Unlike conventional building-integrated photovoltaic products, the new glass unit simultaneously blocks solar radiation, concentrates sunlight and converts it into solar energy. Photo from Pythagoras Solar

The company’s new photovoltaic glass unit is a combination of patent-pending advanced glass material, high efficiency crystalline silicon and simulation model software..

Unlike conventional building-integrated photovoltaic products, the new glass unit simultaneously blocks solar radiation, concentrates sunlight and converts it into solar energy. This cuts the need for centralized cooling system, a major source of a building’s energy consumption.

The glass unit is also designed to filter harsh sunlight and excessive heat while providing favorable natural lighting, thus minimizing the use of artificial lighting during the day.

Pythagoras’ glass units can be easily incorporated into conventional building construction and will not affect the buildings’ aesthetic value.

“Our new technology finally bridges the gap between energy efficiency and energy generation – enabling the architecture, engineering and construction sectors to accelerate the deployment of cost-effective distributed power generation and to advance aesthetically-pleasing net zero energy buildings,” said Gonen Fink, cofounder and chief executive of Pythagoras Solar.

Research firm NanoMarkets predicted that the global market for building-integrated photovoltaic products would be worth more than $8 billion by 2015. Banking on this boom, Pythagoras Solar is taking measures to scale up its operations for commercial production and distribution.

The privately-held company has already raised a total of $11 million in seed and venture capital funding to date, including $10 million from a Series A funding round led by Israel Cleantech Ventures.

Pythagoras Solar also established partnerships with chemical company Arkema, solar developer China Sunergy (Nasdaq:CSUN) and manufacturing services provider Flextronics Industrial.
The company’s photovoltaic glass units will be available for curtain walls, skylights and windows in the second half of the year.

Source:ECOSEED. May 27.2010

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But being efficient is not enough. Eltek Valere Telecom Solar solutions provide clean and green energy to supplement your power needs. Le the sun power your station, while mains and other additional power sources safeguards the installation on less sunny days.

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The plan by the state’s massive energy company PG&E calls for the generation of 200 megawatts over 15 years to be collected by space-based solar arrays and beamed down to earth via radio frequency.

PG&E hopes to have the system running by 2016 and is seeking permission from regulators to contract with a company called Solaren to put the system in place.

Experts say that harnessing solar power in space has advantages over terrestrial systems since solar energy can be harvested around the clock and is never obscured by clouds or bad weather.

Solaren’s solar-power satellite would consist of mirror arrays up to several kilometres wide, which would focus sunlight onto photoelectric cells.

The electrical power would be converted into a microwave beam directed towards Earth, where it would be converted back into electricity.

According to the company, the system could generate roughly 1.2 to 4.8 gigawatts of power, at a price comparable to that of other renewable energy sources.

“While a system of this scale and exact configuration has not been built, the underlying technology is very mature and is based on communications satellite technology,” Solaren CEO Gary Spirnak said in announcing the move.

“For over 45 years, satellites have collected solar energy in earth orbit via solar cells, and converted it to radio frequency energy for transmissions to Earth receive stations,” he said.

Sources:The Times Of India

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How They Work
Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two types of solar water heating systems: active, which have circulating pumps and controls, and passive, which don’t.

Most solar water heaters require a well-insulated storage tank. Solar storage tanks have an additional outlet and inlet connected to and from the collector. In two-tank systems, the solar water heater preheats water before it enters the conventional water heater. In one-tank systems, the back-up heater is combined with the solar storage in one tank.

Three types of solar collectors are used for residential applications:

Flat-plate collector
Glazed flat-plate collectors are insulated, weatherproofed boxes that contain a dark absorber plate under one or more glass or plastic (polymer) covers. Unglazed flat-plate collectors—typically used for solar pool heating—have a dark absorber plate, made of metal or polymer, without a cover or enclosure.

Integral collector-storage systems
Also known as ICS or batch systems, they feature one or more black tanks or tubes in an insulated, glazed box. Cold water first passes through the solar collector, which preheats the water. The water then continues on to the conventional backup water heater, providing a reliable source of hot water. They should be installed only in mild-freeze climates because the outdoor pipes could freeze in severe, cold weather.

