Category:Solar

Energy production methods that convert sunlight into electricity, photovoltaic and solar thermal. Thermal can also heat water and air for domestic use. See also Energy page

Solar

Energy democracy: Three ways to bring solar to the masses (nice overview current situation, including community mini-grids) 9/12.

Solar plane attempts transcontinental flight in preparation for world trip. 5/12

Plant based solar energy. Scientists at Vanderbilt University are using proteins found in spinach to generate solar power. (audio) 9/12.

Google's Green Energy Czar on Solar Thermal Energy (video).

Solar thermal to heat houses (videos).

Japan's new solar R&D park. also images.

Freeing energy from the grid Justin Hall-Tipping (TEDtalk).

Solar cooker text and audio 8/11.

UCBerzerkeley is building an artificial leaf, a super-efficient solar power source. (Audio) 11/10.

3D map shows NYC solar potential video 7/11.

Earth Policy Institute overview/stats/status Link.

MIT researchers have discovered an inexpensive way to harness and store the sun's energy. The new technology only needs 5 liters of water, 4 hours of sun and a 16 x 20 foot array of solar panels to produce 30 kilowatt hours of electricity. That's enough to power a four-person household all day—and night.

After 55 years of development, photovoltaic electric generation is at a historic moment as it transitions from a niche technology to a significant source of clean, carbon-free energy. Swanson discusses the promise of photovoltaic solar energy, policy issues needed to meet this promise, and how the industry is addressing these challenges. video 10/09.

Photovoltaic electricity explained (video from Beyond the Light Switch documentary)

Scientific American's Musser explains how he installed PV. (video)

Thin Film solar shingles, the future? (video from Beyond the Light Switch documentary)

California - Carbon = A Cleaner World? GOVERNOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER. Recorded Sep 24 2009 Link audio (free Realplayer download required).

The New Gridlock: Los Angeles may be facing a new kind of gridlock; not on the road, but on the electrical grid. 3/09

Solar Realities: This two-part series explores the issues, opportunities and challenges surrounding solar power in California.

SAVED BY THE SUN - The State of the Union for Solar Energy webinar by creators of Nova program. Quicktime video. 2010

Solar Incentive US map, Oregon's pilots of a solar highway (and other useful graphs and info)

Paul MacCready flies on solar wings 2010 update

The QinetiQ Zephyr unmanned solar plane has just shattered the world record for unmanned long duration flight by completing two weeks of non-stop flight at Yuma, Arizona, easily passing the previous official 30 hour record set back in 2001 by Northrop Grumman's RQ-4A Global Hawk. QinetiQ is a UK defence and research company that designed the Zephyr to be ultra-light, so light in fact that it is launched by five people holding it above their heads and trotting down the runway until the plane develops sufficient lift.

Bill Gross, the founder of Idealab, talks about his life as an inventor, starting with his high-school company selling solar energy plans and kits. Learn here about a groundbreaking system for solar cells -- and some questions we haven't yet solved.

solar furnace melts steel (and incinerates hot dogs) video.

In 1979 President Carter tried to move America off of oil dependence. Part of this was install solar panels on the White House. These were removed by President Reagan. video. See also Documentary and Trailer

Solar water heaters made from plastic soda bottles video