Clean Energy Archives - Page 6 of 6

New Business Venture After Career Loss: My Journey

October 12, 2013

by Guest Contributor

By Amber Archangel What does one do when their career disappears? Maybe you or someone you know has experienced something similar. Returning to school may not be the first thing you think of — however, for me, it seemed like a great place to start. My previous college days took place before personal computers played the major role in business that they do today. So I had done a lot of on-the job training . The first semester back in school consisted…

Thin-Film Solar Cells That Are Easy To Manufacture Hit 15.4% Efficiency

October 4, 2013

by James Ayre

An easy-to-manufacture, thin-film solar cell with a higher than 15% conversion efficiency was recently created by researchers at the University of Oxford through the use of a newly emerging type of semiconductor referred to as “perovskites.” The new devices are simple enough that they could be mass produced rather easily, by utilizing processes such as vapour-deposition — potentially greatly cutting down on costs, according to the researchers. The “perovskite” semiconductors — organometal trihalide perovskite semiconductors, which have the formula (CH3NH3)PbX3,…

Sunflower Pumps Water Using Solar Power

October 3, 2013

by Cynthia Shahan

Sunflowers, sunbeams, and dry fields. The sun is shining and the fields need watering, what’s a farmer to do? Use his tired old back pumping water? Worse yet, use that smelly diesel fuel or petrol to pump some water? No, there is an alternative! Use the sunshine to pump the water. It just goes hand in hand — sunshine and watering are two parts of the same work day. When the fields need watering, there is plenty of sunshine. Renewable…

Solar Stove From GoSun Blows Past $40,000 Kickstarter Goal

September 19, 2013

by James Ayre

A lightweight, portable solar oven that can cook you dinner in 20 minutes? Reaches temperatures as high as 550 degrees Fahrenheit? Can be used to bake, boil, or fry? Sounds pretty good, right? Well, the new (yet to be released) GoSun solar stove delivers all of these things and more. The GoSun stove is currently only a couple of weeks into its Kickstarter campaign but has already blown past its $40,000 goal. Nonetheless, if you’re looking to get your hands…

How to Start Investing in Renewable Energy

September 10, 2013

by Leon Harris

Renewable energy is one of the most promising avenues when it comes to reducing pollution and waste for a cleaner planet and a sustainable future. So businesses looking to go green are naturally interested in exploring this option. However, not every company has the capital on hand to build a LEED certified facility, or even add solar panels or a wind turbine to power their office building. And while you can certainly adopt energy-saving practices like using natural light and…

Khi Solar One Tower — First Concentrating Solar Power Plant In South Africa

September 1, 2013

by James Ayre

The Khi Solar One concentrating solar power plant is now one step closer to reality with the recent completion of the Khi Solar One tower in the Northern Cape province, near Upington, in South Africa. The company behind the 50 MW project — Abengoa, together with its partners the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Khi Community Trust — recently held a ceremony to commemorate the important milestone. An important milestone with regard to the project itself, and also with…