Solar Energy Investing

Press.co.nz reports that a Tongan school’s solar panels with be the very first test case for Canterbury University. Students will install the panels in the rooftop of their school, Vava’u High School. The project took over two years to gain necessary funding for. The panels will provide around 10 to 15 percent of the school’s electricity.

IssaQuahPress.com reports that Liberty High School in Washington has received a grant of $26,700 from Puget Sound Energy. The money will go towards construction of a solar array at the school. It will also provide the students with computer software that will allow them to keep tabs on how much energy they are producing.

Arisona Daily Star reports that students at the University of Arizona (UA) are building a new kind of solar car with 50% increased efficiency thanks to a solar panel that can track the sun. The SolarCat will also have a back-up diesel engine that runs on biodiesel. A group of 21 students are planning to race the SolarCat in the Shell Eco-marathon Americas race.

The Tundra Drums reports that a junior at Emmonak School in Alaska, Gunner Gregory, attended the Alaska Youth for Environmental Action Civics and Conservation Summit in Juneau this March 15th-19th. The summit offered state government  and legislation training on environmental topics. Gunner joined 17 other students from Alaska at the summit. As part of the summit, he earned the responsibility of getting signatures for a pro-renewable energy petition and also learned about the Renewable Energy Fund’s $50 million budget appropriation.

Physorg.com reports research has been published in the Journal of Materials Chemistry on a record conversion efficiency with solar cells based on organic models.  Organic solar cells produce 5% efficiency compared to 15% efficiency of silicon cells but are abel to be manufactured cheaply with little environmental impact.  This technology’s intended use is for packaging, clothing, and recharging cell phones and laptops - not to compete with silicon cells.

PRLog reports Silicon Solar Inc. has been providing classes on solar installation to create qualified installers across the country.  Solar classes will be coming to Boston, MA in April.

Tri-Valley Central reports University of Arizona students are developing a solar car called the SolarCat.  The normal looking car will feature a solar panel that can track the sun and increase efficiency by 50%.  It will also have a back up diesel engine that utilizes biodiesel fuel.   SolarCat will race at Shell’s Eco-Marathon Americas and hopes to beat last year’s record of 3,000 miles per gallon.

Eureka Alert reports diatoms, or single cell marine life, could be the key to a new solar energy technology discovered by Oregon State University.  The diatom’s shell naturally creates a small amount of nanotechnology and could improve efficiency of a dye-sensitized solar cell.

The Tundra Drums reports Gunner Gregory of the Emmonak School represented students at the Alaska Youth for Environmental Action Civics and Conservation Summit.  He spoke with state legislators about bringing renewable energy to his village by lobbying three different bills.  He got excited about renewable energy after a solar panel project for the school’s science fair.

ReviewJournal.com reports the new building for several Las Vegas, NV t.v. stations and a public school has gone green.  Some features include:  special parking for hybrid vehicles and carpoolers, solar power will account for 15% of the building’s power supply, and geothermal walls will cool the air.  The incentives for fuel efficiency will qualify the studio and school facility as a LEED Gold Classification.