Who Needs Batteries? (The Simple Genius of Solar Flashlights)

It’s hard to imagine a more complete and practical “green gadget” than a solar-powered LED flashlight made from recycled plastic. Well, at least manufacturers have the solar and LED part down, with the the recycled plastic part hopefully not too far behind, as some company out there incorporates this added benefit to their product line (think Recycline’s toothbrushes and razor handles).

As columnist Thomas Friedman has suggested, for so long, the United States had been considered the leader in technological ingenuity and development, but when it comes to clean technology and its related offspring - including something as straightforward and logical as a solar-powered flashlight - the nation lags behind others. For example, even China, which has recently matched or surpassed the U.S. in terms of its negative environmental impact, is manufacturing solar-powered flashlights and other related energy saving products, and may ironically be poised to surpass the U.S. in the rapid development of green consumer goods. However, once local, State, and Federal governments finally comprehend the enormous benefit that would come from creating a massive green manufacturing sector, including wind, solar, hydrogen (and beyond), these products may be manufactured here, and Friedman will have his wish of the U.S. living up to its potential. With problems ranging from water and food scarcity, to inadequate or non existent energy generation infrastructure, a new wave of designers and social activists are being inspired to develop a range of environmentally progressive products and services to serve various populations, and the solar-powered flashlight represents just the beginning.

BoGo Light

Earthtorch

Eclipse Solar Powered Flashlights

Call Wireless, Thanks to the Sun

Iqua 603 SUN is probably the first ever bluetooth wireless headset powered by solar energy.

“This wireless headset with solar cell is the ultimate power-saving solution for users of mobile headsets: it charges itself. After all, why use electricity when you have the sun? “

We observe this year a huge move in portable electronic towards solar powered solutions. Two positives points : Limit the use of domestic electricity, and help to decrease the price of the solar cell technology.

Future Technology Inspired by Nature

As it often happen, the future technology actually comes from nature.

An incredible amount of energy is spent every year in air conditioning of building that if well designed
Could be self temperature controlled.

Researchers from EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council) are studying the structure of termites mounds, by 3D scanning them.

“We’re certainly not suggesting that people should live in termite mounds!” Dr Soar tells us “we are studying the mounds to look for a method by which environmental conditions can be controlled and then seeing if we can harness this using innovative manufacturing processes.” If successful the work could lead to a revolution in construction: “Imagine, instead of today’s solid bricks and walls, smart bricks and smart walls incorporating capillary-like structures that can move and control moisture, gases and temperature.”

“The researchers hope to develop new construction methods based on rapid manufacturing processes that would enable buildings to be ‘printed’ out of extruded materials. Such ‘freeform construction’ processes would give architects the freedom to design complex organic forms with microstructures and properties unlike anything that can be manufactured conventionally. “This could make the dream of passive systems, which keep our homes comfortable using only renewable energy, a reality,” comments Dr Soar.”

Enertia, Riding Electric with Style

A sexy urban electric motorcycle. That’s not something you see everyday. The Enertia by Brammo Motorsports a company founded in 2002 to develop new innovative means of transport is definitely one cool motorbike.

Beside being electrical, and avoiding the pollution of standard vehicles. The design is extremely pleasant, sleek and retro. Performances are excellent for urban use, with a maximum speed of 50 mph

Brammo claims that the Enertia is more efficient than anything else, thanks to their complete re-engineering.

I really appreciate in the graph about co2 emission that they consider the average pollution from the power plant… It’s electric, yes but it produces pollution anyway. Just less, a lot less.

Enertia will be available in fall 2008. I can’t wait to try it !

Nanosolar Prints Photovoltaics, Proves Cheaper Than Coal?

Photovoltaics, the technology of converting sunlight into electricity, has been around for many years. One of the biggest drawbacks to capturing the sun’s energy has been cost. The high price of manufacturing solar panels has slowed down mass market adoption. Let’s hope that is about to change with the latest round of solar panel innovation: thin film technology (mentioned on Ecolect in September).

Nanosolar appears to have a winner, combining the tried and true process of printing, with a thin metal foil substrate. The ink is a proprietary formula based on nano-materials. The exact cost savings of Nanosolar’s product are unclear, but one estimate comes in at 9 times less than the price of traditional solar panels making it cheaper than coal energy.

They’re seriously funded, and have clearly been working hard on preparing for mass manufacturer; plants in San Jose, CA and Germany total 647,000 square feet. We’ll definitely be keeping an eye on Nanosolar over the next few months!

Via www.celsias.com

Cheaper Solar Cells

A team of researchers from Durham University in Northern England are currently working on a new revolutionary kind of solar panel material that could possibly start the massive use of solar energy in the world. One of the main drawbacks in the use of solar energy is the price of solar cells. So the team directed by Professor Ken Durose has been researching for 4 years to find a less expensive material for the future solar cells. They are currently developing a new type of light-absorbing material to produce thin layer solar photovoltaic cells.

The thin-layer PV cells would be used to make solar panels that could be fitted to roofs to help power homes with any surplus electricity being fed back to The National Grid.This could lead to cheaper fuel bills and less reliance on burning fossil fuels as a way of helping to generate electricity.

“If solar panels were cheap enough so you could buy a system off the shelf that provided even a fraction of your power needs you would do it, but that product isn’t there at the moment.“The key indicator of cost effectiveness is how many pounds do you have to spend to get a watt of power out?“If you can make solar panels more cheaply then you will have a winning product.”

It looks like this new type of solar cells would be of great interest for vehicles, as they would be cheaper, lighter and able to adapt to any complex surfaces, which is impossible to do with curent cells.