Solar Power

Scientists in Switzerland have been working to bring the efficiency of CIGS flexible solar cells up to the levels offered by rigid solar cells, and have taken another step toward this goal by setting a new record of 21.4 percent.

Lately we're seeing how sophisticated, ocean-going robots might help us map the seafloor, and one particularly interesting example has just successfully proved its mapping capabilities during its maiden voyage between San Francisco and Hawaii.

Austrian boat-maker Silent Yachts has rolled out its latest solar electric catamaran. Helping things along are a dozen more solar panels than the previous model, and an innovative kite wing for extra propulsion.

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station have undertaken three spacewalks over a 10-day period in order to install and power up a new set of roll-out solar arrays to the exterior hull of the orbital outpost.

Heatherwick Studio continues its run of greenery filled buildings with Castellana 69, which is conceived as an office with a "green heart" and will boast sustainable design, including solar panels which will produce more electricity than it needs.

German startup Sono Motors has introduced new battery technology for its forthcoming Sion electric vehicle that promises to not only power the vehicle across longer trips but allow higher charging rates in between.

In many countries, long, dark winters limit the amount of solar energy that can be generated for much of the year. That's where the Underground Sun Conversion system comes in, as it's intended to use sunlight to help produce natural gas underground.

Though some folks chase storms for thrills or curiosity, there are also those who do so for scientific purposes. And it's the lattermost pursuit that will see a small fleet of unmanned surface vehicles deliberately head into hurricane territory.

With a view to one day developing transparent solar cells that can double as windows in homes and other buildings, an international team of scientists has demonstrated a new type of transparent electrode that can function as a key building block.

Scientists have discovered unexpected behavior in perovskite crystals that represents an entirely new state of matter, which they say can help drive the development of advanced solar cells and other optical and electronic devices.

Perovskite solar cells can suffer from stability issues and quickly deteriorate during use, but scientists at Brown University have come up with a way of addressing this by targeting a weak point with something they call molecular glue.

For eight years or so, GoSun has been offering outdoor enthusiasts clean ways of cooking up their meals through a range of solar-powered stoves, grills and ovens. Its latest and greatest, the Sizzle, is billed as its fastest and most powerful yet.