Solar Cell Growth Flaring
The recent energy crisis and soaring oil prices have compelled the human race to look for alternate energy sources, such solar, wind, geothermal, nuclear and bio fuels. Harnessing of nuclear power is getting new impetus.
Posts tagged ‘photovoltaic’
More Power From the Sun
The biggest impediments to widespread adoption of photovoltaic cells as a routine source of energy are the cells’ inadequate efficiency and high cost. According to EE Times, IBM has taken a major step toward removing those barriers. Critical to the new development is the devices’ cooling mechanism, which employs a liquid metal layer of gallium and indium between the chip logic and a cooling block. The technology will eventually allow constructing applications that generate much more electricity with many fewer chips. Larger lenses are increasing the concentration of solar rays by a factor of ten, raising power levels significantly.
Durham University Leads UK Research Project Into Cheaper Solar Energy
A national team of scientists led by experts at Durham University are embarking on one of the UK’s largest ever research projects into photovoltaic (PV) solar energy.
The £6.3million PV-21 programme will focus on making thin-film light absorbing cells for solar panels from sustainable and affordable materials.
The four-year project, which begins in April (2008), is being funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) under the SUPERGEN initiative.
Eight UK universities, led by Durham and including Bangor, Bath, Cranfield, Edinburgh, Imperial College London, Northumbria and Southampton, are involved in the project.
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