• Home
  • Energy
  • Sustainability
  • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
  • Environment
    • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Pollution
      • Global Warming
      • Population Explosion
      • Renewable Energy
      • Species Extinction
      • Sustainable Management of Resources
    • Animals
    • Pollution
    • Environmental Policy
  • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
  • Contact Us
  • Home
  • Energy
  • Sustainability
  • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
  • Environment
    • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Pollution
      • Global Warming
      • Population Explosion
      • Renewable Energy
      • Species Extinction
      • Sustainable Management of Resources
    • Animals
    • Pollution
    • Environmental Policy
  • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
  • Contact Us
Pop Music and Steam Engines Boost Solar Power
January 4, 2014

solar power

Photo Credit: Some rights reserved by Jams_123 on Flickr.

And here’s the latest on solar energy news: pop music and steam piston engines make for better solar power use. Who knew renewable energy could be so exciting?

Solar Power and Pop Music

Turns out solar cells are also from the work hard, play hard school. Science Daily reports that playing pop and/or rock music can improve performance of solar cells, specifically those that contain nanorods. The discovery has important implications in the development of next generation low-cost printed solar cells.

Scientists from the Queen Mary University of London and Imperial College of London found that an increase of up to 40% in solar cell efficiency could be achieved by playing pop music to cause vibration in the solar cells. It’s all thanks to the high frequencies and pitch present in pop and rock music, to which the researchers’ acoustic solar cells best respond to. This means that putting on Owl City’s “Good Time” is a better bet in increasing solar cell efficiency than, say, Pachelbel’s classical piece “Canon in D”.

pop-music-solar

Rock on for Solar Power. Some rights reserved by scaredporcupine and Living Off Grid respectively on Flickr.

Dr. Steve Dunn, co-author of the study, said “After investigating systems for converting vibrations into electricity, this is a really exciting development that shows a similar set of physical properties can also enhance the performance of a photovoltaic.”

The researchers used nanorods built from zinc oxide and covered with an active polymer for the solar cells. It has been previously known that zinc oxide materials respond to the application of pressure by giving off voltage outputs, also known as the piezoelectric effect. This is the first time however that the piezoelectric effect on solar efficiency has been closely studied. Dr. Dunn said “The work highlights the benefits of collaboration to develop new and interesting systems and scientific understanding.”

The team’s findings may one day be used to build solar-powered devices that can be exposed to acoustic vibrations (like air conditioning units or cars) to enhance performance.

Solar Power and Steam Engines

Sometimes, stepping back is a way to move forward. For a team of Australian engineers, the answer to solar energy storage came not from cutting edge technology but from old fashioned technology: steam piston engines.

Solar power has had to overcome many hurdles as a renewable energy resource, one of which the most important is energy storage. Gathering and using power directly from the sun is only possible when the sun is shining. On rainy or cloudy days, solar energy users either have to fall back on generators or backup power systems.

But the green energy startup Terrajoule proposes a novel storage system that promises to provide solar energy 24 hours a day – at cost effective prices.

terrajouletroughs

Terrajoule’s solar concentrators used to produce steam. via Terrajoule

Terrajoule accomplishes this by using steam piston engines and insulated pressure vessels integrated into a storage system. First, solar concentrators (shown above) works to produce steam. The steam engines then convert the steam to electricity. Then energy is stored in steam accumulators filled with water and built with steel pressure vessels. Terrajoule further explains how their system works:

“Since it is impractical to store gaseous steam for later use, the steam is condensed into the mass of water where its energy is stored. When needed, the stored energy flashes the water back to steam. The energy lost in this steam-water-steam phase change cycle is less than 2%. Terrajoule’s proprietary architecture allows for energy storage at below 18 bar, while achieving the efficiency of inlet steam at 42 bar. At 18 bar we exploit the sweet spot for pressure vessel pricing that is driven by the worldwide Liquid Propane Gas storage industry (however there is only water, and no propane, stored in Terrajoule’s vessels).”

Terrajoule hopes to deliver their system at a competitive peak watt price of $1.50-$2.00/watt (dependent on variables) by 2015. Compared to pricey battery storage systems, Terrajoule offers a solar power storage solution at 80% less cost with no degradation or cycle limits. In addition, Terrajoule’s system ensures there will be no toxic waste to worry about. The company estimated their product has a lifetime of 25 years at the minimum.

The opportunities for widespread adoption and use of solar power rise with every incremental innovations and breakthroughs like these. Soon, green energy users will be able to sing “It’s always a good time” for solar power.

Pop Musicsolar power
Share

Energy

Estel Masangkay
I am a freelance creative writer based in the “valley city” of Olongapo near the neighboring Subic Bay Freeport Zone in The Philippines. I enjoy outdoor trips and activities in natural settings and I am passionate about animal welfare and environmental conservation. You can connect with me via my social networks: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/EstelGraceMasangkay">Facebook</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/em23me">Twitter</a> <a href="https://plus.google.com/u/0/107876341884421334423/">g+</a>

You might also like

Effective Investments for Becoming More Sustainable at Home
August 6, 2021
Peru Harnesses Solar Power to Supply Electricity to its Poorest Residents
July 26, 2013

Leave a reply


Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

  • Recent Posts

    • The Environmental Impact Of Biomedical Waste And How To Reduce It
    • What Are the Most Eco-Friendly Types of Water Filters?
    • The Top 7 Eco-Friendly Kitchen Cabinet Picks For 2023
    • How To Sustain A Carbon-Neutral Lifestyle
    • Sustainable Fishing Methods to Fish More Responsibly
  • Categories

    • Animals
    • Climate Change
    • Eco Editorial
    • Energy
    • Environment
    • Environmental Policy
    • Green Food
    • Green Technology
    • Green Tips
    • Green Travel
    • Infographics
    • Other Stories
    • Pollution
    • Recycle
    • Sustainability
    • Toxics
    • Uncategorized
  • Archives

    • March 2023
    • February 2023
    • January 2023
    • December 2022
    • November 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • July 2022
    • June 2022
    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • October 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021
    • April 2021
    • March 2021
    • February 2021
    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • December 2019
    • November 2019
    • October 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • May 2019
    • April 2019
    • March 2019
    • February 2019
    • January 2019
    • December 2018
    • November 2018
    • October 2018
    • September 2018
    • August 2018
    • July 2018
    • June 2018
    • May 2018
    • April 2018
    • March 2018
    • February 2018
    • January 2018
    • December 2017
    • November 2017
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • June 2017
    • May 2017
    • April 2017
    • March 2017
    • February 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • November 2013
    • October 2013
    • September 2013
    • August 2013
    • July 2013
    • June 2013
    • May 2011



Home | About | Advertise With Us | Bike The Netherlands | Current Environmental Issues | Eco Editorial | Contact