Irrigating Fields With Sunshine, The Sunflower Pump Is An Insipired Low-Cost Alternative To Diesel Pumps

Source :cleantechnica

Sunflowers, sunbeams, and dry fields. The sun is shining and the fields need watering, what’s a farmer to do? Use his tired old back pumping water? Worse yet, use that smelly diesel fuel or petrol to pump some water? No, there is an alternative! Use the sunshine to pump the water. It just goes hand in hand — sunshine and watering are two parts of the same work day. When the fields need watering, there is plenty of sunshine. Renewable energy is ever-present.

Futurepump, the Sunflower’s creator, explains: “The Sunflower is the result of over twenty years R&D to develop an affordable way of doing this.”

Cheaper, no smell, no hard labor, this solar-powered pump is rather simple after all.

The Sunflower uses a solar collector that generates steam to drive a simple engine pump. It can lift 12,000 litres/day from a 7.5m well (more at shallower depths) which can irrigate around 1/2 acre. It is so cost-effective — with No fuel costs, (and no noxious smell) — that the initial investment of around $400 can be recouped in 1-2 years compared to the ongoing running costs of diesel or petrol engines.

Futurepump built this baby to last. It is designed with the intent of low maintenance, a kind consideration. It has no electronics. As Sunflower’s creators suggest,  if you understand how a bicycle operates, you will be able to understand this.

It comes as a kit. We farmers love the do-it-yourself kit, don’t we? The only thing we love more is those lady bugs and bees. It is easily serviced with spare parts always available at low cost. There are three main parts to the Sunflower:

1. the collector, which is a reflective dish that captures and focuses sunlight to produce steam;
2. a meticulously designed engine that converts pressurized steam into mechanical movement;
3. the pump, a reciprocal piston pump that draws water out of the well.

Read more

Easy-To-Manufacture, Thin-Film Solar Cell With Higher Than 15% Conversion Efficiency Created From Perovskites

Source : ecopreneurist

An easy-to-manufacture, thin-film solar cell with a higher than 15% conversion efficiency was recently created by researchers at the University of Oxford through the use of a newly emerging type of semiconductor referred to as “perovskites.” The new devices are simple enough that they could be mass produced rather easily, by utilizing processes such as vapour-deposition — potentially greatly cutting down on costs, according to the researchers.

The “perovskite” semiconductors — organometal trihalide perovskite semiconductors, which have the formula (CH3NH3)PbX3, with X being iodine, bromine, or chlorine — are relatively new to the solar energy field, having been first employed in solar cells only back in 2009. And while those first attempts to utilize them were relatively impressive, those initial results have now been surpassed, thanks to a simpler, new device that possesses a solar-to-electric power efficiency of 15.4% and a large ‘open circuit’ voltage of 1.07 V.

“Our devices have a high solar-to-electric power efficiency of 15.4% and a large ‘open circuit’ voltage of 1.07 V – all in a solar cell in which the absorbing perovskite layer is only 330 nm thick,” states lead research Michael Johnston. “This means that we only need a tiny amount of perovskite material to make a solar cell with good properties.” (Conventional crystalline silicon cells, by comparison, are much thicker — usually ~0.15 mm — and produce less voltage — ~0.7 V under open-circuit conditions.)

“Little is known about the photophysics of these materials, which I think is quite exciting – this is a rapidly evolving field,” Johnston continues. “The fact that we can make such good solar cells using a conventional planar p–i–n architecture indicates that the charge-carrier diffusion lengths (the distances electrons and holes travel before recombining) are long, and that these carriers survive a long time in perovskite. That we can fabricate an efficient device without complex mesostructuring – as was previously the case with solar cells made from this material – also shows that perovskite is very good at both absorbing light and transporting photogenerated charge.”

The researchers are now working to optimize the technology. Johnston explains: “I think we will see the efficiencies of these devices climbing higher in the near future. Investigations into the fundamental photophysics of the perovskite layers will be particularly interesting and will also help us accelerate the optimization process.”

The new research was published in the journal Nature.

Read roginal article here

Giant solar powered mirrors to bring light to Norwegian valley of darkness

Source:PV tech

1 / 2

Overshadowed by the mighty Gaustatoppen Mountains, the Norwegian industrial town of Rjukan is plunged into darkness for nearly six months a year - but rays of hope have been helicopter-flown in, in the form of giant solar powered mirrors.

In the narrow Vestfjord valley in Telemark, west of Oslo, the 3,500 residents of Rjukan will bask in the reflected light of three 17 meter high mirrors. At 742 meters above sea level and 450 meters above Rjukan the mirrors will capture the sunlight and reflect sunshine into 2,000 square feet of the market square to elevate the darker months.

