The precious commodity water

ScienceDaily (Sept. 10, 2010) - water is a valuable resource that is why the Fraunhofer Alliance SysWasser demonstrates how we can extract precious drinking water from the air, discover a leak in pipeline systems and even effectively clean sanitation at the IFAT Entsorga fair (September 13-17 in Munich).

As the General of Assembly on 28 July this year clean drinking water and basic sanitation are resolved Menschenrechte.Leider there is more than a billion people around the world have no access to drinking water, while more than 2.6 billion people without sanitary systems at all life - this is more than a third of the world population.

Not only that water is an outstanding economic factor because agriculture and industry consume more than four-fifths of this precious commodity these days.A United Nations study indicates that in future water importantly policy.this because strategically than oil, why 14 Fraunhofer institutes in the Fraunhofer Alliance SysWasser to use come together with sustainable water system technologies be unveiling "Research for tomorrow's water use" in Hall A4, stand 302 201 the IFAT Entsorga fair.

Drinking water from the air

Drinking water can extract be from moisture in the air, even in the desert or in the Middle a megacity which is a technology developed by Fraunhofer required.the possible principle behind a saline solution, a tower-shaped system runs and absorbs water from the air. The hygroscopic brine is then pumped into a tank that stands a few meters tall and contains a vacuum.Then energy from solar panels condenses the brine is heated and verdunsteten salt free water brine is about a distillation Brücke.Die focused again and flows on the surface of the tower to absorb moisture in the air.

This process is based exclusively on renewable energy sources such as simple solar collectors and photovoltaic cells, which means that this method is totally energy self-sufficient. This means that it in areas functions where there no electrical infrastructure. This process is particularly suitable for the production of drinking water in arid and semi-arid areas where more water evaporates as precipitation falls.

Managing drinking water systems

How can we work best drinking water supply systems?There are leaks in the line system? HydroDyn management solution developed the researchers at the Fraunhofer together with drinking water suppliers, answers to these questions to give first of all, that collects drinking water system and modeled in the computer because that is the best way to find the optimal operational regime for these systems, or plan, such as schemes to extend over, the system can automatically locate leaks. This is the reason why this solution already in Mongolia, Libya and Saudi Arabia and at the Faculty is used for plants in several German cities.

Tracking down leaks

"There is a specific part of our precious water that gets to the consumer because of the leaking pipes and rust and instead it seeps into the ground unused.""Intelligent" probes that are check lines indoor track one of the ways Schaden.Risse or damage due to corrosion in the pipes can be localized with long-range ultrasonic waves, and these systems are ideal for fresh water and waste water pipes as well as for pipelines.

Diamonds clean wastewater

Diamond coated electrodes make it possible clean water without Chemie.Die idea is that hydroxyl radical in the water on electrodes coated with conductive diamonds formed rights.the highly effective oxidizing agents destroyed all substances that contain carbon, i.e. the organic pollution load of solvents to bacteria and pesticides.The only things that remain are harmless salts and carbon dioxide as gases to escape.This is how we can produce germ-free water without any problems.Researchers will demonstrate how this technique on your exhibition stand am Beispiel textile dye indigo Carmine works because the discolored water color in an electrochemical cell with diamond electrodes can be easily removed.

Money saving disposal

Heavy metals, cyanide salts, solvents and complex chemical connections-has eliminated heavily polluted waste water from the metallurgical or pressure constantly as hazardous waste in a costly process sending problem is the fact that pollution is strongly diluted with the share of water, sometimes as less than 90% and still mehr.Das makes it very expensive to entsorgen.Dies is why scientists at the Fraunhofer modular vacuum evaporation process have developed a low cost, where wastewater thickened in a vacuum at temperatures can waste water approx. 40 °-50 ° c required.the easily heats with waste or solar heat and desalinized water can be reused in the production.

More biogas from sewage sludge

More than 10,000 wastewater treatment plants clean the contaminated water from households, factories and restaurants in Deutschland.Das is clean water again in the rivers and Lakes released, and is the only thing that remains the use of Kl?rschlamm.Forscher at the Fraunhofer have engaged in a process to reduce the size and the mass of sewage sludge with a part of sludge with ultrasound and then mechanically zerfiel.Die deliver residues are processed in this way more biogas, which means that you are more easily drained can. this new process has been applied successfully to sewage treatment plants.

