That is exactly what Biosolar, a Santa Clarita, California based company is doing. Their CEO, Dr. David Lee, knows a bit about the current components of standard photovoltaic panels. He expects Biosolar to begin contribuing to a greener version of photovoltaic solar panels.

Biosolar’s goal: to replace all the pretoleum-based materials and glass coatings now used in current photovoltaic cells. Dr. Lee explained that up to 25% of the cost of any current solar panel is actually taken up with the coatings, front and back, portions not used to generate electricity. Portions that currently are made from petroleum, or glass, not renewable resources.

BioSolar, Inc. has developed a breakthrough technology to produce bio-based materials from renewable plant sources that will reduce the cost per watt of solar cells. Most of the solar industry is focused on photovoltaic efficiency to reduce cost. BioSolar is the first company to introduce a new dimension of cost reduction by replacing petroleum-based plastic solar cell components with durable bio-based components. Through the advanced manipulation of bio-based polymers, BioSolar intends to produce robust bio-based components that meet the stringent thermal and durability requirements of current solar cell manufacturing processes.

BioSolar materials can be used directly in conventional manufacturing systems, such as injection molding and thin-film roll-to-roll, to create superstrate layer, substrate layer, backsheet as well as module and panel components. Whether solar cells are produced using crystalline silicon, amorphous silicon or other solar technologies, BioSolar can help reduce the cost per watt through the use of its lower cost bio-based materials. By removing petroleum from solar cells, BioSolar makes solar energy a true green source of energy.
And doing this with plants not made from food crops! What a great green idea!

Peace,

Bruce

BioSolar Website

On monday (5/25/08) new patents were pulled by some folks at Apple. The patents are related to using solar energy to power portable devices. As usual Apple is about three steps ahead of everyone else…

As an Apple Authorized Reseller and Ecopreneur… I found this very exciting and amusing. The patent talks about integrating the solar panels behind the actual LCD screen of a portable device.

This would save the space taken by the panels on the device’s outer surface. The patent application showcases diagram where the solar cells are placed between the LCD Layer and the Flex PCB. The technology behind this all is quite interesting. It goes back to a 2001 patent that Motorola filed, exploring the use of photovoltaic cells behind the LED screen of the device, much like a calculator. If Apple pulled this off successfully, there would be no design modifications at all. It would be an instant success.

The filing said that information regarding the performance of a device’s solar cells could be displayed on the main screen next to info for battery power, text message alerts and time of day. Or this information could also appear on top of the solar cells themselves, which are likely to display some version of the Apple logo.
In any case, Apple’s new technology could herald the next generation of wireless mobility. Without the need to electrically charge devices–either via outlets or USB cables–users could at last start to break free from on-the-grid power connections.
Other mobile product manufacturers have looked at solar energy for some time, as consumers demand more battery power from portable devices One product is the 6.4-ounce Solio Mg, $200, from Better Energy Systems. Its three magnesium blades fan out to reveal solar panels, which can store enough power to charge most phones and PDAs twice; an hour of clear sun will give most cell phones 25 minutes of talk time or an iPod an hour of playing time. It takes ten hours of direct sun to fully juice the device.
Also, the world’s first solar bag–the Voltaic Systems’ Generator laptop bag–is covered in solar cells and can charge a laptop. It generates up to 14.7 watts after a day of direct sunlight, can carry a 17-inch Apple Powerbook and comes with adapters that allow other electronics, such as cell phones, to be charged.

Apple is getting brighter all the time… :~)

Peace,

Bruce

This talk is somewhat out of date (over three years old) and we have already make some “leap frog” advances. Specifically our solar Solution goes way beyond the statements made. But, the video is still worth watching.