The mirrors will track the sun throughout the day, powered by solar and wind energy and controlled by a computer in the town hall.

Dubbed “Solspeil” or sun mirror, the idea was originally conceived in 1913 by the town’s founder, and global aluminum suppliers, Norsk Hydro’s founder: Sam Eyde. The idea was reborn in 2005 by Martin Andersen, Rjukan artist and resident.

As Eyde did not have the available technology, he settled on building the Krossobanen, northern Europe’s first cable car, which transported vitamin D lacking residents above the mountains and into the sunlight.

Solspeil cost NOK5 million and was financed by Tinn municipality, Husbanken, Telemark Fylkeskommune, KORO-art and local utility provider, Tinn Energi and other private sponsors.

The German-made mirrors were flown in and installed in July to be test run in September.

Rjukan are hoping the solar-powered tracking mirrors will not only brighten the town but help with a bid to be named a UNESCO world heritage site by 2015.

A similar project in an overshadowed hamlet called Viganella, Italy, called ‘Lo Speccio’ (the mirror) was installed in 2006 to avoid 83 days of darkness.

Read original article here

Students Install the World's First Solar Pavement Panels in Virginia

Source: Inhabitat

Studio39 Landscape Architecture just teamed up with students at the Solar Institute at George Washington University to install the world’s first solar panel walking path! The students and designers installed a total of 27 durable photovoltaic panels to create a street level Solar Walk that generates roughly 400 watt-peaks of electricity.

Onyx Solar, a building integrated photovoltaics specialist from Spain, designed the semi-translucent panels, which look like smoked acrylic sheets. The walkable solar panels are integrated as a small section of the public sidewalk that sits flush with the surrounding cement. The Solar Walk spans a short distance between the Exploration and Innovation Halls at the intersection of George Washington Boulevard and University Drive.

The photovoltaic pavers can produce a peak energy output of 400 watts, which is used to power 450 LEDs installed underneath the panel pathway. The walkway also connects to a solar-powered trellis designed by Studio39 Landscape Architecture. The trellis installed at the end sidewalk creates energy that feeds back into the University’s Innovation Hall building.

Hopefully the project will lead to more solar walkways around the world – they’d make concrete jungles a whole lot more energy-efficient.

Read original article here

Electric DeepFlight Super Falcon is an Underwater Plane for the Super Rich

Source : Inhabitat

Marine engineer Graham Hawkes spent his life designing submersibles for both the military and the oil and gas industry before he happened upon the idea of creating a vehicle that could ‘fly’ underwater. The resulting two-seater electric underwater plane—the DeepFlight Super Falcon—promises to move through the seas in “style, safety, and comfort,” providing unique experiences in a craft that is “[d]esigned to do barrel rolls with dolphins and spy-hop with whales.”

Romantic and slightly far-fetched sounding descriptions aside, the Super Falcon has a lot going for it. The company prides itself on a design that is radically different to existing submersibles—both in its engineering and in user experience. And in addition to claims about barrel-rolls with dolphins, the clear domes that encase passengers allow those aboard to become closely connected to their underwater surroundings.

As for its engineering, the Super Falcon differs from your standard submarine in a few key ways. It maintains “positive buoyancy” at all times—this means that a downward lift sends it to the depths of the sea and keeps it moving, but if one is to experience mechanical failure or strike a reef, say, its autoreturn will send it back up to the surface. Should that fail, it features support for travelers to survive for 24 hours.

The craft is powered by DC thrusters, and is equipped with a lithium ion battery that will power the Super Falcon for eight hours. The system makes the vehicle not only safer for sea life, but also safer around swimmers. The former being a good thing for all of us, and the latter a good thing for a vehicle which will very likely start to appear at higher-end tourist resorts.

As for actually learning to pilot the thing, Hawkes provides three-day training for a cost of $15,000. He explained to the Daily Telegraph, “In the early years of aeroplanes nobody had licenses, nobody knew what the regulations were so we are right in that era of starting up something so new that nobody really knows what needs to be done,” as a result, “The rules and regulations are a little bit murky.”

If it sounds a little like something from a James Bond movie, that’s little coincidence—previous creations by Hawkes have indeed served as props for the 007 franchise. And just as with any good Bond gadget, the Super Falcon is very much a plaything of the one percent. For those whose private yachts are purchased for sums in the eight-digits, the $1.7 million underwater plane is a must-have accessory.

The Super Falcon has just been released on the market, and according to the Daily Telegrah, existing owners include Hawkes himself, Richard Branson and Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz. Hawkes will rent his out for the somewhat more affordable sum of $10,000 per day. Indeed, “King Abdullah II of Jordan hired it for six weeks and invited local dignitaries, as well as schoolchildren, aboard.”

