"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Author: Isaac Gendler
The Kilogram is Being Redefined
11/04/18
“How is the Kilogram being redefined?”
A massive shift has just happened in the physics community. For over a century our measurement for the kilogram has been based off an official block sealed in vaults below Paris. However, after many decades of work and false starts, a committee has convened to redefine the kilogram based not on an artifact of nature but instead on Plank’s constant. As a result we now have a truly uniform system of fundamental units!
The Azraq Refugee Camp and Renewable Energy
11/03/18
“How does the world’s first renewable powered refugee camp work?”
The Azraq Refugee Camp is Jordan is not like any other. Built to accommodate 20,000 Syrian Refugees, the site is completely powered by a nearby solar energy farm. Currently at 2 MW of capacity, The farm provides enough energy for the residents to meet their daily needs and carry on their lives. The success of the Azraq refugee camp can serve as a template for other such sites around the world.
Image credit: http://www.unhcr.org
Why Installing Solar Energy Would be Greatly Beneficial for the Navajo Nation
11/02/18
“How would the Navajo Nation benefit from the addition of solar energy?”
The Navajo is an indigenous tribe located roughly in Northeastern Arizona and Northwestern New Mexico, right on top of some of the greatest solar resources in the world. If the Navajo were to install utility-scale solar energy and send it to nearby communities for profit, they would reap great benefits.
Image credit https://www.indianz.com
How ‘Invisible Wires’ Could Improve Solar Cell Efficiency
11/01/18
“How can we solve the silicon wire reflectivity problem in solar cells?”
We know that PV modules have a transmission wire reflectivity problem. But some research coming out of Stanford University could change this entirely. Instead of relying upon wires to channel electrons away from the silicon semiconductors, what if we were to use gold sheets with holes in them, and tiny silicon towers on top to redirect sunlight away from the gold sheet and into the holes? This way the maximum amount of sunlight can be absorbed and reflectivity can be minimized. This is just a small example of How ‘Invisible Wires’ Could Improve Solar Cell Efficiency.
Image Credit https://news.stanford.edu
A Few Energy Saving Tips for a Super Scary Halloween
10/31/18
“How can we be both green and scary on Halloween?”
Today in the United States and across the world is Halloween. Here stateside, people dress up in silly costumes, decorate their house, and trick-or-treat for candy. But even though this is a special night, it is still time to be thinking about how we can do our part to climate change. So here are A Few Energy Saving Tips for a Super Scary Halloween.
Have a great night full of scary sugary goodness Y’all!!!
Image credit media.treehugger.com
The Grid Edge
10/30/18
“What exactly is the bleeding edge of the utility industry?”
The utility industry is evolving rapidly. The days of the old, centralized paradigm are now gone. In their place is a network of distributed and autonomous systems capable of handling the renewable, resilient future. Companies that are on the bleeding edge of all of this are known as The Grid Edge, and are positioned to grow their market manyfold in the near future.
The Problem with Silicon Wiring in Solar PV Cells
10/29/18
“How does silicon wiring harm solar PV Cells?”
Silicon wiring is needed for the electrons produced in solar PV cells to move around. However, the wires on the front of the solar cells cover 5-10% of the surface and reflect incoming light, thereby lowering the efficiency. As a result, there are many Problems with Silicon Wiring in Solar PV Cells.
Image credit http://davebuemi.com
Why Brazil Should Develop Offshore Wind Energy Infrastructure in its South
10/28/18
“Why should Brazil develop off-shore wind energy in its southern states?”
The nation of Brazil is a behemoth. Taking up half of the land and population of South America, it needs a vast amount of energy. And to make it sustainable, it should seek to maximize all of the resources available to it. One promising technology is off-shore wind. Since the Southern states by Porto Alegre have some of the highest offshore wind speeds, it would only make sense for Brazil to Develop Offshore Wind Energy Infrastructure there.
Image credit http://latinamericanscience.org
Distributed Energy Storage
10/27/18
“How can we best optimize energy storage?”
If you ask a renewable energy expert what is one of the biggest hurdles facing the proliferation of solar and wind, chances are you’ll hear energy storage. Storing energy requires a massive infrastructure investment, whether it be in batteries or other mechanisms. However, for the most optimum approach, all methods should be combined to create a Distributed Energy Storage solution. This way the maximum amount of energy can be stored for later use.
Image credit cleanpowerexchange.org
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