In-joy,

Bruce

Inventor and futurist Ray Kurzweil illustrates the exponential evolution of technology, predicting a sharp rise in computing capability, robotics and life expectancy within the next 15 years. He outlines the shocking ways we’ll use technology to augment our own capabilities, forever blurring the lines between human and machine. A prolific inventor, Kurzweil developed the first Optical Character Recognition (OCR) system, the first text-to-speech reader for the blind, one of the first speech-recognition systems, and numerous electronic instruments. He’s written several books exploring the social impact of technology, including The Age of Spiritual Machines and The Singularity is Near: When Humans Transcend Biology. (Recorded February 2005 in Monterey, CA. Duration: 23:41 - from www.TED.com)

">/0.jpg" alt="YouTube Preview Image" />

This is great news about how the solar industry is heating up. High-volume manufacturing of thin film PV, which requires less than 1% of expensive semiconductor material compared to traditional PV, is key to rapidly driving down the cost of PV and making it fully-competitive with fossil fuels

In-joy,

Bruce

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Masdar PV announced a multi-billion dollar investment in thin-film photovoltaic solar technology. The total investment of more than US $2 billion represents one of the largest investments ever made in solar and will fund a three-phased manufacturing and expansion strategy to produce the latest generation of thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules.

– Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, CEO, Masdar
Phase one involves an investment of US $600 million, which will fund the development of two manufacturing facilities. The first, in Erfurt, Germany will be operational by Q3 2009 and a second facility in Abu Dhabi will begin initial production by Q2 2010. The combined annual production capacity of these two sites will be 210 megawatts (MW) and the modules produced will be used in both Europe and the Middle East.

“Thin-film PV is a key part of our build-deploy-develop strategy to actively build a strong position in alternative energy. Abu Dhabi is a global energy leader, so it makes sense to engage these new energy technologies and become a leader in alternatives,” said Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar.

“This marks a major milestone for Masdar and Abu Dhabi. It will not only establish Masdar as a major global PV player, but will be the first high-tech semiconductor nano-manufacturing facility of its kind in the entire region,” he added.

According to Deutsche Bank the current global PV market is worth US$15 billion and growing rapidly at 40 percent per year. Thin film PV is growing even faster, with an annual growth rate of 100 percent.

The plants will use the latest generation of equipment capable of high-volume processing of ultra-large glass substrates, which, at 5.7 m2, are eight times larger and five times more powerful than that of the current market leader.

High-volume manufacturing of thin film PV, which requires less than 1 percent of expensive semiconductor material compared to traditional PV, is key to rapidly driving down the cost of PV and making it fully-competitive with fossil fuels.

The technology for grid-parity solar power exists in most sunny markets today. It’s a matter of achieving the right scale to achieve lower costs. Masdar PV will combine scale plus a proven PV technology, advanced manufacturing capability, and advanced R&D to deliver lower costs.

Industry applauds move
PV industry experts have applauded the move. “This potentially represents a paradigm shift in solar, a real game-changer,” commented Dr. Winfried Hoffmann, President of the European Photovoltaic Industry Association, the largest organization representing the PV industry. “The entry of such powerful energy leaders into solar is very exciting, and could change the dynamics of the entire industry” by not only adding capacity but also new, future big markets in and around the Middle East with a lot of sun and capital to deploy PV systems, he added.

In addition to low-cost manufacturing, thin film PV offers requires only one year to pay back the carbon cost of producing these panels, and maintenance costs are minimal. It is ideally suited for hot sunny climates, as well as for building-integrated solutions, known as BIPV.

The Masdar Initiative, Abu Dhabi’s response to the need for cleaner future energy solutions, is the region’s leader in the research, development and deployment of renewable energy and sustainability related technologies.

sources: RenewableEnergyWorld.com, ciol.com, examiner.com, PRNewswire

1366 TECHNOLOGIES, MIT SOLAR START-UP, RAISES FIRST $12M
MIT Professor Ely Sachs Aims to Beat Coal with Improved Silicon Solar Cell Manufacturing
Lexington, Mass. – March 27, 2008 – 1366 Technologies, a new MIT start-up aiming to make silicon solar cells competitive with coal, today announced it has secured $12.4 million in a first round of financing co-led by North Bridge Venture Partners and Polaris Venture Partners.
MIT Professor, 1366 founder and CTO, Ely Sachs, noted that 1366 Technologies will be combining innovations in silicon cell architecture with manufacturing process improvements to bring multi-crystalline silicon solar cells to cost parity with coal-based electricity.
Sachs added, “The science is understood, the raw materials are abundant and the products work.  All that is left to do is innovate in manufacturing and scale up volume production, and that’s just what we intend to do.” The company has just taken space in Lexington to build its pilot solar cell manufacturing facility.