These and other solutions for sustainable water supply to your booth are researchers at the Fraunhofer werden.In presents addition the Fraunhofer water systems Alliance "Research for tomorrow's water use" in a seminar 4 pm presented September 16 in the Forum Hall B1.

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The reports contain global investments and other trends in green energy

ScienceDaily (July 15, 2010) – in 2009 for the second year in a row, both in the US and Europe added makes more capacity from renewable energy sources like wind and solar, as conventional sources such as coal, gas and nuclear, according to twin reports today by the programme of the United Nations and the renewable energy policy network for the 21st century (REN21) in life launched.

Renewable energy accounted for 60 percent of newly installed capacity in Europe and more than 50 percent in the United States in the year 2009.Dieses year or next, experts predict that will add more capacity of electricity supply from renewable as non-renewable sources world as a whole.

Reports contain attracted the attention of investors and Governments in various regions of the world trends in the global green energy sector including what sources.

You say, investments in core clean energy (new renewables, biofuels and energy efficiency) decreased by 7% in the year 2009, US Dollar.Viele sub-sectors, dropped 162 billion invested in the money, including large utility scale solar power and biofuels.However, there was record investment in Windenergie.Wenn for solar water heaters spend, as well as total installation costs for roof solar PV, total has actually increased investments in 2009 in 2009, against the economic trend.

New private and public investment in clean energy core 53 percent in China jumped 37 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity in the year 2009.China added, more than any other country.

Globally, nearly 80 GW of renewable energy capacity has been added including 31 GW of hydropower and 48 GW non - hydro - capacity.

2009 China surpassed the United States as the country with the largest investments in clean energy.China's wind farm development was the strongest investment feature of the year by far although it makes other areas of strength, worldwide in 2009, in particular North Sea offshore wind investment and finance storage and electric vehicle technology companies.

Wind energy and solar PV additions to reach record high of 38 GW and 7 GW respectively.Totals in utility-scale solar PV sunk investments compared with 2008, partly as a result of the big drop in the cost of solar PV.Dieser was investment in small decline by record (roof) - compensated solar PV projects.

The reports also show that countries with policies promoting heute-- half - of which have doubled renewable energy from 55 in 2005 more than 100 in the Entwicklungsl?ndern-and rapid growth of the sector have played a critical role.

Reports the sister UNEP's global trends in sustainable energy investment 2010 and the REN21's renewables 2010 global status report, published by Under-Secretary-General Achim Steiner, UNEP's Executive Director and Mohamed El-Ashry, Chairman of the REN21.The UNEP report was London Bloomberg new energy finance vorbereitet.Der REN21 report produced by a team of authors in collaboration with a global network of research partners.

The UNEP report focuses itself on the global trends in sustainable energy investment, cover, the renewable energy and energy efficiency. REN21 report offers a broad look at the status of renewable energy, which today worldwide power regeneration, heating and cooling and transport fuels, and draws the landscape of policies and objectives introduced around the world to promote renewable energy.

Mr Steiner says: "the sustainable energy investment story of 2009 was one of resistance, frustration and determination. resistance to the financial downturn of all sectors of the global economy and frustration during the UN Climate Convention meeting in Copenhagen was not the major breakdown that could have occurred, neither it was meeting was was the big break which gave so many erhofft.Noch determination to transform many industry actors and Governments, especially in emerging markets, the financial and economic crisis into an opportunity for greener growth."

"It remains however a serious gap between the ambition and science where the world in 2020 must be dangerous climate change to vermeiden.Aber underlining these five years of research that this gap is not irreconcilable ist.In of fact, renewable energy systematically and persistently against the trends and can play its role in implementing a carbon resource efficient green economy when increasingly difficult market sends Government policy signals to investors," he added.

Mr El-Ashry says: "favorable policies, the now in more than 100 countries have policy efforts are needed instrumental in the renewable energy before recently played. the upward trend of renewables continue growth power of the global now to the next level and promote massive renewable technologies."

Michael Liebreich, Chief Executive of Bloomberg new energy finance says: "during the current economic downturn shows relatively robust performance of the sector, no bubble was clean energy created by the late stages of the credit boom, but instead is an investment theme that will remain important for the coming years."

