Alternate Energy
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$100,000 Vandalism at the First Solar/Exelon Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One
An unidentified vandal attacked the still- embattled , under-construction 230-megawatt Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One (AVSR1) photovoltaic solar power plant during the night of July 9-10. Damage was estimated at $100,000, according to First Solar’s AVSR1 Project Manager Tony Perrino. First Solar has informed GTM it will be posting a $25,000 reward, payable to the first person to provide material information that leads directly to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the vandalism. A transmission line and a water pipe, both approximately 2.5 miles from the solar project site, were cut by a Sawzall. A report was filed with the local Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Small, portable Goal Zero Switch 8 charger offers multiple functions
The Switch 8's screw-on tips allow for multiple charger styles and accessories Image Gallery (3 images) The Goal Zero Switch 8 is a lightweight, pocket-sized charger that carries enough juice to just about fully charge a cell phone.The charger can also multitask, including serving as a flashlight and UV water purifier. At five inches (12.7 cm) long and 3/4 inch (1.9 cm) thick, the Switch 8 is quite compact and has the feel of a small flashlight handle – Goal Zero says that it's smaller than a roll of quarters. It weighs just over three ounces (85 grams), so it won't add much feel to a backpack, purse or even pocket. The device includes a flip-out USB for charging from a laptop, solar panel or other USB-equipped charging device.
Researchers Create Highly Transparent Solar Cells for Windows that Generate Electricity — UCLA Engineering
By Jennifer Marcus | July 20, 2012 Transparent Solar Cells UCLA researchers have developed a new transparent solar cell that is an advance toward giving windows in homes and other buildings the ability to generate electricity while still allowing people to see outside. Their study appears in the journal ACS Nano . The UCLA team describes a new kind of polymer solar cell (PSC) that produces energy by absorbing mainly infrared light, not visible light, making the cells nearly 70% transparent to the human eye.
Shaw, Exelon join NET Power to develop new tech for gas-fired power generation
Source: Shaw Group Inc. The Shaw Group Inc. (SHAW) (NYSE: SHAW ) announced it is teaming up with NET Power LLC and Exelon (NYSE: EXC ) to develop a new technology for gas-fired power generation that could result in major benefits for electricity producers and consumers, energy security and the environment. The new technology, called NET Power, is based on a high-pressure, supercritical carbon dioxide oxyfuel power cycle, which produces cost-effective electric power with little to no air emissions. Unlike other power generation technologies that release emissions to the atmosphere or employ expensive, add-on carbon capture systems, the primary byproduct of NET Power is pipeline quality, high-pressure carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide can be used for enhanced oil recovery, which can potentially greatly increase reliable reserves of oil in the United States and around the world, while sequestering carbon dioxide below ground.
Solar Powered Briefcase
I had a solar panel laying around along with a charge regulator and a fairly large 12 Volt battery for a home security system...
1. Place your solar panel on the outside of your case and mark 4 spots so that they hold down the panel from underneath it.
Attach the solar panel
Wire the Components
1. Strip your multiple socket car charger wires and either solder or tape it to your battery also add the wire for the voltage regulator (leave any fuses if possible). 2.
The entire set up gives you a very nice view of how things are working. When your solar panel is making power, your voltage regulator's LED will light up telling you that it's working. Then, your car charger's LED will light up telling you that its receiving power.
Take your briefcase outside!
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