Evacuated-tube solar collectors
They feature parallel rows of transparent glass tubes. Each tube contains a glass outer tube and metal absorber tube attached to a fin. The fin’s coating absorbs solar energy but inhibits radiative heat loss. These collectors are used more frequently for U.S. commercial applications.

There are two types of active solar water heating systems:

Direct circulation systems
Pumps circulate household water through the collectors and into the home. They work well in climates where it rarely freezes.

Indirect circulation systems
Pumps circulate a non-freezing, heat-transfer fluid through the collectors and a heat exchanger. This heats the water that then flows into the home. They are popular in climates prone to freezing temperatures.

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Passive solar water heating systems are typically less expensive than active systems, but they’re usually not as efficient. However, passive systems can be more reliable and may last longer. There are two basic types of passive systems:

*Integral collector-storage passive systems
These work best in areas where temperatures rarely fall below freezing. They also work well in households with significant daytime and evening hot-water needs.

*Thermosyphon systems
Water flows through the system when warm water rises as cooler water sinks. The collector must be installed below the storage tank so that warm water will rise into the tank. These systems are reliable, but contractors must pay careful attention to the roof design because of the heavy storage tank. They are usually more expensive than integral collector-storage passive systems.
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Solar water heating systems almost always require a backup system for cloudy days and times of increased demand. Conventional storage water heaters usually provide backup and may already be part of the solar system package. A backup system may also be part of the solar collector, such as rooftop tanks with thermosyphon systems. Since an integral-collector storage system already stores hot water in addition to collecting solar heat, it may be packaged with a demand (tankless or instantaneous) water heater for backup.

For more information about solar water heating system components, see the following information:

*Heat Exchangers for Solar Water Heating Systems
*Heat-Transfer Fluids for Solar Water Heating Systems

Selecting a Solar Water Heater
Before you purchase and install a solar water heating system, you want to do the following:

*Consider the economics of a solar water heating system
*Evaluate your site’s solar resource
*Determine the correct system size
*Determine the system’s energy efficiency
*Estimate and compare system costs
*Investigate local codes, covenants, and regulations.

For information about specific solar water heater models and systems, see the Product Information resources listed on the right side of this page (or below if you’ve printed the page).

Installing and Maintaining the System
The proper installation of solar water heaters depends on many factors. These factors include solar resource, climate, local building code requirements, and safety issues; therefore, it’s best to have a qualified, solar thermal systems contractor install your system.

After installation, properly maintaining your system will keep it running smoothly. Passive systems don’t require much maintenance. For active systems, discuss the maintenance requirements with your system provider, and consult the system’s owner’s manual. Plumbing and other conventional water heating components require the same maintenance as conventional systems. Glazing may need to be cleaned in dry climates where rainwater doesn’t provide a natural rinse.

Regular maintenance on simple systems can be as infrequent as every 3–5 years, preferably by a solar contractor. Systems with electrical components usually require a replacement part after or two after 10 years. For more information about system maintenance, see the following:

*Solar Water Heating System Maintenance and Repair
*Solar Water Heating System Freeze Protection
*Scaling and Corrosion in Solar Water Heating Systems

When screening potential contractors for installation and/or maintenance, ask the following questions:

Does your company have experience installing and maintaining solar water heating systems?
Choose a company that has experience installing the type of system you want and servicing the applications you select.

How many years of experience does your company have with solar heating installation and maintenance?
The more experience the better. Request a list of past customers who can provide references.

Is your company licensed or certified?
Having a valid plumber’s and/or solar contractor’s license is required in some states. Contact your city and county for more information. Confirm licensing with your state’s contractor licensing board. The licensing board can also tell you about any complaints against state-licensed contractors.

For contractor information, see the Professional Services resources listed on the right side of this page (or below if you’ve printed it out).

Improving Energy Efficiency
After your water heater is properly installed and maintained, try some additional energy-saving strategies to help lower your water heating bills, especially if you require a back-up system. Some energy-saving devices and systems are more cost-effective to install with the water heater.

