Tag

Solar Energy

All articles tagged with #solar energy

technology1 day ago•10 min saved

Solar gospel to gas-powered AI: Musk’s pivot as SpaceX eyes a $2T IPO

Once a vocal advocate for a 100-by-100 mile solar solution to power the U.S., Elon Musk now runs xAI's Grok on 62 unpermitted methane gas turbines at two data centers, and has begun selling compute to Anthropic while positioning a space-based solar pitch to justify SpaceX’s planned $1.75–$2 trillion IPO. Grok’s popularity has fallen, the economics of orbital data centers remain dubious, and Musk’s pivot appears driven more by financial engineering for an IPO than by a practical solar energy revolution.

via Electrek|

#elon-musk #grok #solar-energy

alternative-energy7 days ago•22 min saved

DNA-Inspired Liquid Solar Battery Stores Sunlight as Heat

Researchers at UC Santa Barbara unveiled a liquid solar battery that captures sunlight and stores it indefinitely in chemical bonds using a DNA-inspired pyrimidone molecule (MOST technology), releasing heat on demand. With an energy density of about 1.65 MJ/kg—roughly double that of lithium‑ion batteries—the system could heat homes or power off‑grid applications without relying on the electrical grid.

via Crude Oil Prices Today | OilPrice.com|

#alternative-energy #energy-storage #molecular-solar-thermal

business7 days ago•3 min saved

US Drops Fraud Charges Against Gautam Adani in Solar Deal Case

U.S. prosecutors asked a Brooklyn judge to dismiss criminal fraud and conspiracy charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani in connection with a solar-power deal, citing prosecutorial discretion; the judge must approve, and Adani has never been arrested or faced trial. The move follows a related SEC settlement and years of scrutiny over Adani’s ties to the Modi government and past allegations of misconduct in the energy sector.

via PBS|

#adani #business #charges-dropped

technology23 days ago•81 min saved

Tested: portable solar generator powers my garage when home solar can't reach

A Tom's Guide hands-on review finds the Anker Solix C300, a 288Wh portable power station, can run basic lights and gym gear in a garage far from the mains when recharged by solar. It delivers up to 300W continuous (600W surge) and accepts up to 100W solar input, with the PS100 panel recharging the unit in about four hours in sunny conditions. It won’t run high‑draw appliances like a dryer or heavy power tools, but it’s a cost-effective backup for spaces disconnected from the grid, especially when portability and modular solar charging are valued.

via Tom's Guide|

#anker #backup-power #hands-on-review

technology27 days ago•2 min saved

Iran War Triggers a Global Solar Surge, Boosting China’s Export Engine

Despite oil disruptions from the US-Iran war, a surge in China’s solar exports—68 GW in March—drives a global solar boom, with 55 countries setting all-time records and Africa and Asia showing strong demand; the piece notes the irony of boosting renewables and China while Trump has opposed both, and it raises questions about China’s solar overcapacity and whether current demand can absorb it.

via Futurism|

#china #overcapacity #renewables

world1 month ago•8 min saved

Solar Surge Pushes the World Into an Age of Electricity

The IEA’s 2025 analysis shows solar PV posted the largest annual increase of any energy source, driving renewables-led growth and meeting a large share of the rising electricity demand, while rapid battery expansion supports a more electrified, storage-enabled grid and emissions grew only modestly compared with past years.

via Ars Technica|

#batteries #carbon-emissions #iea

energy1 month ago•13 min saved

Sun-Powered Wood: Engineered Timber Stores Solar Heat and Generates Power

Researchers converted balsa wood into an all-in-one solar energy system by delignifying the wood, nano-engineering its channels with black phosphorene protected by a tannic acid–iron layer and silver nanoparticles, then filling the pores with stearic acid for heat storage. The material stores about 175 kJ/kg, converts roughly 91% of sunlight to usable heat, and can generate up to 0.65 V with a thermoelectric generator after illumination ends, while remaining durable over cycling and highly water-repellent. This wood-based approach could enable compact solar storage and heat management in electronics, pending scale-up.

via Interesting Engineering|

#energy #materials-science #nanotechnology

technology1 month ago•2 min saved

Lab Breakthrough Claims 130% Solar Energy Conversion in Lab Tests

Researchers in Japan and Germany report a lab method using tetracene and molybdenum to split high-energy blue photons, enabling singlet fission that yields about 130% energy conversion efficiency—surpassing the traditional Shockley–Queisser limit in controlled experiments. While promising, these results are early-stage and not yet practical for commercial panels, which remain around 25% efficient.

