, farming operations, and to remote areas such as the desert, are often quite costly in the developing world. However, this project is focusing on a logic solution to provide clean water, generated through a “solar power and reverse osmosis module”. The team says that design and portability of this plant is assured. Now supply of clean energy can be provided through a smart solution.

Source: Energy Matters

http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=1121

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Motorcycles Powered by Compressed Air

Jimmy Eriksson — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:06:11 +0000

The typical motorcycles used in the world of today, has an engine that burns gasoline. This source of power emits greenhouse gas and therefore, negatively contributes to environmental pollution.

Two Scientists in India have found a ground-breakthrough. They have designed a cleaner motorcycle engine: an engine using compressed air to rotate a small air turbine. The power generated is sufficient to power the motorcycle for around 40 minutes.

A previous issue of the Journal of Renewable & Sustainable Energy described the design of the engine. The compressed air cylinder could be a suitable substitute for the conventional combustion engine. Motorcycles powered by compressed air cylinders could reduce carbon emission tremendously, especially in regions where motorcycles are primarily used as public transportation.

One of the authors, Bharat Raj Singh, from SMS Institute of Technology in Lucknow, India, says that in some regions carbon emission could decline by up to 50 to 60 percent with this new clean technology. However, there are a few technical obstacles that need to be addressed. A major hurdle is to design high-capacity air tanks, which would provide adequate “fuel” to allow long rides.

The current inefficient tanks would require one to swap tank every 30 Km. The low-efficiency of the tanks is a major factor making compressed air engines cumbersome. The development of a high capacity air tank would render this innovative compressed air cylinder engine a stupendous solution to decreased greenhouse emission.

Source: Escience News and American Institute of Physics

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Selecting The Proper Solar Panel Mounts For Your Array

Richard Nelson — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 06:00:02 +0000

Using the proper solar panel mounting device is vital to how well your solar unit works. The quantity of power you produce is dependent on the amount of sunlight your PV panels can absorb and this is where your choice of mounts is important.

What it boils down to is if you want the most efficiency from your solar power system, it is crucial that you have the proper type of mounts.

A primary concern when you build or buy solar power mounts is their durability, the ideal is they must stand up to a few years of wear and tear and exposure to all types of weather conditions.

What Are Solar Mounting Devices Made Of?

There are generally four choices: aluminum, stainless steel, angle iron or wood. Depending on which variety you go with your budget and location will come into play. For instance, aluminum is a lightweight material and it is easy to work with and weld. Additionally, it is a hardscrabble material and it holds up well against corrosion. It can however be an expensive way to proceed.

Stainless steel is likely your most costly option and can d be difficult to work with. On the other hand it is extremely resilient capable of withstanding various climate conditions and inclement weather.

Angle iron is also simple to manipulate and one of the cheapest of the materials, though the downside is it will suffer from corrosion faster than the other types if conditions are sodden.

When it comes to the option of wood, it is the least expensive choice and it can be found everywhere. However, it responds poorly to inclement weather and adverse conditions so it must be treated and maintained to keep its stability or you need to replace it often.

What Does Wind Load Mean?

Based on how you position your solar panels, your mounting device will be under pressure thanks to the wind. This force is called wind load and it must be considered when you decide upon a material for your mount and how it is built.

You could speak with a contractor to determine the wind load. You should always err on the side of caution when it comes to this point. Think about the worst case scenario you might experience in your region and decide how to proceed from there.

Will A Tracker Be Necessary?

Just like it sounds, a tracker follows the sun and adapts the solar panel I the proper manner. What this does is make sure your solar panels are always capturing as much sunlight as possible. Should you determine a tracker is the way to go, you would do well to choose one that does not use too much juice of its own!

For instance, a single axis tracking unit might be capable of better efficiency. Furthermore, it is vital to that the tracker be properly attached and secure.

Where Do You Put The Mounts?

You are probably used to seeing solar panels installed on rooftops; understand though that this is not your only choice for mounting. In point of fact, when you install panels on your roof you risk causing leaks. Hence, it may be better to mount the panels near the ground or on a pedestal or pole. This will mean using more space but it could well be your best decision.

Before you rush to purchase your solar power panel mounting device, figure out where you want them placed, with the most direct sunlight, using the most suitable material for your needs.

