Could U.S. Get 20% of Electricity from Solar Under Power Lines? | john-farrell-ilsr

Let's go a step further... Use the towers themselves as hybrid vibration, wind, solar and gravity power and storage framework. Definitely a step in the right direction though... | cindy s martin

Could U.S. Get 20% of Electricity from Solar Under Power Lines? | john-farrell-ilsr

What if the U.S. could get 20 percent of its power from solar near transmission lines without covering virgin desert?

It could. Transmission right-of-way corridors, vast swaths of vegetation-free landscape to protect high-voltage power lines, could provide enough space for over 600,000 megawatts of solar PV. These arrays could provide enough electricity to meet 20 percent of the country's electric needs. (Note: There may not be good interconnection opportunities for solar under these huge towers, so this should be read as a land use discussion rather than technical analysis of interconnection to the grid.)

It starts with the federal Government Accountability Office, which estimates there are 155,000 miles of high-voltage transmission lines in the United States (defined as lines 230 kilovolts and higher). According to at least two major utilities (Duke Energy and theTennessee Valley Authority), such power lines require a minimum of 150 feet of right-of-way — land generally cleared of all significant vegetation that might come in contact with the power lines...

Read the Full Story: Could U.S. Get 20% of Electricity from Solar Under Power Lines? | john-farrell-ilsr

Solar power could get boost from new light absorption design

Source: By Sarah Ostman, Northwestern University (Nanowerk News) Solar power may be on the rise, but solar cells are only as efficient as the amount of sunlight they collect. Under the direction of a new McCormick professor, researchers have developed a new material that absorbs a wide range of wavelengths and could lead to more efficient and less expensive solar technology. A paper describing the findings, "Broadband polarization-independent resonant light absorption using ultrathin plasmonic super absorbers", was published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications. "The solar spectrum is not like a laser – it's very broadband, starting with UV and going up to near-infrared," said Koray Aydin, assistant professor of electrical engineering and computer science and the paper's lead author. "To capture this light most efficiently, a solar cell needs to have a broadband response. This design allows us to achieve that." The researchers used two unconventional materials – metal and silicon oxide...

Read the Full Story: Solar power could get boost from new light absorption design

Metal grating developed by Koray Aydin's research team.

Energy Storage for Solar Power - Technology Review

Stored sunlight: A rendering shows BrightSource’s new thermal storage design. The two large tanks will store molten salt, which can be used to generate steam to drive a turbine.
Credit: BrightSource

Energy Storage for Solar Power
by Kevin Bullis

Startup BrightSource announces a new system that could allow future solar plants to run at night.

BrightSource Energy has become the latest solar thermal power company to develop a system for generating power when the sun isn't shining. The company says the technology can lower the cost of solar power and make it more reliable, helping it compete with conventional sources of electricity.

The company, based in Oakland, California, is building one of the world's largest solar thermal power plants. The 392-megawatt solar plant in Ivanpah, California, however, will not include the storage technology. Instead, BrightSource is working with utilities to determine which future projects could best benefit from storage.

Read the full story: Energy Storage for Solar Power - Technology Review

Energy Harvesting - Power Everywhere

Energy | Data.gov Communities

In January's State of the Union address, the President stated:

"We're issuing a challenge. We're telling America's scientists and engineers that if they assemble teams of the best minds in their fields, and focus on the hardest problems in clean energy, we'll fund the Apollo Projects of our time."

Energy.Data.gov is part of that challenge and part of the larger Data.gov community. The President's challenge wasn't issued to a select group of academics, or through a contract to a limited number of private companies, it was issued to all of us—a call to action given to all Americans, as well as citizens of other countries, and a part of our Open Government Initiative. As co-chairs for this effort, we worked with a talented group of individuals to get this site and initial data available.


Read the Rest at Energy | Data.gov Communities

University of Minnesota engineering researchers discover new source for generating 'green' electricity : UMNews : University of Minnesota

During a small-scale demonstration in the lab, University of Minnesota researchers showed how their new material can spontaneously produce electricity when the temperature is raised a small amount. Pictured (from left) are aerospace engineering and mechanics professor Richard James, Ph.D. student Yintao Song and post-doctoral researchers Kanwal Bhatti and Vijay Srivastava.

University of Minnesota engineering researchers discover new source for generating 'green' electricity

Contacts: Rhonda Zurn, College of Science and Engineering,rzurn@umn.edu, (612) 626-7959
Preston Smith, University News Service, smith@umn.edu, (612) 625-0552

MINNEAPOLIS / ST. PAUL (06/21/2011) —University of Minnesota engineering researchers in the College of Science and Engineering have recently discovered a new alloy material that converts heat directly into electricity. This revolutionary energy conversion method is in the early stages of development, but it could have wide-sweeping impact on creating environmentally friendly electricity from waste heat sources.

Read the full story

A Colorful Approach to Solar Energy

Great material to use in hybrid "flexible smart structure" energy systems. Could be applied to the frame that houses the vibration / solar film energy harvesting panels. Piggyback all.

