How to store large amounts of solar energy at night has been one of the most puzzling issues surrounding this technology, but a group of researchers led by a University of North Carolina (UNC) professor may have found a solution. UNC’s Tom Meyer and his colleagues have discovered a new way to use solar energy to split water into its molecular components of hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen can be used as fuel and would only…

It’s hard to argue with the benefits of Bay Area solar energy. The fact is that a household can stabilize its financial health and help improve air quality by installing a solar photovoltaic (PV) system above their home. But many utility companies are worried that more homeowners will decide to go solar, because doing so could eat into their profits. A recent article in the New York Times sheds light on opposition to solar power…

Researchers at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne in Switzerland have developed thin-film, dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSC) that achieve efficiency rates of 15 percent, putting them on par with conventional silicon-based cells that are used in commercially available photovoltaic panels (PV). The school announced in a press release on its website that the researchers were able to raise the efficiency of DSSCs using a special process for producing the dye that makes these cells useful in low…

The year 2013 was an exciting one for the renewable energy industry in California, which saw a massive amount of development throughout the state, including a significant number of solar installations. As Rewire, a KCET.org energy blog, notes, these numbers must be looked at in context. The fact is that, although solar power continues to grow at exponential rates, it still makes up a relatively small portion of the state’s energy infrastructure, and renewables in general account for…

The Golden State is widely recognized for its firm stance on sustainability, but now it seems like even the airplanes are going green in California! The first solar-powered plane capable of flying at night is preparing for its first cross-country flight this week, reported the Washington Post. The plane is called the Solar Impulse, and was the joint creation of pilot Andre Borschberg, co-founder and chairman Bertrand Piccard and their team. It draws its power from…

It’s a fact of life that many contractors will present potential clients with unrealistic bid proposals when they’re trying to win a new job. The incentive to lie or mislead customers is too great for many Bay Area solar installers to resist, even if it has the potential to blow back in the form of a complaint with the Better Business Bureau or worse, a lawsuit. This is why it is imperative for customers who…

While the technology behind solar energy is quickly becoming more advanced, basic issues like efficient installation and cleaning are hindering its progress. Fortunately for solar panel companies and consumers interested in renewable energy, robots are working hard to make installation easier and bring down labor costs. The New York Times reports that Alion Energy, a small California-based start-up is providing robots to solar farms help with maintenance. The company’s overall goal is to bring the cost…

Upgrading to solar energy solutions for your home doesn’t just benefit the environment, it can also help you save a sizeable amount of money on your monthly utility bills and increase the value of your property. Plus, in spite of initial installation costs, solar panels usually wind up paying for themselves – sometimes in as few as seven years, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. There are, understandably, many questions and concerns that individuals have…

Folks who reside in the Sacramento, California, area and who are hoping to invest in solar energy systems may be able to take advantage of a new initiative that makes this and other energy-efficient upgrades more cost-effective. In a March 28 press release, Ygrene Energy Fund, a leading developer and administrator of clean energy financing programs, announced that it is forming a partnership with the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors that will help individuals within the county…

Although many areas of California are fortunate enough to experience a significant amount of sunshine and warm weather compared to other parts of the United States, there are still certain times of the year during which the temperature gets cooler and the skies are more likely to appear overcast. With these inevitabilities in mind, people interested in solar energy solutions may wonder whether this kind of climate has an effect on the performance of solar…

Recently on this blog, we’ve written about a number of steps the city of Sacramento, California, has taken to adopt solar energy solutions. Over the past month or so, Ygrene Energy Fund formed a partnership with the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to help individuals within the county purchase renewable power and two influential green technology companies announced a joint plan to study the effects of solar photovoltaics (PV) on the city’s electric grid. Now, according to an April…

It has become clear over the years that green technology solutions are more than just a passing fad. In fact, the National Association of Home Buyers (NAHB) recently released a study entitled “What Home Buyers Really Want,” which reveals that, first and foremost, prospective property owners desire energy-efficient features. However, there are some factors that may be holding people back from making these upgrades, and one of them is the perception that solar energy is too…