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Myth Buster 5 – Solar Panels Use The Sun’s Heat To Generate Power

Carl Joseph — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 06:42:29 +0000

Whenever there is a new technology available that can universally alter our way of life there is bound to be some misinformation that enters mainstream media and sticks as truth. One of these myths is that solar power is generated using heat from the sun. This is not true so let us have a look at the facts and bust this myth.

Things Are Heating Up!

One can understand why some think that the sun’s heat is responsible for generating electricity since conventional electricity production s based on burning fuel for power. There really are in fact two types of solar power panels, and one certainly does use heat. This is referred to as a solar hot water panel, solar thermal panel or solar collector.

This variety of solar panel uses the heat from the sun to heat up water, it is then transferred within the tubes to the building it is mounted on to service the place with hot water and heat. Solar thermal panels are on the large side and somewhat cumbersome [dark, shallow, rectangular box like units approximately eight feet long by four feet, normally attached to the roof of the building being supplied in a grouping, which combined is known as a solar hot water heater. For years now these panel systems have been used for residential water heating. However, these are not the usual solar panels that generate electricity.

Light It Up

The solar panels attached to roofs that are most evident are flat narrow panels used to produce electricity and are called photovoltaic panels or PV panels, that do in fact use the sun’s light and not its heat to produce electricity. The name photovoltaic means the way by which packets of sunlight, called photons, are transformed by solar cells into electricity. This is known as the “photovoltaic effect” and was first revealed by Frenchman Edmund Becquerel. He realized that when silicon was exposed to sunlight, a tiny electrical charge was produced.

Solar Power Today

This power and light revelation evolved into developing solar cells made from silicon and then connected together to make up a panel. A number of these panels are combined to form an array and the power required is generated, enough to supply all or some of a home’s electrical need.

Subsequently, though solar panels are available that use the heat from the sun, they are not the same panel that people envision when they picture a solar panel to generate electricity. When someone considers using solar panels for electricity, they generally do so to eliminate or decrease their electricity bill. Nevertheless, if you have the sunshine available to provide both the heat for your hot water and the sunlight for electricity, you should really being taking advantage of both solar power systems to save money.

Power rates are increasing steadily with no retreat in sight so utilizing a renewable and free source of power like the sun only makes sense. The more money you save, the quicker you will recoup your initial costs and you’ll be helping to save to environment!

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Solar Power For Your Home Is Much More Simple Than You Thought

Carl Joseph — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 08:25:09 +0000

Nothing better than a homespun solution to life’s problems. This is true when it comes to our environment and the damage we continue to inflict on it. There are things we can do to aid in reducing the amount of green house gas emitted and individually we can make a difference. At home, it is possible to lower our carbon footprint by producing our own homemade power resource.

Since drilling an oil well in our backyard is out of the question, nuclear power is not going to be viable, the simplest way we can do this today is by utilizing the sun’s energy and installing solar power. If we use our own tools and perhaps even some spare parts we already have, we can make a difference at home.

How great would it be if we could transform our home into a generator of power rather than a user of power? It is possible to use solar power, capturing direct sunlight with a photovoltaic cell panel along with an inverter to produce our own electricity at home. There are some details to consider like how much sunlight we receive, and from which direction it lands on our home, but these are mere details.

Can you imagine the difference we could make in the world if every individual homeowner that had sunlight raining down on their roof, placed a single solar panel down to trap the energy? The change it would mean to the world would be earth saving in its magnitude.

There is little doubt the world needs our help. Cities are sinking by gradual rising water, Animals are becoming extinct, glaciers are actually disappearing and this is all a result of our planet getting warmer. If we do not collectively and individually begin to take some serious measures to relieve the planet of the burden placed upon it by burning fossil fuel, we will all be sorry. Enough pontificating though since there are things we CAN do to help.

The sun is beginning to cause disruption on the planet but it can also be harnessed as a form of renewable energy, becoming our solution to global warming. With a bit of do it yourself ingenuity, some tools and some basic education about solar power installation and we will transform the sun into our own personal power source. Eventually you can begin to charge your own utility company for excess power you produce!