Building A Better Electric Grid

The nation's electrical grid is getting old, not just in its infrastructure, but in the technology used to run it. In this segment, Ira Flatow and guests discuss the grid, its problems, and how new technology can be used to make the grid "smarter." Will consumers sign on?

Erich Gunther, chairman, Chief Technology Officer, EnerNex, senior member, IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers), member of the IEEE's Smart Grid Task Force, Knoxville, Tenn.

Karen Herter, Herter Energy Research Solutions, El Dorado Hills, Calif.

Alex Laskey, president and founder, OPower, Arlington, Va.
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June 10, 2011

Triple Threat: New Generator Harnesses Energy from Sun, Wind and Rain

One thing that's known for sure about the future of renewable energy is that it will take all types to fulfill our energy needs. The wind isn't always blowing and the sun isn't always shining, but if wind, solar, geothermal, wave/tidal and any other type of renewable energy generation are all utilized and all feeding the grid, then we'll be more than covered. But what about devices that can harness more than one of these renewable energy sources at once?

A new renewable energy generator developed by researchers at the University of Bolton in the UK is able to harness energy from not one, but three sources: sunlight, wind and rain. I'm sure you're imagining one crazy-looking contraption, but this new technology actually uses ribbons of piezoelectric polymer that are coated with a thin, flexible solar PV film.

The ribbons generate electricity anytime they're disturbed, whether by wind or rain drops, or when the sun is shining. The more forcefully they're moved, the greater the energy payoff. The researchers imagine a pine cone shaped structure consisting of thousands of these ribbons.

The ribbons can only generate small amounts of electricity, so the researchers foresee them being used in low energy applications like powering gadgets. Another possibility is applying the same techniques to nylon for use in energy-generating clothing.

via New Scientist

The Wind Generation - SCAD MFA Industrial Design Small Wind

Another piece of the pie... Creative innovation solutions for smart grid / current grid tower and other infrastructure utilization for onsite hybrid solar / wind panel alternative energy generation and delivery system integration?

Solar Too Expensive? Use Jellyfish

Solar Too Expensive? Use Jellyfish: "
Over 70 percent of the earth is covered by oceans. Humans, while avid land explorers throughout history, still have a rudimentary understanding of the ecosystem beneath the sea. Most people think “SpongeBob Squarepants” isn’t so far off from the truth, although how anyone could believe a pineapple made it to the bottom of the ocean without being scavenged is beyond me. But as we continue to explore the sea, we also continue to unlock some of its secrets. Scientists have done just that with mysterious bioluminescent jellyfish, which may end up powering your home in the near future.
The bioluminescent protein that allows the cnidarians to glow can actually be harnessed to produce an electrical current. Swedish researchers (Scandinavians are just the best) have devised a way to collect that protein and turn them into “organic solar cells.” By dripping the green fluorescent protein onto a silicon dioxide substrate between two electrodes, the Swedes saw that the protein works itself into tiny strands. Those strands, when exposed to ultraviolet light (like the sun produces), absorb photons and emit electrons, generating electricity. They work just like solar cells, but don’t require the expensive materials.
Even Gene Roddenberry couldn’t have thought that one up.
While using animals as an energy source is contentious, the current overpopulation of jellyfish in the oceans can lend itself to a mutual agreement between science and conservation. By collecting and using jellyfish to create carbon-neutral energy, balance may also be restored to the oceans, allowing more fragile species of life to exist. Like the glorious yellow sea sponge.
-- Erik Ian Larsen
Image: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
"

GE Energy Invests in eSolar, a Key Step to Combining Natural Gas and Renewable Energy for Cleaner, More Reliable Power : Press Releases : News : GE

GE Energy Invests in eSolar, a Key Step to Combining Natural Gas and Renewable Energy for Cleaner, More Reliable Power : Press Releases : News : GE

Why the Success of the Smart Energy Grid Requires a Multipronged Approach

by Eric Dresselhuys

Eric Dresselhuys is the executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Silver Spring Networks and has more than 13 years of experience in developing smart grid solutions to address the industry’s most pressing challenges.
The prevailing discussion surrounding the smart grid is rightly focused on customer engagement. Sadly, that discussion has turned into an argument of gadgets versus behavioral modification tools — in-home displays and programmable thermostats versus community comparisons and social media. This argument creates a false dichotomy and runs the risk of keeping whole segments of people from engaging with their energy consumption habits. The reality is that energy efficiency is too important and broad for any one-size-fits-all solution. A portfolio of choices needs to be available, including some that haven’t even been thought of yet read the full article...

http://www.THEGreenAwards.com/Default.aspx?v=216

http://www.THEGreenAwards.com/Default.aspx?v=216

Thanks for your support! Innovative Inventions - Contests & Award Programs

Thank you So Much for helping to support Creative Innovation and the Create to Earn to Give Initiative! Are you an innovative inventor with a winning idea? The sites below can help to make your idea a reality.

1. IdeaConnection: Idea, Innovation and Invention Contests
   This is a fantastic resource that lists current and upcoming innovation contests.
2. The Spirit of Innovation Awards
   The Spirit of Innovation Awards program challenges teams of high school students to create innovative products using science, technology, and entrepreneurship to solve 21st century, real-world problems.