Solar Thermal
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Using superconducting, nano-particle infused ink, researchers have increased the efficiency of solar water heaters by up to 70 percent.
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Although solar panels are active while the sun is shining, they typically don't do much once the sun goes down. A newly-developed device, however, uses paraffin to store heat energy until it's needed.
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The CSIRO has claimed a world record for the highest temperatures ever recorded using solar energy to generate "supercritical" steam at its solar thermal test plant in Newcastle, Australia. This achievement is touted as a breakthrough for solar energy production.
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The Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating System is now fully operational. The 392 MW plant is expected to generate enough electricity to power 140,000 homes each year. NRG announced last week that each of the plant's three units is now supplying electricity to California’s grid.
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Researchers at the University of Stuttgart are preparing to test a solar heating system that uses a solar thermal system in conjunction with a sorption tank for storing heat from solar collectors throughout the warmer months that can then be released when the mercury drops.
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IBM is developing an affordable High Concentration PhotoVoltaic Thermal (HCPVT) system that uses cooling technology from supercomputers to harvest solar energy and produce drinkable water.