Instead of thinking big, think small and scalable. The chief obstacle to converting to solar power for many is the initial set up cost of an overall conversion. Until the idea gains in popularity, the costs will be on the high side – but do not let that stop you. For a small investment in a DIY solar kit and starting out with a very affordable single solar panel, you will be able to see for yourself what the excitement is all about. While installing one or two solar panels may seem a waste of time, it will get you started using the technology.

You will still be able to utilize this power source for small electrical devices or perhaps some outdoor lighting. At the same time, you will be learning about the solar power system and as you can afford it, the potential to scale up from a small array to an even larger on now becomes much easier to do.

By simply putting your thoughts toward change means, you can make it happen. With further creative thought, you will be able to come upon more ways to utilize your new source of renewable power. With just a small investment and some collective or individual will, we can begin to make a steady change in how we energize our home. This plan would make a great project for a family to employ as a fantastic learning experience together.

The result will be a cleaner environment, a better and cleaner example will be set for all who witness your unit in action and your children will have a new appreciation for your commitment to their future. Homemade power is as simple as a single solar power and an inverter. You will also have exclusivity on all the bragging rights!

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Experiment With Home Solar Power Using These Novel Methods

Henry Andrew — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 07:54:08 +0000

If you are currently on the fence about jumping into solar power for your home, it might be a good idea to take a look at some interesting uses for solar power around your home.

There are likely few better feelings than when you see your electric meter running backwards, feeding power into the grid instead drawing from it. There is something very practical about getting your energy needs from the sun and the money you ultimately save is something special. Solar power has been around long enough that most of us know we can power our home appliances and keep our lights on with it but that is only part of its capability. When you get creative with your solar thinking, you will be able to truly capitalize on your saving ability for your home.

• Pool and hot tub – your choices are many when it comes to pools and hot tubs that feature solar powered heating options. They utilize a solar power system along with the gas or electric unit, r it is able to power the entire process of heating on its own. You can also set up a solar power heating system on your existing pool and hot tub as well. Things have come a long way since passive heating with a bubble cover. Why would somebody pay to heat a pool or hot tub when the sunshine is free!

• Outside lighting – using solar power to light up your backyard for entertaining and casual use will cut your considerable costs for outdoor illumination. You can install patio lighting, pathway lights, porch lighting, the uses are limited by your imagination alone. Your outdoor solar lighting does not have to be an expensive venture into solar, many a priced reasonably.

Though solar batteries were limited to reduced wattage lighting just a few years ago, technology has progressed and entirely altered that situation. You can now purchase solar powered battery lighting that will give you significant flood light capability.

• Use solar power passive heating storage tubes to elevate temperature. The innovativeness of these greenhouse fiberglass tubes is amazing and will decrease your heating bills to manageable levels in the winter months. The tubes appear as pillars but are in fact hollow. When filled with water the capture and store heat sunlight that radiates within a room filling it with heat. They need to be exposed to the sunlight continually.

• Solar power water heating is available for a tiny portion of actual conventional water heating. It can also be installed much less expensively than setting up an entire solar powered home system. Heating your water using the sun’s rays is a natural solution and quite affordable. It is also a wonderful way to stick your toe into solar power to see for yourself what all the excitement is about at very little expense.

• You can utilize solar power to energize your electronic gadgets. Solar power charging units are becoming popular ways to save on battery expense and add convenience to charging capabilities. You can also purchase electronics that are already solar powered. These would include solar power blue tooth headsets, cell phones, and digital music players. Solar powered radios come in handy during power emergencies like blackouts etc.

If you always wanted to try your hand at solar power but did not know where to begin, you can try some of these less expensive solar power options first and prove to yourself that a future investment in solar power is the correct thing for you to do. Solar power is the perfect alternate energy source for residential property, saving you money and adding value to your home. Now you can test it in small ways around your home and enjoy the green revolution doing your small part.

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Myth Buster # 4 – Utility Line Workers Put At Risk Due To Grid-Tied Photovoltaics

Henry Andrew — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 08:56:54 +0000

Skepticism abounds where solar energy is concerned and such cynicism leads to a many untruths and unreliable information. One fable that exists despite its being dispelled often is the one concerning the safety of utility workers. It concerns how that safety is at risk when they are called upon to operate in contact with grid – tied photovoltaic systems. It is a pervasive myth but a fable nonetheless.