Other Water Heater Options
*Conventional storage water heaters
*Demand water heaters
*Heat pump water heaters
*Tankless coil and indirect water heaters

Sources: http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/water_heating/index.cfm/mytopic=12850

The process, which is loosely based on plant photosynthesis, uses solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen gases. When needed, the gases can then be re-combined in a fuel cell, creating carbon-free electricity whether the sun is shining or not.

The process uses natural materials, is inexpensive to conduct and is easy to set up.

Sources:
Clean Technica October 27, 2008

A new catalyst produces the oxygen and hydrogen that fuel cells use to generate electricity, while using far less energy than current methods.

With this catalyst, users could rely on electricity produced by photovoltaic solar cells to power the process that produces the fuel, said the Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor who developed the new material.

“If you can only have energy when the sun is shining, you’re in deep trouble. And that’s why, in my opinion, photovoltaics haven’t penetrated the market,” Daniel Nocera, an MIT professor of energy, said in an interview at his Cambridge, Massachusetts, office. “If I could provide a storage mechanism, then I make energy 24/7 and then we can start talking about solar.”

Solar has been growing as a power source in the US. But it is still a tiny power source, producing enough energy to meet the needs of about 600,000 typical homes, and only while the sun is shining.

Nocera said his development would allow people to bank solar energy as hydrogen and oxygen, which a fuel cell could use to produce energy when the sun was not shining.

Sources: The Times Of India

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Some solar cars compete in races such as the World Solar Challenge and the North American Solar Challenge, often sponsored by government agencies.

Limitations and challenges
Solar vehicles achieve their performance by extreme lightness of weight, and very efficient aerodynamics that force compromises that would not be acceptable in a day-to-day transportation device. Any vehicle built for passenger comfort and meeting contemporary safety standards would be much less aerodynamic and much heavier, thus requiring much more power to achieve highway speeds. Therefore, with current and foreseeable technologies it is unlikely a pure solar car will become commercially available. However, solar cars are essentially electric cars with an inbuilt recharging capability, so some of the technology developed in competition solar cars may help the development of battery electric vehicles and even hybrid vehicles.

Similarly, battery electric vehicles fitted with solar cells would extend their range and allow recharging while parked anywhere in the sun. However, with present and near-term engineering considerations, it seems that the more likely place for solar cells will generally be on the roofs of buildings, where they are always exposed to the sky and weight is largely irrelevant, rather than on vehicle roofs, where size is limited.

Solar cars:
Solar cars combine technology typically used in the aerospace, bicycle, alternative energy and automotive industries. The design of a solar vehicle is usually severely limited by the energy input into the car (batteries and power from the sun). Virtually all solar cars ever built have been for the purpose of solar car races (with notable exceptions).
.…..

Like many race cars, the driver’s cockpit usually only contains room for one person, although a few cars do contain room for a second passenger. They contain some of the features available to drivers of traditional vehicles such as brakes, accelerator, turn signals, rear view mirrors (or camera), ventilation, and sometimes cruise control. A radio for communication with their support crews is almost always included.
…..…..

Solar cars are often fitted with gauges as seen in conventional cars. Aside from keeping the car on the road, the driver’s main priority is to keep an eye on these gauges to spot possible problems. Cars without gauges available for the driver will almost always feature wireless telemetry. Wireless telemetry allows the driver’s team to monitor the car’s energy consumption, solar energy capture and other parameters and free the driver to concentrate on just driving.

Production
Tesla is offering a modestly sized and priced solar panel from SolarCity. It can be installed on the car roof in an out of the way location, because of its small size, or set up as a carport and will generate about 50 miles per day of renewable electricity.

Electrical and mechanical systems
The electrical system is the most important part of the car’s systems as it controls all of the power that comes into and leaves the system. The battery pack plays the same role in a solar car that a petrol tank plays in a normal car in storing power for future use. Solar cars use a range of batteries including lead-acid batteries, nickel-metal hydride batteries (NiMH), Nickel-Cadmium batteries (NiCd), Lithium ion batteries and Lithium polymer batteries.

Many solar race cars have complex data acquisition systems that monitor the whole electrical system while even the most basic cars have systems that provide information on battery voltage and current to the driver. One such system utilizes Controller Area Network (CAN).

