Solar Power

Solar Spacecraft to Launch in 2010

lightsail
The Planetary Society is planning to launch a solar-propelled space craft in 2010 after its first attempt landed in the ocean four years ago.

The LightSail-1 would run on the pressure of light hitting its four triangular-shaped Mylar sails.  The society sees the project as a way to achieve long space flights with slow, continuous acceleration that eventually leads to high speeds.  The society's executive director imagines flights of many years reaching speeds of 100,000 mph where the craft could leave the solar system in five years instead of 25.

The spacecraft will be composed of three Cubesats, small cubes that contain the electronics and controls modules and the sails.  When the craft hits the target altitude the sails will unfurl to resemble a kite.  The LightSail-1 will "piggyback" on another mission's rocket (the exact one is yet to be determined) and then orbit at an altitude of around 500 miles for a few days to test sunlight as a means of propulsion.

If it's successful, the society plans to launch LightSails 2 and 3 for longer and farther missions.  The 2010 launch will cost almost $2 million and will be privately funded.

via AP

Images via Planetary Society
 

Solar Projects Battling for Water

cali-solar-water
Construction of renewable energy projects has revealed some serious environmental issues that will have to be dealt with as we speed toward a clean energy future.  We recently wrote about the conflict between land conservation efforts and renewable energy projects in deserts out west.  Land that is ideal for solar energy production is also pristine land in need of protection.

In California, a similar conflict is arising between solar projects and water conservation.  Solar farms demand a lot of water, a resource that is stretched very thin in the arid areas where they're being developed.  A large solar farm can use upwards of 500 million gallons of water a year for cooling purposes and there are currently 35 big projects slated for development in California desert.

A "dry cooling" technique exists that uses 90 percent less water than "wet cooling," but it's more expensive and reduces the efficiency of the solar plant.  Even so, some plants are giving in and going the dry route.

Solar plants are fighting with state regulators to get the water they need.  Some are succeeding, while others are failing.  Just with land conservation, there doesn't seem to be one right side here.  Ideally, a new technique for cooling will be developed that doesn't require large amounts of water or a dip in efficiency.

via Green Inc.

 

Dell Plants Solar Trees in the Parking Lot

dellparkinglotDell is doing it again, this time on-site, with a series of solar trees that will not only help power it's headquarters in Round Rock, Texas, but also serve to charge electric vehicles parked there. Of course, there aren't currently any electric vehicles parking in the Dell lot, but hopefully that will change in the next few years.

The solar trees were put in place by Envision Solar, who's work we've seen at Google Headquarters previously.The Dell installation will provide 130,000 kW/h per year and shades the parking spots of the 56 employees who get to the lot first. Everyone else gets punished for being late by having to park in the sun.

The project uses more than Envision's technology though. The charging points are provided by Coulomb Technologies while the solar panels themselves were manufactured by BP Solar. All together, they made themselves (and Dell) a pretty sexy-looking parking lot. Hopefully we'll see a lot more of these in the future.

Via Jetson Green

 

Dow Introduces Stealth Solar Shingles

solar-shingles
This week Dow Chemical Company joined the ranks of companies trying to make renewable energy both practical and visually pleasing.  The company introduced its POWERHOUSE Solar Shingle this week and, I have to say, I'm impressed.  The new shingles almost seemlessly blend in with asphalt shingles, providing you with solar power without the possibility of offending your neighbors.

The advantages to these solar panels go beyond aesthetics - they can be installed by a regular roofing contractor along with, or in place of, traditional shingles, and, although specific pricing hasn't been released, they will reportedly be around 30 - 40 percent cheaper than other rooftop solar PV systems.

The CIGS cells operate above 10 percent efficiency and the solar panel system will be available in small quantities by the middle of next year with a bigger roll-out by 2011.

via Jetson Green

 

Google Developing Own Solar Thermal Technology

google-solar-thermal
If you don't like how something's done, do it yourself.  Google is taking that idea to heart when it comes to solar thermal technology.  The company has been disappointed with the progress in this sector, so it's developing its own mirror technology that will supposedly make solar energy cheaper by at least half.

Google is experimenting with different materials for making the mirrors, trying to find an efficient and cheaper solution.  The company wants to cut the cost solar thermal installations by half, but hopefully by 66 - 75 percent.  Currently, a 250-MW solar thermal installation produces energy at a rate of about 12 - 14 cents/kWh.  The company would like to develop a product that would lower that cost to 5 cents or less per kWh.

The company is planning on having a prototype ready for internal presentation within the next couple of months.  Then they will perform aggressive testing to make sure the technology can withstand decades of wear.

Google is also working to develop a gas turbine that would run on solar power instead of natural gas that could lower electricity costs even further.

via Reuters
 
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