What Constitutes The Danger?

When the debate about line worker safety is broached, what specifically seems to be at issue is the inverter or the apparatus that changes the direct current [DC] electricity generated by the solar panels into residential alternating current [AC] electricity.

The use of alternating current is the most popular type of electricity due to it being simpler to transfer for long ranges, and because of this, the majority of today’s appliances and electrical devices are built to work with alternating current or AC.

Direct current [AC] and DC, direct current are actually incompatible, so a way of switching DC to AC is required to connect the two, therefore an inverter is used.

What Makes Up The Inverter?

Why is it called an inverter and not a converter? A reasonable question and really that is what the job of an inverter is, converting DC power to AC power and that is the precise reason why it is named an inverter rather than converter. The IEEE or [Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers] defined the inverter as meaning a system, machine or device that changes direct current into alternating current electricity. The inverter then has a basic functionality of converting DC power from a PV system and battery array [to store only the DC power] used to store off – grid power and grid – tied units with battery backup energy. This AC power can then be sent back to the grid or used for energizing AC loads.

Varieties Of Inverters

There are three kinds of inverters available. The square wave, modified square wave and sine wave. Square wave inverters supply very limited power for small uses. Modified square wave inverters can supply bigger transfers and can easily handle a broad range of loads but can mean certain issues arise with various devices like clocks and microwaves that use digital timing units – they operate fast or slow – as well as the battery packs of cordless tools.

Sine wave inverters wind up as the most popular choice for inverters and are used frequently in home solar power units. This is because they generate negligible amounts of harmonic distortion and will operate with the most delicate bits of equipment. This is also the lone inverter variety that can be utilized with grid-tied systems.

Safety First

Inverters are provided with the most safeguards of any piece of apparatus in the entire home solar power system. They must undergo certification by most of the identical organizations responsible for regulating many appliances. They are obligated by the IEEE, UL and NEC to automatically disengage from the grid when under particular conditions, like an inverter break down, power outages, voltage irregularities, and the like. The inverters do not simply come with built in safety controls but when operating near PV electric arrays utility workers are taught to be quite safety conscious. As well, when line workers conduct their line maintenance they are called upon to ground any conductors that are located in the inverters, thus supplying an extra covering of security while working with inverters.

There are numerous homes that utilize generators to supply electricity into homes during a blackout. When they are not equipped with the right transfer switch, the generator could send electricity back into the grid causing very high voltage surges. When this occurs, the result can be fatal for line workers and is the primary reason why the line workers have such intensive training in safety precautions.

The Record Says It All

The record of safety where inverters are concerned is optimal in the industry so it is a safe bet that in ensuing years they will become an established and typical bit of the residential electrical units. The line workers and utility personnel come face to face with many hazardous situations as a part of their job description but the inverters and grid – tied photovoltaics certainly is not part of that dangerous work. The perceived danger is a myth!

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DIY Solar Power Systems – Take Control Over Your Power Bill And Save Thousands!

Henry Andrew — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 07:31:33 +0000

The cost of electricity is rising by exorbitant numbers and there is little likelihood it will be cut back. Once it goes up it usually stays there. We are literally at the mercy of the politicos and power utilities as long as we are hooked up to the grid. If you look at the numbers – closely – and with power rates increasing by as much as twenty percent in certain cases, the average power costs over time are astronomical.

Personally, after some quick calculating, I figured out that by continually paying the electric bill consistently over the next two decades, I will have paid out more than $45,000.00 without and rate adjustment upward.

Little wonder I decided to look into alternative forms of electricity. It’s a fact that in the US the average power bill works out to about $110.00 per month and that number is rising. If we blindly continue to pay the utility power company for electricity, we will have no one to blame but ourselves for the ridiculous amount of money we pay out for our energy usage. There are solutions to this strangulating burden.

Residential DIY Solar Power

It is possible to save those thousands of bucks in power rates if we set up our own home made solar power energy unit. That may sound challenging but in fact it is quite a simple process almost anyone can do.

