Solar Energy Watch
March 27, 2008 Category: Energy No Comments »
Today, I have come across two great new ideas for implementing practical solar energy solutions. The first comes from Gizmodo and involves a new ’solar panel paint’. Engadget posts the other story of plans to install solar panels on commercial buildings in Southern California. Hit the jump to get the stories.
‘Solar Panel Paint’
From the UK, a group from Swansea, while researching paint degradation on steel surfaces, has uncovered a process to create ’solar panel paint’. When applied to steel, it is able to convert five percent of solar energy into electricity. Although a low conversion factor, when considering the application on the large, steel-cladding-rich surface area of commercial buildings, the invention looks like a very good alternative to solar panels. Project leader Dave Worsley believes just one manufacturer, using the paint on all of their steel cladding, could generate the same amount of energy as 50 wind farms. (Sorry no details as to wattage) Anyway, this will definitely be something to follow, especially if anyone of you environmentally-friendly readers is planning on building commercial buildings anytime soon. [Gizmodo > Inhabitat]
SoCal Solar Panels
California Utility, Southern California Edison (SCE), is launching a program to install solar photovoltaic panels on commercial rooftops in Southern California. The program aims to produce 250 megawatts of electricity on 65 million square feet (2 square miles) of roofs. It is an $875 million project that is expected to take five years to complete, but when finished, will power around 162,000 homes–the same as a small power plant. It is quite the undertaking; however, it will not only help meet California’s 2010 mandate of twenty percent renewable energy generation, will hopefully, inspire others, nationally and worldwide, to consider such options. Yes, Google already does this. (Good call Nilay) [Engadget > News.com]
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