Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) say that replacing flat solar panels with three-dimensional structures could make photovoltaic systems as much as 20 times more effective.

In a series of tests, the researchers found that such 3D structures are able to pick up light even when the (more…)

The California Public Utilities Commission approved a batch of solar contracts yesterday — up to 544 MW worth, of which 294 MW are coming in at prices below that of building a new natural gas combined cycle gas turbine. That’s a lot of solar, at a great price.

SDG&E is buying 96-150 MW, a project developed (more…)

The Chinese government has increased its solar energy target for 2015 by 50 percent, setting a new goal of 15 gigawatts annually, state media reports.

The new target, which was reported by China National Radio, follows a rapid surge in Chinese solar power installation in recent months after the (more…)

If you want to stimulate solar manufacturing, you have to actually do something. Andrew Liveris, Chairman and CEO of the Dow Chemical Company, wrote a book with an entire book–”Make it in America“–on reinventing the American economy through manufacturing, especially of new energy (more…)

This is the kind of story that illustrates perfectly the beauty of solar power and alternative energy in general. The Red Cross is testing solar power for its pop-up hospitals in emergency areas where there is not enough diesel fuel to keep generators working around the clock. (more…)

Specialized Technology Resources (STR) is a Connecticut-based company that makes plastic sheeting material for encapsulating solar cells.

In the 1990′s, STR engaged in about five years of intensive R&D to develop a proprietary method to produce a “low-shrink” (more…)

Economic South Asian superpower India has firmly embraced solar power, advancing the target date by five years for selling solar-generated electricity at the same rate as electricity generated by fossil fuel plants, from 2022 to 2017.

According to government officials, the reason for (more…)

IKEA, the Swedish home furnishings retailer, last week announced that it will install solar energy panels on ten additional U.S. branches, covering its entire presence in the Southern part of the country. Pending governmental permits, installation is scheduled to begin this winter, with completion (more…)

As solar companies strive to provide consumers with the sun’s renewable energy, they too are doing their part to help those in need.

Many U.S. solar companies have reached out to the third world in effort to provide them with solar equipment that will help them improve lives on a daily (more…)

Yesterday, Science Magazine hosted a debate about the application of nanotechnology to the development of solar cells. There are hopes that nanotechnology can bring solar power’s prices down to fossil fuel price level.

On the discussion panel were Alan Heeger, a (more…)