solar – TechConnect Briefs

Hybrid Photovoltaic/Thermal Solar Plus Storage Cogeneration Systems

Bond A., Anderson M.G., Beachnau B., Icarus RT, Inc., US

Current PV technology is inefficient, converting only about 21% of solar energy into usable power at the ideal temperature of 25 °C. Panels often reach temperatures of 65– 75 °C, significantly reducing production. Still, commercial [...]

Residential Solar Systems as an Appliance Plug and Play PV

Honeker C., Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems, US

The Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) has developed a Plug and Play photovoltaic (PV) system, which combines several technologies to dramatically simplify residential solar installation thus reducing soft costs. One enabling concept is the [...]

Intelligent Energy Management and Power Distribution Panel

Chen H., Duli Technology LLC, US

Current solar photovoltaic (PV) systems for residential homes have several drawbacks. Grid tied PV systems with energy storage are very expensive, whereas grid tied PV systems without energy storage may cause unstable and unpredictable power [...]

A Self-Sufficient Weather Sensor Network for Microgrid Stabilization

Luong K., Chong C., Dorman Z., Hara S., Luong K., Obatake C., Pham A., Walser R., Kuh A., Renewable Island Energy Sustainability, US

To get environmental data we have created a self-sufficient environmental weather sensor network consisting of sensor network nodes that each get environmental data.. Powered by a 15,600 mAh lithium ion battery pack, a 3.7W solar [...]

Solar Energy Conversion using a Broad Band Coherent Concentrator with Antenna-Coupled Rectifiers

Bodan P., AMI Research and Development, US

A wideband coherent optical 1D concentrator, intended for rectennas, has been designed with an integrated photovoltaic array solar cell. Modeled and measured results are presented for a wedge prism coupled SiON waveguide array.

Solar Energy Conversion using a Broad Band Coherent Concentrator with Antenna-Coupled Rectifiers

Bodan P., AMI Research and Development, US

A wideband coherent optical 1D concentrator, intended for rectennas, has been designed with an integrated photovoltaic array solar cell. Modeled and measured results are presented for a wedge prism coupled SiON waveguide array.

Passive Solar Design of Buildings – a Case Study

Kumar S., Bansal M., GZS College of Engineering & Technology, IN

Passive solar technologies are means of using sunlight for useful energy without use of active mechanical systems, as contrasted to active solar techniques. Such technologies convert sunlight into usable heat in the form of water, [...]

SkyBuilt Power, Leader in Rapidly Deployable Renewable Power

Muchow D.J., SkyBuilt Power, Inc., US

SkyBuilt Power is the leading renewable energy product integration company for high tech, hybrid, rapidly deployable power systems. SkyBuilt invented and provides a range of patented products using its advanced solar, wind, battery and other [...]

An Ab Initio Study of CuGaSe2 (001) Surface

Chew S., Liborio L., Harrison N., Imperial College London, UK

The chalcopyrite material CuIn1-xGaxSe2 makes one of the best performing devices for thin film solar cells. Despite this, there is still a lack of understanding of some of the fundamental properties of the material. CuGaSe2 [...]

Greening and Growing the Grid: Utility-Scale Solar 101

Alcombright D., SOLON Corporation, US

With the growth of renewable portfolio standards, rising electricity rates and increasing peak load demands, U.S. utilities are seeking new solutions to meet their renewable energy needs. Scalability, cost and reliability have been the primary [...]