The name 1366 represents the 1366 watts of solar radiation hitting each square meter of the Earth on average.

1366 Technologies produces new manufacturing processes to lower the cost of silicon solar cells. Among others, they have developed proprietary new cell architecture for multi-crystalline solar cells. They are currently in the process of implementing this architecture in their pilot plant.

This architecture, developed at MIT, improves surface texture and metallization to enhance silicon solar cell efficiency by 25% (from 15 - 19%) while lowering costs.

The revolutionary, new Light-Capturing Ribbon increases the efficiency of a solar module by reflecting light back onto the surface of the cell. This grooved ribbon replaces the traditional wires used to interconnect solar cells.

Just as standard interconnect wires, the Light-Capturing Ribbon is soldered to the silver busbar on top of the silicon cell and to the solder pads on the back of the next cell.

The grooved surface of the Ribbon steers incoming light back to the glass/air interface at a grazing angle, that allows the light to undergo virtually total internal reflection, directing it back to the cell surface.

Up to 80% of the photocurrent from light that strikes the ribbon is recovered—far better than the 5% recovered by a standard interconnect wire.

The Light-Capturing Ribbon is a strip of very soft copper wire. The top of the ribbon is patterned with parallel triangular grooves with their sides at 30º to the horizontal.

The grooves are 43 µm high, spaced every 150 µm and have an optical-quality silver finish. The flat bottom of the wire is tinned with solder.

Imagine a PV module panel plant, producing 20 MWp annually, each panel priced at $3.50/Wp. A 2% efficiency boost would generate an additional $1.4M per year revenue. Since each panel is 2% more efficient, the costs of transporting and installing the modules—not to speak of related real estate costs—are also reduced by 2%.

Traditional wires are an engineering trade-off between minimizing resistive losses (requiring wider wires) and minimizing shading losses (requiring narrower wires).

Theoretical analysis has shown that the optimum interconnect design is one where its resistive loss equals the energy loss in the shaded areas.

Since 80% of the photocurrent from light that strikes the ribbon is recovered, we can now use wider interconnects, reducing Ohmic losses without sacrificing efficiency.

The Light-Capturing Ribbon offers enhanced performance, direct savings to the module manufacturer and lower cost for end consumers, easier transitions to larger and thinner cells, new design optimizations, and improved aesthetics.

The gains can be achieved through minor modifications of existing manufacturing processes and equipment.

Because the Light-Capturing Ribbon is compatible with the existing manufacturing process, you can achieve many of the potential benefits of processes such as metallization wrap through.

Whereas the latter moves the contact to the back with several additional process steps (including drilling many holes in the silicon matrix), using the grooved ribbon simply requires a straightforward change to the tabber-stringer machine.

The retooling is minimal and the grooved ribbon improves the module’s efficiency at minimal cost without compromising yield.

ituated near Boston, Massachusetts, 1366 is located in one of the most advanced technology capitals in the world. They are committed to producing value for customers by using innovative technology to develop and build the world’s most efficient multi-crystalline solar cells.

1366 Technologies will partner with solar companies and government agencies, licensing its technology to accelerate the ongoing global transition to solar. In addition, the company plans to build industrial, 100 megawatt plants around the world.

“Once the pilot plant has proven itself, we’ll work with governments and energy agencies worldwide to build a string of factories,” said Carmichael Roberts, general partner at North Bridge Venture Partners, who is joining 1366 Technologies board of directors as chairman.

1366 Technologies intends to partner with solar companies and government agencies, licensing its technology to accelerate the ongoing global transition to solar.

MIT Professor, 1366 founder and CTO, Ely Sachs, noted that 1366 Technologies will be combining innovations in silicon cell architecture with manufacturing process improvements to bring multi-crystalline silicon solar cells to cost parity with coal-based electricity.

