Tag archive: Solar

Part of Dow Chemical, Dow Solar has begun production of solar shingles at a pilot plant in Midland, Michigan. Called the Powerhouse solar shingles, they are initially being sold in Colorado and will be released in twelve more states through 2012 such as Texas and California. Outfitting the average house with a roof covered in solar shingles and an energy converter box will cost consumers approximately $10,000 to $15,000. However, energy costs… Read More

International technology development company Pegasus Global Holdings announced today plans to build a fake city in the New Mexico desert, which will serve as a testing ground for a variety of next-generation technologies. The entirely uninhabited city will encompass up to 20 square miles of desert, and cost approximately $200 million to build. Dubbed “The Center for Innovation, Testing and Evaluation,” the fake metropolis will… Read More

Based out of northern Idaho, Solar Roadways was awarded a $750,000 grant from the Federal Highway Administration earlier this year to design and build a solar parking lot, the next phase of development for the green technology. During phase one of the project, the founders of Solar Roadways used an initial grant of $100,000 from the federal government to construct a 12 by 12 foot prototype of the technology. The first prototype is constructed… Read More

Apple and Samsung are exploring the possibility of releasing lines of products that are powered entirely by the sun, reports DigiTimes. Unfortunately, the solar market is not quite ready to produce products meant for a wide consumer debut, so such devices are highly unlikely to land in the Apple Store anytime soon. The research into solar-powered gadgets is being headed up by both Apple and Samsung, the report indicates. Both companies hope to… Read More

The Obama administration's Department of Energy has awarded a $737 million loan guarantee to Santa Monica, California-based solar energy startup, SolarReserve, reports Forbes. The money will be used to build a groundbreaking new 110-megawatt solar thermal plant in Nevada that will be capable of generating electricity 24 hours per day. The move should please environmental advocates, as it shows that the US government is willing to invest… Read More

Google announced this week that it has committed $168 million in funding for what will be the world's largest solar power tower plant, which is currently being built in California's Mojave Desert. The massive alternative energy project, spearheaded by BrightSource Energy, will reportedly generate 392 grow megawatts of clean energy, enough to power 140,000 homes. “That’s the equivalent of taking more than 90,000 cars off the… Read More

When you think “green,” chances are NASCAR is not the next word that comes to mind. But this fuel-guzzling motorsport circuit has initiated a major campaign to green its operations. The latest development in this effort? A solar-powered sport racing facility in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. This solar project is a 3 megawatt ground-mount photovoltaic solar energy system at Pocono Raceway, installed over 25 acres adjacent to the 2.5-mile race track,… Read More

Peripheral and accessory maker Scosche Industries is now offering the solBat II, the latest version of its USB charger for iPods, iPhones, and other USB devices that combines a 1500mA lithium-ion battery with a solar cell charger: the idea is that the battery can charge USB devices as fast as a wall wart, then users can recharge the solBat II “greenly” in the sun for the next recharge, perhaps by plopping it inside a car windshield… Read More

For some people, portable computing means being able to pick up a notebook computer and transition neatly between a desk and a couch, but for others it means being able to take a computer with them to the ends of the earth. The problem with the ends of the earth? Very few power outlets. Sure, you can bring along spare batteries, but that's a lot of extra weight to carry…and in the case of things like the MacBook Air and… Read More

Mobile devices might be great things, letting us take our media and stay in touch with the world wherever we go—so long as we don't stray too far from power outlets, or forget to bring our adapters or USB cables with us. Wouldn't it be great if we could harness free, environmentally-friendly energy sources essentially anywhere we go, and use them to keep our gizmos going? That's the idea behind Novothink's new… Read More