How It Works

• There is all sorts of information on the internet that instructs you on how to install a homemade solar power system. You can simply download a solar power DIY guide and it will tell you what you need to know to construct a power unit, where to find the material resources, instruction videos for installation and how to link up with the power grid in your area. Many will also give you step by step info to apply for government incentives to alleviate some of the expense of building a solar system. The object of a DIY install is to save as much money as you can and these guides will assist with that.

• When the unit is set up and operating you will e able to power your daily lifestyle, including electrical devices, appliances, lighting etc and save on your power bill dramatically.

• There is even more good news though. As you utilize your homemade electricity, your DIY unit will transfer any unused excess power back to your local power utility in an arrangement known as Net Metering. As long as you are still connected to the grid you have the peace of mind knowing the electric company is there for backup power and the coolest thing is that the power company will pay you for the additional overflow power your unit sends to the grid.

• It also need to be said that you will be doing your share by protecting the fragile environment by consuming your own generated renewable power.

Only the individual knows if their situation is conducive to supporting a homemade solar power system, it might not be suitable for some. The investment may be out of reach or your home is not located in a good solar region. You need to investigate further.
There is hope against the ridiculous costs of utility electric power from the grid. Think about building your own renewable power unit, save money and aid the environment. What could possibly be a more winning situation? You have the power of choice so use it.

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How To Buy The Right Solar Panels For Your Project

Richard Nelson — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 09:07:45 +0000

More people than ever are considering a purchase of solar power systems for home or even at their businesses. Solar energy converted to electricity is a marvelous method of satisfying your electrical requirements. As exciting as this relatively new source of energy is, few people really know much about it or how to purchase solar panels.
Any of us understand that solar panels collect the sun’s rays to generate electricity but we are neophytes when it comes to choosing the panels we need to generate the power we require.

Let’s have a quick look at choosing the correct solar array for our particular solar power project.

How Do Solar Panels Function?

Solar panels operate via the photovoltaic response to sunlight; this is why they are usually called PV cells or panels. This photovoltaic process was first seen in the 1800s when a French researcher named Edmund Becquerel realized that as particles of light landed on specific materials, like silicon, a small electrical current was produced.

Over time and some refining, this process evolved to the place it is at currently, and today’s solar cell panels are engineered to generate a considerable amount of power. The cells are linked with each other to make a solar panel and when a few of these are placed together you have a solar array that can produce meaningful amounts of solar power to charge your home and devices.

What Kind Of Solar Panels Are Available?

There are three main types of solar panels on the market for commercial use – monocrystalline, polycrystalline and amorphous.

Each of these has its own benefits and shortfalls. Monocrystalline cells are designed from single crystal silicon and have the highest efficiency ratio per panel – they are also the most costly variety. Polycrystalline cells are made with particles of single crystal silicon and are less costly than the mono type, however, they are not as efficient. Amorphous cells or thin film cells are produced by introducing non-crystalline silicon on to a surface like plastic or metal. This kind is the least expensive and also the least efficient.

What Type Of Solar Panel Should I Purchase?

You should consider several points when choosing the right solar panel for your needs. Much is based upon your bank account size and the dimensions of the solar power unit you want to install for your electricity requirements. Another factor to consider is how much available space you have to affix the panels.

Though you might have two solar panels the same size, the power they generate may be quite different. This depends on their age, their type, and the quality of the solar cells utilized when they were engineered and built. Newer solar panels could be the same as the older model panels, but because of technical advancements, will quite likely be more efficient.

The thin film kind of panel – the amorphous type – remain the least expensive option on the market but because of their known inefficiency, more will be required to generate your electricity needs and this means you will need to utilize more of your space to install them which could be a logistical issue.

Therefore, the smartest principle to exercise when purchasing solar panels is to measure cost per watt and for your best value, you should be paying about four dollars per watt. Therefore, for one hundred watts of power [buying a 100 watt module – or panel] you will pay four hundred dollars, or somewhere in that vicinity would be fair.

Conversely, if you have no problem finding the space to install your system, your better option would be to buy solar panels utilizing the older technologies if the price is less and they still satisfy your requirements. They do the job just fine and save you money though they require more space.

Because the solar panels are the costliest portion of your photovoltaic system, its significant to understand what it is you are paying for and how much it is going to cost you. With any fortune, you are now in a better position to buy solar panels now, then you were before reading this article and you have the confidence to buy the right solar equipment.

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