Sachs added, “The science is understood, the raw materials are abundant and the products work. All that is left to do is innovate in manufacturing and scale up volume production, and that’s just what we intend to do.” The company has just taken space in Lexington to build its pilot solar cell manufacturing facility.

http://1366tech.com

This exciting new technolgy will make a great impact on the solar industry and help Citizenre get even more folks upgraed to solar!

Peace,

Bruce

For me this song is a reminder of the importance of gratitude - even for (maybe especially for) the “negative” things that are a part of the guidance system that steers me toward joy and fulfillment.

In-joy,

Bruce

Alanis Morissette… Thank “U

">/0.jpg" alt="YouTube Preview Image" />

How about getting off of these antibiotics
How about stopping eating when I’m filled up
How about them transparent dangling carrots
How about that ever elusive kudo

Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence

How about me not blaming you for everything
How about me enjoying the moment for once
How about how good it feels to finally forgive you
How about grieving it all one at a time

Thank you India
Thank you terror
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you frailty
Thank you consequence
Thank you thank you silence

The moment I let go of it was
The moment I got more than I could handle
The moment I jumped off of it was
The moment I touched down

How about no longer being masochistic
How about remembering your divinity
How about unabashedly bawling your eyes out
How about not equating death with stopping

Thank you India
Thank you providence
Thank you disillusionment
Thank you nothingness
Thank you clarity
Thank you thank you silence

This is a must see for not only our awareness of what we are eating but how the interdependence of our eating habits involves everyone around the globe.

In this fiery and funny talk, New York Times food writer Mark Bittman weighs in on what’s wrong with the way we eat now (too much meat, too few plants; too much fast food, too little home cooking), and why it’s putting the entire planet at risk.

Be well,

Peace,

Bruce

">/0.jpg" alt="YouTube Preview Image" />

In my recent television interview I mentioned a video of an advocacy group on Vashon Island in Washington State asking the question to their community…. “Would we be willing to become energy independent.” The parallels to Nantucket Island are numerous. This video provides a wonderful resource fot asking the same question to residents of Nantucket Island as well as the rest of the nation!

In-joy,

Bruce

">/0.jpg" alt="YouTube Preview Image" />

Peak Moment #29: Rita Schenck and Deirdre Grace of Vashon Island advocate forming a Vashon Island public utility district to produce electricity locally from renewable resources, starting with an aggressive voluntary conservation program to improve building efficiencies.

WCI student isolates microbe that lunches on plastic bags

Getting ordinary plastic bags to rot away like banana peels would be an environmental dream come true.

After all, we produce 500 billion a year worldwide and they take up to 1,000 years to decompose. They take up space in landfills, litter our streets and parks, pollute the oceans and kill the animals that eat them.

Now a Waterloo teenager has found a way to make plastic bags degrade faster — in three months, he figures.

Daniel, a 16-year-old Grade 11 student at Waterloo Collegiate Institute, got the idea for his project from everyday life.

“Almost every week I have to do chores and when I open the closet door, I have this avalanche of plastic bags falling on top of me,” he said. “One day, I got tired of it and I wanted to know what other people are doing with these plastic bags.”

FULL ARTICLE

May 22, 2008
KAREN KAWAWADA
RECORD STAFF
WATERLOO

Part One

Bruce Marshall-Jones being interviewed on The Jamie Ranney Show, TV 17, talking about Earth Day Nantucket 2008 and the shift in the solar energy industry with The Citizenre Corporation. A new company offering a solar rental program to give power back to the home owner, save money and green the planet all at the same time… all for no upfront cost.

——————————–

Part Two

Here is a sampling of some of the organizations presenting at Earth Day Nantucket 2008. Many thanks to all those wonderful folks who helped make this community celebration, fun, memorable and educational.

It is critical that we as a nation upgrade to solar power now! Imagine our country moving toward energy independence with benefits so deep it will change the environmental, economic and political landscape. It crucial that we as humans evolve into the stewardship of this planet and to look after the quality of all life and species… we are the only species who can.

-Special Thanks to Geno Geng of GenoTV.com for the filming!

______________________________________

Citizenre - Energy Independence Today 4-22-2008