2009 Represented renewable sources:

25 Percent of the global power (electricity) capacity (1,230 gigawatts (GW) of 4,800 GW-total, all sources, including coal, gas, nuclear) 18 percent of the global makes production60 percent of newly installed makes capacity in Europe and more than 50 percent in the United States; the world as a whole should 50 percent or more in the newly installed makes capacity from renewable energy sources to reach in 2010 or 2011.

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To force non-matching items together, yield better solar cells

ScienceDaily (Sept. 8, 2010) - in what could be a step of to higher efficiency solar cells, an international team to explain the most common model the behavior of a unique class of materials, including the University of Michigan professors that high matching alloy gave invalid.

High mismatched alloys that are combinations of elements, which of course is mixed with conventional crystal growth Techniken.Professor Rachel Goldman compares you to some extent to homogenized milk, still in an experimental stage of development where the high fat cream and low-fat milk, which of course would separate are forced together to mix at high pressure.

Researchers are new methods, such as "molecular beam epitaxy" mix to combine this disparate elements.The results, Goldman says, are more dramatic than smooth milk.

"" Not matching High alloys have very unusual properties,"Goldman said.""You can add an item to only a pinch and drastically change the electrical and optical properties of the alloy."

Goldman is Professor in the departments of physics, materials science and engineering.Other U-M physicists and engineers and researchers from Tyndall National Institute in Ireland include your team.

Solar cells convert energy from the sun into electricity by absorbing light. However, different materials absorb light at different Wellenl?ngen.Die most efficient solar cells consist of several materials that can capture a larger part of electromagnetic radiation in sunlight.The best solar cells are today still missing a material that can make use of the infrared light from the Sun.

Goldman's team of samples of gallium arsenide nitride, insufficiently used a high not matching alloy which is peppered with nitrogen, which can tap into the infrared radiation.

The researchers to the molecular beam epitaxy coax-includes the nitrogen with your other elements to mischen.Molekularstrahlepitaxie evaporate pure examples of non-matching items and combined in a vacuum.

Next, measured convert researchers of the alloy's ability to heat into electricity.You wanted to determine, whether its 10 parts per million of nitrogen were as individual atoms or as cluster verteilt.Sie found out that in some cases grouped the nitrogen atoms what the prevailing had in contrast to the "Anti crossing Band" model predicted.

"" We have shown experimentally, the band anti-crossing model is too simple to explain the electronic properties of high mismatched alloys,"said Goldman.""It is not quantitative more their exceptional optical and electronic properties erl?utert.Atomic clusters have significant effects on the electronic properties of the alloy films."

If researchers can learn to control, said the formation of this pile materials could build more efficient at converting light and heat into electricity, Goldman.

"The availability of more efficient Thermoelectrics about practical to generate power from waste heat, for example, produced engines power stations and car" Goldman said.

This research is in physical review b online published. the paper is entitled "nitrogen composition depending on electron effective mass in gallium arsenide nitride."

This research is funded by the National Science Foundation for solar and thermal funded Science Foundation Ireland and the Centre energy conversion, an energy Frontier Research Center by the U.S. Department of energy.

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The above story is made of materials from the University of Michigan reprinted provided (with editorial adjustments of ScienceDaily staff).

Journal reference:

T. Dannecker, y. Jin, H. CHENG, C. Gorman, j. Buckeridge, C. Uher, S. Fahy, C. Kurdak, R. Goldman.Nitrogen composition dependence of the electron effective mass in GaAs_ {1?x} N_ {X}.Physische review B, 2010; 82 (12): 125203 DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.82.125203

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Then regular solar energy: antenna made carbon nanotubes could make solar cells more efficient

ScienceDaily (Sept. 13, 2010) - with carbon nanotubes (hollow tubes carbon atoms), more than one regular photovoltaic cell found with chemical engineers, to concentrate solar energy 100 times a way. Make such nanotubes could antennas that capture and could potentially allow light energy to focus much smaller and more powerful solar arrays.

Rather than your whole roof a photovoltaic cell, could little spots must you tiny photovoltaic cells, with antennas the photons in you were, would go, says Michael Strano, Charles and Hilda Roddey Associate Professor of chemical engineering and Director of the research team.

Strano and his students describe their new carbon nanotube antenna or "solar funnel," in the Sept. 12 online issue of the journal nature are Materials.Lead authors of the paper postdoctoral associate Jae-Hee Han and graduate student Geraldine Paulus.

Your new antennas may be also useful required goggles or telescopes for another application that focuses light, such as night vision.

