Although solar currently supplies only a sliver of U.S. energy, momentum is building. Falling panel prices, wider adoption by major corporations, and options that let homeowners lease or “rent” systems are all helping push the market forward. Analysts project exceptional growth over the next twenty years, building on recent surges—installations rose about 60% in 2012 and climbed another ~30% the following year. Read more on the SolarDaily website
Dubai — the UAE’s second-largest emirate — plans to invest about $100 million to install 50 megawatts of new solar capacity ahead of World Expo 2020, according to consultancy Access Advisory. Managing director Stéphane Bontemps said the buildout is aimed at meeting Dubai’s goal to supply half of the Expo’s additional power needs from renewable sources. Chosen on Nov. 27 as the first Middle Eastern city to host the
Smartphones may feel glued to our hands, but the next leap in convenience could be power that moves with us—built right into what we wear. Think jacket fibers that harvest sunlight or a watchband that tops up on a stroll. Researchers outline a new approach to flexible, fabric-integrated rechargeable batteries in a paper in the ACS journal Nano Letters, pointing to a future where wearables spend less time tied