The mechanical systems of a solar car are designed to keep friction and weight to a minimum while maintaining strength. Designers normally use titanium and composites to ensure a good strength-to-weight ratio.

Solar cars usually have three wheels, but some have four. Three wheelers usually have two front wheels and one rear wheel: the front wheels steer and the rear wheel follows. Four wheel vehicles are set up like normal cars or similarly to three wheeled vehicles with the two rear wheels close together.

Solar array
The solar array consists of hundreds of photovoltaic solar cells converting sunlight into electricity. Cars can use a variety of solar cell technologies; most often polycrystalline silicon, monocrystalline silicon, or gallium arsenide.

The power produced by the solar array depends on the weather conditions, the position of the sun and the capacity of the array. At noon on a bright day, a good array can produce over 2 kilowatts (2.6 hp).

Some cars have employed free standing or integrated sails to harness wind energy

The two most notable solar car races are the World Solar Challenge and the North American Solar Challenge, overland road rally-style competitions contested by a variety of university and corporate teams.

The World Solar Challenge features a field of competitors from around the world who race to cross the Australian continent, over a distance of 3000 km. The increasingly high speeds of the 2005 race participants has led to the rules being changed for future solar cars starting in the 2007 race.

The North American Solar Challenge, previously known as the ‘American Solar Challenge’ and ‘Sunrayce USA’, features mostly collegiate teams racing in timed intervals in the United States and Canada. The next North American Solar Challenge will run from June 13-22, 2008, from Dallas, Texas to Calgary, Alberta.

There are other distance races, such as Suzuka, Phaethon, and the World Solar Rally. Suzuka is a yearly track race in Japan and Phaethon was part of the Cultural Olympiad in Greece right before the 2004 Olympics.

Solar bicycles and motorcycles
The first solar “cars” were actually tricycles or quadricycles built with bicycle technology. These were called solarmobiles at the first solar race, the Tour de Sol in Switzerland in 1985 with about 60 participants, 30 using exclusively solar power and 30 solar-human-powered hybrids. A few true solar bicycles were built, either with a large solar roof, a small rear panel, or a trailer with a solar panel. Later more practical solar bicycles were built with foldable panels to be set up only during parking. Even later the panels were left at home, feeding into the electric mains, and the bicycles charged from the mains. Today highly developed electric bicycles are available and these use so little power that it costs little to buy the equivalent amount of solar electricity. The “solar” has evolved from actual hardware to an indirect accounting system. The same system also works for electric motorcycles, which were also first developed for the Tour de Sol. This is rapidly becoming an era of solar production.
Handlebars with hand brakes and twist accelerator, mirror, speedometer, headlights, pedals and dashboard adorn the Sunmobile…..

The spare tire is mounted on the rear cargo box.

…………………
The one hp motor is coupled with a centrifugal clutch to a lawnmower transaxel.

Practical applications
The Venturi Astrolab in 2006 was hailed as the world’s first commercial electro-solar hybrid car due to be released in January 2008.

In May 2007 a partnership of Canadian companies lead by Hymotion altered a Toyota Prius to use solar cells to generate up to 240 watts of electrical power in full sunshine. This is reported as permitting up to 15 km extra range on a sunny summer day while using only the electric motors.

One practical application for solar powered vehicles is possibly golf carts, some of which are used relatively little but spend most of their time parked in the sun.

An inventor from Michigan, USA has built a street legal, licensed, insured, solar charged electric scooter. It has a top speed controlled at a bit over 30 mph, and uses fold-out solar panels to charge the batteries while parked.

A Swiss project, Solartaxi, seeks to build a road-worthy solar car with a trailer, carrying a 6 m² sized solar array. The Solartaxi has Zebra batteries, which permit a range of 400 km without recharging. The car can also run for 200 km without the trailer. Its maximum speed is 90 km/h. The car weights 500 kg and the trailer weigths 200 kg. According to the team leader, the car in mass production could be produced for 6000 Euro. Solartaxi toured the World in December 2007 to encourage people in pursuing alternatives to fossil fuel.

Sources:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_car and http://www.sunvee.com/