Solar panels generate electricity by photons (packets of light energy) in electric current transform. Strano's nanotube antenna increases the number of photons can be captured and turned the light into energy, which be channelled in a solar cell.

The antenna consists of a fibrous rope 10 microns (1,000,000th meters) long and four microns thick, with about 30 million - carbon - nanotubes. Strano's team built, for the first time made a fiber from two layers of nanotubes with different electrical property-specifically, various Bandgaps.

Electrons at different energy levels can exist in any material. When a photon hits the surface, it attracts an electron to a higher energy level, which is specific to the material. The interaction between the energized electron and hole leaves it means an exciton and the difference in energy levels between the hole and the electron is known as the energy gap.

The inner layer of the antenna contains nanotubes with a small energy ratio and nanotubes in the outer layer have a higher energy pitch.This is important, because Exzitonenbildung like flow of high to low energy. In this case means that the Exzitonenbildung in the outer layer River on the inner level where they can be present in a lower (but still excited) power state.

Therefore, if strikes, light energy material are all in the middle of fiber where you focused the Exzitonenbildung.Strano and his team have not built yet a photovoltaic device with the antenna, but you want.In such a device, the antenna would focus photons before the photovoltaic cell could in an electric current konvertiert.Dies from the antenna to create a core of semiconducting material.

The interface between the semiconductor and the nanotubes would the electron from the hole with electrons at an electrode touching the inner semiconductor collected and the nanotubes trennen.Dieses covered holes that touch on an electrode system would then electricity animations.the materials for the electrode, according to the researchers would depend on the efficiency of a solar cell.

Strano's team is the first to construct nanotube fibres in which you can control the properties of the different layers, an achievement, made possible by recent advances in the separation of nanotubes with different properties.

While the cost of carbon nanotubes was once prohibitive, it has in recent years down been build as their production companies."" Sometime in the near future, probably for a few pennies per pound, carbon nanotubes are sold how polymers are sold,"says Strano.""With these costs, which in addition could be negligible costs of the cell to a solar cell compared to manufacturing and raw material, as coatings and polymer components are small components of the costs of a photovoltaic cell."

Strano's team now works on ways to minimize the energy lost as Exzitonenbildung flow through the fiber and opportunities, more than an Exciton per photon to generieren.Die nanotube bundle that lose material paper described around in the nature 13 percent of the energy you record, but the team is working on new antennas that would lose only 1 percent.

Funding: Career award of the National Science Foundation, MIT Sloan fellow, MIT DuPont Alliance and the Korea Research Foundation.

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The above story is from materials available provided by Massachusetts Institute of technology (with editorial adjustments of ScienceDaily staff) abgedruckt.Der original article was written by Anne Trafton, MIT News Office.

Journal reference:

Jae-Hee Han, Geraldine L. C. Paulus, Ryuichiro Maruyama, Daniel A. Heller, Woo-Jae Kim, Paul W. barons, Chang young Lee, Jong Hyun Choi, Moon Ho ham, Changsik song, C. Fantini, Michael S. Strano.Exciton antennas and concentrators core-shell and corrugated board carbon nanotube filaments of homogeneous composition.Natur materials, 2010; DOI: online nmat2832

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Towards Nanowires solar cells with a 65 percent efficiency

ScienceDaily (June 17, 2010)-Eindhoven University of technology (TU /) want that Explorer solar cells with an efficiency of more than 65 percent of nanotechnology to develop. This new solar cells can generate a significant amount of demand for electricity in southern Europe and North Africa. The Dutch Government reserves to EUR 1.2 million for research.

The current thin-film solar cells (type III/V) have an efficiency which is 40 percent, but are very expensive and can only as applied to satellite solar panels. Using mirror systems that focus thousand times you can provide now on Earth in a cost-effective manner. The TU / researchers expect that your nano-structured solar cells can achieve an efficiency of more than 65 per cent over ten years.Jos Haverkort: "When would that the Netherlands participate in time a commercial use of Nanowires solar cells there is a great urgency on Board now."The research is carried out together with Philips MiPlaza.

She think nano-technology, in combination with the use of concentrated sunlight through mirror systems, has the potential to the world with a cost price lower than 50 cents per watt peak guiding the most efficient system of solar cell. In comparison: for the present generation of solar cells this cost price is € 1.50 per watt peak.

