Thanks to pioneering nanotechnology research being developed by RMIT University researchers, people could soon be able to replace their washing machines with a little bit of sunshine. The researchers have been working on self-cleaning textiles by growing nanostructures on textiles. When exposed to light, they release a burst of energy that then degrades organic matter.
Continue reading… “RMIT University researchers say self-cleaning clothes are on the way”
A bike path outside Amsterdam was plastered with custom solar panels a year ago and it has been generating more power than predicted—and the designers are convinced that it’s proof that networks of solar-covered roads could eventually be a viable energy source.
The internet of things will run your home, keep you healthy and even check how much food is in your fridge. With all of these objects being interconnected via a global network means a trillion new “smart sensors” will need to be installed around the world by 2020. But what’s going to power these devices?
Continue reading… “Trillions of tiny solar panels could power the internet of things by 2020”
A home battery that is cheap, durable, safe and as big as you like that could store solar or wind power is closer to reality. Harvard University researchers report that they have tested a “flow battery” that uses cheap and abundant chemical elements, can be operated with plastic components, will not catch fire and can operate at 99 percent efficiency.
The Wave Solar is a home energy generator that makes electrical power, heat, hot water and air conditioning from a solar thermal panel. The system is backed up by natural gas or propane for cloudy days or if the power goes out at night.
Wave Solar is one of the featured exhibitors at the DaVinci Inventor Showcase. The Inventor Showcase will take place October 10-11, 2015 at the NoCo Maker Faire. You will have a chance to take a look at the Wave Solar and many other amazing inventions.
Continue reading… “Wave Solar – a solar home energy generator”
Plants are the original solar power generators, turning the sun’s rays into energy through the process we all learned about in biology class: photosynthesis. So, when we think of solar power, we should be thinking about plants instead of solar panels.
Continue reading… “This ‘artificial leaf’ could produce the cleanest energy on Earth”
With the help of Google Maps, there is a new service called Project Sunroof that aims to provide a “treasure map” of solar energy. Sunroof gives homeowners detailed information about how much solar power their roof can generate and how much money they could save on electricity costs by adding solar panels.
You may hear quite often that “the only reason solar is so cheap is because China is dumping cells. ”Let me correct it. Here is the price, as of February 2015, of solar modules, per watt sold in Europe. SE Asia (Malaysia, mostly) is cheapest. China is next. Japan, Korea, and Germany are slightly above that.
Continue reading… “Innovation is the reason China’s solar is cheap”
Trillions of dollars will be invested in renewable energy over the next 25 years. This will drive some of the most profound changes yet in how humans get their electricity. That’s according to a new forecast by Bloomberg New Energy Finance that plots out global power markets to 2040.
Continue reading… “Top 6 shifts coming soon to energy markets near you”
Futurist Thomas Frey: Having just returned from a trip to Alaska, it occurred to me that most of the 660,000 sq miles of this beautiful state will never be habitable until a more complete off-grid solution is found. In Alaska, they’ve already figured out how to turn every one of their 3 million lakes into a landing strip, so transportation is far less of an issue than power, heat, lights, water, and communications.
Continue reading… “Engineering the Secret Engines of Off-Grid Living”
Showing no signs of slowing, the global solar boom that began a decade ago could triple the generating capacity installed worldwide by 2020. Continue reading… “Global solar market could triple in the next 5 years”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian Cabinet recently approved increasing the country’s solar target five times to a goal of reaching 100 gigawatts, up from 20 GW, by 2022. Continue reading… “India raised solar goal five-fold, will install more solar than Germany”
By delving into the futuring techniques of Futurist Thomas Frey, you’ll embark on an enlightening journey.
Learn More about this exciting program.