solar power

Testing shows that Sandia’s falling ceramic particle receiver can still take the heat

By April Gocha / June 2, 2016

Sandia National Lab has completed testing of a novel solar energy storage technique that uses ceramic particles to collect and store the intense heat generated from concentrated sunlight—and the results look promising.

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Video: Such great heights—Stratobus drone–satellite hybrid project is getting off the ground

By April Gocha / May 25, 2016

Thales Alenia Space—a French–Italian venture specializing in space communications, navigation, Earth observation, exploration, and orbital infrastructures—is developing a unique solar powered autonomous stratospheric airship.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By April Gocha / May 25, 2016

Alfred Ceramic Art Museum finds home, graphene makes rubber more rubbery, and other materials stories that may be of interest for May 25, 2016.

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New high-pressure method could make large, flexible solar panels a cost-effective reality

By Stephanie Liverani / May 20, 2016

Scientists at Pennsylvania State University are working on a new high-pressure technique that could open the door to more cost-effective production of large, flexible solar panels.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By April Gocha / May 18, 2016

Functionalized nanomaterials for carbon capture, floor tiles that generate power, and other materials stories that may be of interest for May 18, 2016.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By April Gocha / May 4, 2016

Ferroelectric nanowires make personal cooling units, 3-D-printed foams outperform other materials, origin of earth’s oldest zircon crystals, and more materials stories that may be of interest for May 4, 2016.

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MCARE 2016 wrap-up: Sustainable, safe, efficient energy harvesting and storage solutions a top materials challenge

By Stephanie Liverani / April 22, 2016

Materials Challenges in Alternative and Renewable Energy (MCARE) was held April 18–21 in Clearwater, Fla., and drew nearly 200 materials scientists, researchers, and engineers from 30 countries. And everyone seems to agree that sustainable solutions for efficient energy harvesting and storage across all industries is the ultimate goal.

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Other materials stories that may be of interest

By April Gocha / March 23, 2016

Unprecedented nanoscale analysis, when glass becomes liquid, and other materials stories that may be of interest for March 23, 2016.

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Ultrathin, super-light, flexible solar cells could power next-gen portable electronics

By Stephanie Liverani / March 22, 2016

Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a proof-of-concept for “solar cells so thin, flexible, and lightweight they could be placed on almost any material or surface,” according to an MIT press release.

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Thinking outside the windmill: Innovative tree-like structures turn vibrations into energy

By Stephanie Liverani / February 2, 2016

A project at Ohio State University is testing a new tool that resembles a tree-like structure for harvesting energy that uses vibrations from wind, traffic on a bridge, and even seismic activity to generate power.

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