Stacking Nanowires make it possible to stack a number of partial cell (junctions).This process each Subcell converts a color from sunlight optimally to Elektrizit?t.Der highest yield that is reported in a Nanowires solar cell 8.4 percent so far.Haverkort: "we expect that a protective shell to the nanowires is the decisive step towards the same efficiency with nanowires solar cells such as thin-film cells."Haverkort thinks that he will come to 65 percent efficiency at 5 to 10 intersections.

Scarcity of raw materials also also the researchers expect significant savings in production costs, can be made, because grow nanowires on cheap silicon substrate and which results in lower cost of ownership of the growth equipment grow. in addition is faster, the combination of mirror systems with nanotechnology imply an acceptable use of scarce and therefore expensive metals Gallium and Indium.

An agency of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, granted EUR 1.2 million to researchers of dr. Jos Haverkort, dr. Erik Bakkers en dr. Ir.Geert Verbong for your exploration of Nanowires Solarzellen.Es is your expectation that, in combination with mirror systems these solar cells can generate a significant part of European electricity demand in southern Europe and North Africa.

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U.S. CO ₂ emissions from coal could eliminate in 20 years, experts say

ScienceDaily (May 2, 2010) – the USA could complete carbon dioxide emissions from coal-electric Kraftwerke-- a decisive step for controlling global warming - 20 years using technology already exists or within a decade after a group of scientists, engineers and architects commercially available could be.

This is the conclusion of an article online, along with a news article on the subject in the American Chemical Society's semi-monthly journal environmental science & technology (ES & T) published. both are planned for the June print edition of the ES & t.

Pushker Kharecha and Kollegen--by the NASA Goddard Institute for space studies, Columbia University Earth Institute, the national renewable energy laboratory and 2030 Inc. / Architecture 2030--say that the global climate change problem is manageable only if the company quickly employs carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of coal in electrical power plants.

"The only practical way to a planet, the similar to the world of the nearby (today) to preserve with relatively stable coastlines and conservation of the species, it is rapidly, phase out coal emissions and prevent emissions from unconventional fossil fuels such as oil shale and tar sands" tell.

The authors describe this exit strategies possible box.you include the abolition of subsidies for fossil fuels; putting increasing prices on carbon emissions; substantial improvements of power transmission and the energy efficiency of homes, commercial buildings and equipment; replace coal with biomass, geothermal, wind, Sun and third-generation nuclear power; and after successful demonstration at commercial scales, deploying advanced (fourth generation) nuclear power plants; and carbon capture and storage on remaining coal plants.

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The above story is reprinted (with editorial adjustments of ScienceDaily personnel) of materials provided by the American Chemical Society, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Journal references:

Pushker A. Kharecha, Charles F. Carter, James E. Hansen and Edward Mazria.Options for near term use phaseout of CO2 emissions from coal in the United States .Environmental Science & Technology, 2010; DOI: 10.1021/es903884aKellyn bed.Can the U.S. phase out coal's greenhouse gas emissions by 2030?Environmental science & technology, 2010; DOI: 10.1021/es101320m

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Solar energy production makes good business sense for Governments, study finds

ScienceDaily (May 21, 2010) – Canadian and provincial governments could spend to build a large scale solar photovoltaic production system $ 2.4 billion and then give it away for free and earn a profit is still in the long run performed according to a financial analysis of Queens's University applied sustainability research group in Kingston, Canada.

Queen's University engineering professor Joshua Pearce led the students - published in the August issue of the scientific review all - should support surprised to discover the answer is an overwhelming even in extreme situations and feels Governments aggressively use this industry the financial opportunity to find out whether it was economic sense for Governments to support the production of solar cells in Canada macht.Er.

"This study used hard financial Zahlen.Alles, what we have done is transparent and all our equations are in the study," says Professor Pearce. "Clear and massive costs outweigh the benefits which manufacture in Canada are encouraging solar."

The report saw six different scenarios: everything from building a plant and it give away or more traditional and less costly credit guarantees or taxes to sell holidays for a company of the private sector, to construct the plant. In all scenarios both federal and provincial governments positive cash flows in less than 12 years enjoyed in many of the scenarios both Governments earned well over one and eight percent return on investment of hundreds of millions to $ 2.4 billion to go.

Revenue for the Governments of nearly $ 500 million per year, were determined by taxation (personal, corporate and sales), sale of panels, and health, environmental and economic costs settled saved-fired electricity coal.

