Tag: Solar

How solar panels went from ’50s satellites to your backyard

From Einstein's theories of light to Bell Lab's revelations about doping silicon, solar power has been inching toward its current craze for more than a century. Here's how we got here.

Where’s the green? CES 2020 was surprisingly low on environmental tech

CES draws exhibitors from all over the globe, and it’s stuffed with just about every type of technology you can imagine. Unfortunately, that doesn't include much environmental tech, which is practically invisible at the show.

Walmart claims Tesla solar panels have caused fires at multiple stores

Walmart is suing Tesla over claims that its solar panels caused roof fires at around seven of its stores. The retail giant alleges poor working practices among personnel hired to maintain the solar panels, among other accusations.

Russia goes all-in on buzzwords, builds solar-powered blockchain drone boat

A new Russian solar-powered drone boat is designed to take smart sensor readings and save them to the Ethereum blockchain. Why? To battle the effects of water pollution, of course.The post Russia goes all-in on buzzwords, builds solar-powered blockchain drone boat appeared first on Digital Trends.

These solar-powered water purifiers can produce 30,000 gallons of water per day

Problems with contaminated water? Quench Water & Solar's water purifiers can purify up to 30,000 gallons of fresh water per day and it's offering the technology to whoever wants it.The post These solar-powered water purifiers can produce 30,000 gallons of water per day appeared first on Digital Trends.

California to require solar panels on most new homes

There's no question that solar power is entering the mainstream, but California is about to give it a giant boost.

SoftBank and Saudi Arabia to build world’s biggest solar farm

SoftBank and Saudi Arabia have drawn up plans to build the world's biggest solar farm, which, if realized, would create

The University of Hawaii is on its way to being entirely solar powered

The University of Hawaii (UH) has announced that its Maui College campus is slated to become one of the first in the United States to derive 100 percent of its energy from on-site solar photovoltaic systems coupled with battery storage.The post The University of Hawaii is on its way to being entirely solar powered appeared first on Digital Trends.

Researchers improve spinach-based solar cells by adding blackberry dye

Biohybrid solar cells aren't nearly as efficient as standard silicon panels, but including natural materials in renewable energy could make

Tesla Powerwall systems help some Hawaii schools beat the heat

Tesla shipped Powerwall batteries to Puerto Rico last fall -- and to Australia last December -- and now it's helping

Renault’s ‘smart island’ runs on wind power and recycled batteries

Renault has launched a "smart island" in Portugal that uses its Zoe electric vehicle, home batteries, smart charging and vehicle-to-grid

Buzz Aldrin wants you to buy this $150 solar backpack

Buzz Aldrin: revered engineer, astronaut of our time and now, the face of high fashion backpacks. Bag brand Sprayground has

Tesla will create ‘virtual power plant’ with 50,000 Australian homes

Tesla isn't done bolstering Australia's power grid just because its giant battery farm is up and running. South Australia

The state of solar installers after Trump’s tariff

Two days after President Donald Trump signed hefty tariffs on imported solar panels, a five-man team was hauling slabs of

Nearly all new US electricity capacity was renewable in 2017

Renewable energy played an important role in the US last year... although you might not want to cheer too loudly.

Thieves swipe a portion of China’s solar road

Solar roads have plenty of potential problems, such as damage and snow, but theft? Apparently that's a concern, too.

Thanks to renewable energy, German factories got paid to use power last weekend

Germany's rapid renewable energy expansion has led to some unique challenges, such as too much electricity occasionally generated for the power grid. When prices dip below zero, some high-volume consumers reap the benefitsThe post Thanks to renewable energy, German factories got paid to use power last weekend appeared first on Digital Trends.

Solar windows use sunlight to retain a building’s heat

A domestic property loses as much as 20 percent of its heat through windows. For big glassy commercial buildings, that

Solar car race kicks off 30th anniversary with a fresh challenge

It's a special moment in the history of clean energy: the 30th anniversary World Solar Challenge has begun. A

Solar power is the fastest growing source of global energy

Solar power was the fastest-growing source of global energy last year, overtaking growth from all other forms, according to the

A huge solar flare temporarily knocked out GPS communications

On the morning of 6 September the sun let out two pretty sizeable burps of radiation. Both were considered X-class

800,000 low-income UK homes to benefit from free solar panels

One of the biggest ever green energy schemes in the UK is set to provide clean energy for as many

Stanford toughens up cheap solar cells by mimicking insect eyes

While silicon solar panels are already providing electricity for a lot of homes and buildings, it doesn't mean researchers have

Audi will use solar panels to help power its future EVs

When you think of electric vehicles, you probably imagine Tesla's Supercharger, or gas station-like centers where you go to top

Tesla’s ‘Tiny House’ roadshow demystifies its energy tech

Renewable energy is good for the planet, but it can be great for consumers -- depending on your location, you

Massive solar plant in the Sahara could help keep the EU powered

A proposed massive solar plant in the Sahara desert could produce 4.5 gigawatts of power, intended to be transmitted across the Mediterranean ocean from Tunisia to mainland Europe.The post Massive solar plant in the Sahara could help keep the EU powered appeared first on Digital Trends.

IKEA’s selling home storage batteries for its solar panels

A rooftop of solar panels generating clean energy is great and all, but having somewhere to squirrel away that free

India is building solar powered commuter trains to cut down on carbon emissions

Solar energy technology costs have dropped significantly in recent years. This train will use rooftop solar panels rather than traditional diesel engines to reduce fossil fuel reliance and cut carbon dioxide emissions.The post India is building solar powered commuter trains to cut down on carbon emissions appeared first on Digital Trends.

Strong winds and clear skies help set UK renewable energy record

This week saw more milestones for renewable energy after the National Grid confirmed that power from green sources supplied more

Mercedes-Benz and Vivint want to power your solar home

Tesla has been dominating home energy headlines in recent months, what with the release of its solar roof panels and

In record-breaking weekend, Germany got 85% of its electricity from renewables

How's this for impressive: on the last weekend of April, 85 percent of all of the electricity consumed in Germany was produced through wind, solar, biomass, and hydroelectric power.The post In record-breaking weekend, Germany got 85% of its electricity from renewables appeared first on Digital Trends.

Tesla ends SolarCity’s door-to-door sales pitches

Tesla is used to selling cars online, but that's not how the recently acquired SolarCity liked to roll -- it