via Futurism|

#efficiency #lab-research #singlet-fission

science1 month ago•4 min saved

Scientists Unveil Rechargeable Molecule That Stores Sunlight as Heat

A UC Santa Barbara team has designed a pyrimidone molecule for molecular solar thermal (MOST) storage that traps sunlight and stores it as heat in a rechargeable, recyclable system. With an energy density above 1.6 MJ/kg—higher than typical Li-ion batteries—the molecule can absorb energy, hold it, and release heat on demand, potentially circulating in solar collectors to store daytime energy for later use without a separate battery.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#energy-storage #molecular-solar-thermal-storage #pyrimidone

science1 month ago•6 min saved

Solar Cells Hit 130% Efficiency via Spin-Flip Breakthrough

Researchers at Kyushu University and collaborators demonstrated a molybdenum-based spin-flip emitter that harvests energy from singlet fission to produce about 1.3 energy carriers per absorbed photon, achieving ~130% efficiency and signaling a path toward higher-performance solar cells, though practical solid-state devices are still in early stages.

via ScienceDaily|

#molybdenum-complex #quantum-yield #science

space2 months ago•4 min saved

Shimizu Proposes 6,800-Mile Moon Ring for 24/7 Earth Power

Shimizu Corp. envisions a 6,800-mile ring of lunar‑made solar panels around the Moon to harvest constant sunlight and beam up to 13,000 terawatts of power to Earth via microwaves and lasers; construction would use lunar materials with robots, potentially starting around 2035, but cost, lunar dust, and international cooperation remain open questions.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#energy-transmission #luna-ring #moon

environment2 months ago•7 min saved

Shade-Driven Desert Revival: China's Massive Solar Farm Alters Microclimates

Researchers studying China's Qinghai Gonghe Photovoltaic Industrial Park found that shade from rows of solar panels creates cooler, moister microclimates beneath the arrays, enabling limited vegetation and slowing desert erosion; these zones score higher ecologically than surrounding desert, illustrating how large solar farms can also contribute to desert stabilization while producing renewable energy, though long‑term monitoring is ongoing.

via The Daily Galaxy|

#agrivoltaics #desert-ecology #environment

technology2 months ago•4 min saved

DIY balcony solar climbs as US debates rules and rising power costs

Across the US, homeowners are installing DIY balcony solar to cut rising electricity bills, but most states require an agreement with utilities, creating a legal gray area; Utah has passed a law allowing DIY installations without utility consent, and about 28 states are pursuing similar bills to ease DIY solar rollout.

via supercarblondie.com|

#balcony-solar #diy-solar #energy-prices

energy-and-climate2 months ago•10 min saved

MAGA allies push solar power to win over the GOP base

Conservative influencers Katie Miller and Kellyanne Conway are backing the American Energy First push by the American Clean Power Association to rebrand solar as a domestic, affordable energy solution for Trump voters. The campaign relies on polling, paid media partnerships, and conservative media placements to bolster solar’s standing among the GOP base and counter policy moves seen as hostile to renewables, while broader debates over subsidies and incentives continue shaping the industry’s political fortunes.

via Politico|

#american-energy-first #conservatives #energy-and-climate

technology2 months ago•12 min saved

Liquid Sun Battery Stores Summer Heat for Winter Use

Scientists at UCSB and UCLA built a liquid, solvent-free pyrimidone that absorbs sunlight, twists into a high-energy Dewar isomer, and stores energy in chemical bonds for later release as heat. In tests, it achieved an energy density of 1.65 MJ/kg—nearly twice that of typical lithium-ion batteries—and could boil water under ambient conditions, suggesting a potential closed-loop solar-heat system for winter. However, the molecule currently absorbs only UV-A/B (about 5% of solar energy) and has a low quantum yield, requiring extended sun exposure. The heat release relies on an acid catalyst, which would need a neutralization step in real systems. Despite these hurdles, with a projected long storage half-life (up to ~481 days) and no toxic solvent, the approach represents a promising step toward storing summer sunlight for cold months, though practical deployment remains years away.

via ZME Science|

#energy-storage #molecular-solar-thermal-storage #most