Queen's study began last summer, before the Government of Ontario announced a 7 billion - dollar - makes - production and manufacturing in January deal with Samsung.Professor Pearce says Canadians are the winners, but some criticism of the business.

"" Canada will really make up, when Samsung comes through with what you said go to tun.Wir gave you a little incentive and Samsung give us a lot of jobs, less pollution and a long term essential Einnahmequelle.Wir are absolutely currently winning on this Deal--there is no question, ", says Professor Pearce.The market is much larger than the Samsung business."The question is now how to bring more photovoltaic manufacturer to the province."

The energy policy report co-authored by Queen's student Kadra Branker, studied the financial implications in Ontario, but Professor Pearce says the numbers can apply to all provinces in Canada.

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The above story is from materials from Queen's University reprinted provided (with editorial adjustments of ScienceDaily staff).

Journal reference:

K. Branker, j. m. Pearce.Financial return for Government to support the large-scale thin-film solar photovoltaic production in Canada. energy policy, 2010; 38 (8): 4291 DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2010.03.058

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Solar power in Ontario could produce almost as much power as all U.S. nuclear reactors, to find the studies

ScienceDaily (Apr. 16, 2010)-solar energy in South-Eastern Ontario has the potential to almost the same amount of power as to produce all the nuclear reactors in the United States, two studies under the authority of the Queens's University applied sustainability research group based in Kingston, Canada.

These studies led by Queen's mechanical engineering professor Joshua Pearce, are solar energy potential.Professor Pearce first explore of the region was surprised how many gigawatt could be produced.

"We came up with enormous numbers and we were conservative.""There about 95 gigawatt potential performance in Southeastern Ontario-only that it shows massive potential", says Professor Pearce, solar photovoltaic materials and applied sustainability.

Computer urban discovered environment and systems, which accepts a study for publication in the journal, orientation and shades that if roof tops in Southeastern Ontario with solar panels covered option, you produce five gigawatt or around five per cent of Ontario's energy konnte.In of study were umbrella in account.

"To put this in perspective, all the coal plants in all Ontario produce well six gigawatt."The sun always seems not so if you could teach solar power with other renewable energy sources such as wind, hydropower and biomass, Southeastern Ontario easily cover its own energy needs, ", says Professor Pearce.

A second study, solar energy, considered country in Southeastern Ontario, used for solar farms released in may issue of the journal. could the study as a country with little economic value-barren, Rocky, not farmable areas in the vicinity of electrical Netze-and closed it has the potential to produce 90 gigawatts.

"Nuclear power for all of the USA is about 100 gigawatt.Wir produce 90 on barren land with only solar in this tiny region, so that we don't talk about small potatoes,"says Professor Pearce.""

The Professor studies led solid numbers offer decision makers on solar energy potential and possible solar Park find locations for developers.

Queen's civil engineering were also contribute to the studies students Lindsay Wiginton and mechanical engineering HA Nguyen student.

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Journal references:

L.k. Wiginton h.t Nguyen, j.m. Pearce.To quantify the rooftop solar photovoltaic potential for regional renewable energy policy. computers, environment and urban systems, 2010; DOI: 10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2010.01.001H.T.Nguyen, j.m Pearce.Estimating potential photovoltaic r.sun yield and the open source geographical resources analysis support system.Solar Energy 2010; 84 (5): 831 DOI: 10.1016/j.solener.2010.02.009

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Self-cleaning technology from Mars can keep terrestrial solar cells dust free.

ScienceDaily (Aug. 23, 2010)-find dusting these tables and chests of drawers, a chore or a hole? Dread wash the window? Imagine from dust and dirt from the objects abstain extends over an area of 25 to 50 football pitches. Thats the problem with looking at companies, to implement the great solar systems and scientists now have a solution development-self-dusting solar panels ? basis for space missions to Mars developed technology presented.

In a report on the 240th national meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS) on August 22 as described a self-cleaning coating on the surface of the solar cells increase the efficiency of electricity from sunlight and maintenance costs might be for large-scale solar systems to reduce.

"" We think our self-cleaning panels, often in areas of high dust and particulate pollutant concentrations benefit solar energy high systems issue, "said study leader Malay k. Mazumder, Ph.d.."Our technology can be used in both small and large - scale photovoltaic plants. "To our knowledge this is the only technology for automatic dust to purify the water or mechanical movement requires."