Read original article here

Aussie solar-powered relocatable self-contained safety shower attracts international interest for harsh climates and remote places

Source: Ferret

A solar-powered safety shower with eyewash recently introduced in Australia by Enware Australia is now ready for an international launch.

The tough and reliable Australian manufactured safety shower and eyewash featuring solar battery charging for use in some of the world’s remotest and harshest conditions is already in use by leading resources, engineering and project management companies in Queensland and Western Australia. 

The EM850 relocatable self-contained safety shower with eye wash from Enware Australia also features loading/unloading access for forklift tines or cranes. 

Allan Lane, business development manager - Safety at Enware explains that the solar shower uses non-absorbent insulation to insulate its 1350L tank, eliminating the need for an integrated cooling system, and making it very suitable for hot remote installations in places such as Asia, the Middle East and Africa. 

Enware recently delivered its first overseas system to a mine site operating in Mauritania, West Africa. The EM850, along with the broader range of Enware safety systems was also showcased at recent trade events in the Middle East, generating a very positive response from a knowledgeable audience.

The EM850 solar safety showers incorporate sufficient water storage capacity to operate both emergency shower and eyewash to international safety standards conforming to ANSI Z 358.1 2009 and AS4775-2007 Standards.

The EM850 is ideal for mining, oil and gas, defence and heavy industry applications where services are limited, or non-existent, as it requires no mains power or plumbing connection. 

The EM850 safety shower incorporates 40W solar panels with maintenance-free durable batteries as well as dedicated shower and eye wash pumps. Its fully stainless steel enclosure maximises lifespan and ensures failsafe operation in harsh environments even in ambient temperatures exceeding 45°C. An LED display shows water level, battery power and water temperature while the self-monitoring alert system is visible from a distance. 

Read original article here

Into the future with solar living: A building as an energy source

Source :

Every good house has a roof. Solar Decathlon Team Austria has also heard of this wisdom – which is why LISI received her “headgear” today. Four ceiling modules make up the roof – crowned by sparkling photovoltaic modules. Deep into the night, the crane placed one module at a time.

The Solar Decathlon is the world's most challenging sustainable building university-level competition and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. A team of Austrian research institutions has entered the competition with the high-tech "LISI - Living Inspired by Sustainable Innovation" energy-plus house, which generates more energy than is consumed by its occupants.

The biennial Solar Decathlon competition seeks out energy self-sufficient buildings for the homes of the future. As in an Olympic decathlon, entries are judged in ten categories which, in addition to energy efficiency, include living quality, design and affordability. The houses will be exhibited in Irvine/California in October.

Fabric facade

The "LISI - Living Inspired by Sustainable Innovation" house is Austria's entry to this global solar competition, contributed by the Solar Decathlon Team Austria a consortium of Austrian research institutions led by the Sustainable Construction Group at the Institute of Architecture and Design at Vienna University of Technology. Wood accounts for around 96 percent of the structure. The capturing of incident sunlight and photovoltaic cells on the roof make the house a net energy supplier.

In addition to the enclosed living area, LISI has open patios, over and around which fabric panels and awnings can be arranged as needed or desired. In summer, the fabric screening provides protection from strong sunlight, while in winter it is removed to allow the house to let in the sun's warmth. Its flexible design means LISI can adapt to its occupants' needs.

The starting point for the design is the rising global demand for compact, affordable and energy-efficient homes in the suburban area. The house is designed in such a way that, with slight adjustments to the thermal insulation, it can be used in any climatic zone.

Multimedia living

The Institute of CreativeMedia/Technologies, the Media Technology Bachelors Program and the Digital Media Masters Program at St. Pölten University of Applied Sciences are contributing their skills in interactive technologies and in video and audio production to the project.

LISI's future occupants can expect smart home automation systems: for instance, an interactive user manual makes use of audiovisual scenarios to show occupants how to make best use of the house's energy streams under changing conditions.

Exhibition in California and Austria

The LISI energy self-sufficient house was erected this summer by Lake Weissensee in Carinthia, Austria, and in recent weeks has been packed into containers and shipped to California. Starting September 22, the house is rebuilt there for the week of the competition when 300,000 visitors are expected.

LISI was also exhibited during European Researchers' Night, an event that took place on September 27, 2013 in more than 300 European cities. The event represents an opportunity for research institutions to present their projects to the general public. Solar Decathlon Team Austrias' contribution was a detailed 1:20 scale model of LISI. A live video stream to the building site in California gave visitors of the event in the City of St. Pölten / Lower Austria the opportunity to put questions to the team on location in the US.

Read original article here