Mazumder which is with Boston University, said the need for this technology with the growing popularity of solar energy. Use of solar or photovoltaic, increased panels by 50 percent from 2003 to 2008 and forecasts suggest an increase by at least 25 percent annually in the future. Growth, he said, is the emphasis on alternative energy sources and company-wide concerns about sustainability with resources today in ways that threaten not the ability of future generations, to satisfy your needs).

Large-scale solar systems already exist in the USA, Spain, Germany, the Middle East, Australia and India. These systems usually reside in the sun-drenched desert areas where to sweep dry weather and wind, dust in the air and deposit it on the surface of the solar panel.Just like dirt on a budget Windows produced, that reduces the electricity enter the business part of the solar panel, reduce dust amount of light. clean water tends to scarce in these areas, so that it is expensive, the solar panels to clean.

"" A dust layer of a seventh one ounce per square yard solar power conversion 40 percent reduced", explains Mazumder."In Arizona, dust every month at about 4 times that amount deposited is."Deposition rates even higher in the Middle East, Australia and India."

"Working with NASA, Mazumder and colleagues first developed the self-cleaning solar panel technology for use in lunar and Mars missions."Mars is of course a dusty and dry environment, "Said Mazumder" and solar panels turn Rovers and future occupied and robotic missions must not succumb to dust deposition."But should neither the solar panels here on Earth."

Self-cleaning technology includes a transparent, electrically sensitive material deposition on glass or transparent plastic sheet over the panels hinterlegt.Sensoren monitor dust on the surface of the window and energize the material if dust is a critical level erreicht.Die electrical charge sends a dust prevention wave cascade over the surface of the material lift away dust and transport it from the edges of the screen.

Mazumder said that two minutes, the process about deposited 90 percent of the dust on a solar panel away and only a small amount of electricity generation by the Panel requires for cleaning operations.

"The current size of the market for solar panels is approximately $ 24 billion Mazumder said.""Less than 0.04% of global energy production is derived from solar panels, but if only four percent of the deserts of the world solar energy harvest were dedicated, our energy cover could be fully met self-cleaning weltweit.Dieser technology can play an important role."

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Solar energy: cheaper solar concentrator with fewer photovoltaic cells

ScienceDaily (Apr. 22, 2010) - a new solar concentrator design from a Ph.d student of electrical engineering at the University of California, San Diego could solar concentrators, less expensive and require fewer photovoltaic cells than existing solar concentrators. The graduate student, Jason Karp and his colleagues at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of engineering presented the new solar concentrator in a paper in the January 2010 issue of the magazine Optics Express.

While engineers have developed already high efficiency of solar concentrators, the Sun focus optics to integrate hundreds of times and can deliver the power of the rigid solar panels twice the new design offers potential new benefits. Existing solar concentrator systems use typically arrays of single lenses to concentrate, which all must be aligned and bonded directly on independent photovoltaic cells.On the other hand the new solar concentrator collects on the sunlight with thousands of small lenses, a common sheet aufgedruckt.Alle this lenses couple in an apartment "Waveguide" light on a single photovoltaic cell funnel.

Karp built a working prototype with only two primary optical components which materials, alignment and mounting. This solar concentrator is compatible with high-volume, low cost production.

Karp "Is the real reason that we try this type of concentrator, certainly for costs," said in an interview after winning best poster at the research Expo 2010 UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.Karp declared that its design the cost of the optical system, the the entire system associated minimiert.Ein building look very cheap trail engineers to existing production techniques. The new solar concentrator is compatible with existing role-to role processing techniques, large TV involved production.

Karp designed and built by prototypes for the new solar concentrator in the Photonic systems integration Laboratory headed by Professor Joseph Ford electrical engineering from UC San Diego Jacobs School of engineering.

April 15 won Karp and his solar concentrator 2010 Rudee research Expo outstanding poster award at 29th annual research Expo at the UC San Diego Jacobs School of engineering.The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the California Energy (CEC) provided some funding for this research.

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The above story is made of materials by the University of California - San Diego, provided through EurekAlert fulù (with editorial adjustments of ScienceDaily staff)!, a service of AAAS.

Journal reference:

Karp et al. Planar micro optics - solar concentrator .Optik Express, 2010; 18 (2): 1122 DOI: 10.1364/OE.18.001122

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