Roll-A-Rack has developed a roll-forming solar racking system that captures rainfall on solar panels that can be used for irrigation.

Rollout solar racking collects rainwater, cuts land-use requirements

Ohio-based Roll-A-Rack announced it has developed a roll-forming solar racking system that captures rainfall on solar panels. Harvested rainwater can be used for irrigation. The product is designed for flat roofs or ground-mounted systems. 

The compact system requires only 11 inches between rows of panels, significantly cutting down the amount of space that is normally required for erosion control by planting vegetation. The company said the solution requires half the land to produce the same amount of energy as conventional racking systems.

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Source: PV Magazine

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Aptera is aiming to produce 10,000 cars by the end of this year, eventually ramping up production to 600,000 cars a year.

This solar car will soon hit production and it only costs $25,900

A year and a half ago, San Diego-based Aptera Motors started taking orders for the Aptera, its three-wheeled solar car that resembles a cross between the Batmobile, the Delorian, and a personal-size aircraft. The company quickly sold out multiple models of the car and ended up having to push back the delivery date for many customers. But in a webinar they put out last month, the company announced purchase of a factory to scale up production of their vehicles, which could mean a new era of emissions-free transport is being (slowly) ushered in.

The factory in Carlsbad, California has 200,000 square feet of production space. That’s a lot; for comparison’s sake, Tesla’s flagship factory in Fremont, California was 510,000 square feet (but has been expanded since its initial construction).

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Source: SingularityHub

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Transparent solar cells have taken another step toward becoming a reality. Here come windows that can generate power from the sun.

Scientists create a nearly invisible solar cell with up to 79% transparency

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Transparent solar cells, which have the potential to convert windows, greenhouses, glass panels of smart devices, and more into energy harvesting devices, have taken another step toward becoming a reality.

A team of scientists from the Tohoku University in Japan has created a near-invisible solar cell using indium tin oxide (ITO) as a transparent electrode and tungsten disulfide (WS2) as a photoactive layer.

Remarkably, the cell has the potential to achieve a transparency of 79 percent and can help take the TMD-based near-invisible solar cells from the basics to truly industrialized stages, according to the study published in the journal Scientific Reports.

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Source: Interesting Engineering

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Four solar projects using a direct-to-ground mounting system, which don’t use steel mounting structures were completed in California.

Four California solar projects built flat on the ground

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Four solar projects using a direct-to-ground mounting system were completed in California. The arrays are Earth Mount Solar systems from Erthos, which don’t use steel mounting structures, such as trackers, and are instead built by placing solar modules directly on the ground.

Without racking panel rows, Erthos projects reduce the total system footprint and claim to increase total array output. The projects totaling 2.2 MW were built by OneSun Power, developed by White Pine Renewables and acquired by Directional services.

“Erthos technology is truly a step forward in solar technology innovation. By executing on the Olam Food portfolio, Erthos has demonstrated an ability to turn projects that would not have worked with a conventional racking solution into viable assets using its innovative technology. White Pine has been proud to partner with Erthos over the past two years to ensure that we deliver for our customers – even in the most challenging circumstances,” said Michael Kremer, managing partner and co-founder at White Pine Renewables.

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Source: Solar Power World

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The solar energy runs all the onboard equipment and amenities of the LV trailer which means you may never have to plug into a campsite again.

This new solar-powered luxury travel trailer makes its own drinking water from the air

Living Vehicle’s latest electric trailer takes “self-sufficient” to a whole new level.

The 2023 model is equipped with a groundbreaking new system that can produce drinking water from thin air. The team at LV says no other mobile home or trailer currently on the market offers this innovative feature.

Developed by Watergen, the atmospheric water generator draws in air, filters out any dust and dirt, then sends the clean air through a heating and cooling process. This causes condensation, and, voilà, water is created. The main unit is seamlessly integrated into the vehicle and connects to a faucet inside. The trailer is also equipped with an oversized water tank to store the good stuff.

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Source: yahoo

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A solar powered mobile clinic in Africa utilizes solar energy for cold storage, ensuring effective vaccines can be delivered to remote areas.

Solar powered health truck delivers COVID-19 vaccines to remote areas in Africa

Parked up in the Kasarani district of the Kenyan capital Nairobi is a group of health workers who on a mission to drive up COVID-19 vaccinations.

According to the World Health Organisation, the overall trend of the virus on the African continent is down, but it is still not completely contained.

WHO figures report that as of 6 April 2022, there were 11.5 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and more than 252 000 deaths reported on the continent.

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Source: Africa News

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The microgrid system will launch in September in Silver Spring, powering electric buses on Montgomery County’s Ride On system

Electric buses to tap solar power using new method for D.C. region

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The first microgrid to power electric buses will soon make its debut in the Washington region as transit agencies nationwide increasingly look to the sun — rather than diesel — to fuel their fleets.

The system will launch in September, powering a growing number of electric buses on Montgomery County’s Ride On transit system. The Silver Spring facility will be the first in the D.C. area to use the microgrid technology and one of the earliest of its kind nationwide.

The microgrid will use energy that originates from solar panels at a bus depot rather than the traditional electricity grid — the process used by most transit agencies with electric buses. The transition comes as jurisdictions across the country are looking to electrify their bus fleets to battle climate change and amid financial windfalls from last year’s infrastructure law, which includes $109 billion for transit.

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Source: Washington Post

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The mobile home "SolarButterfly" has wings covered in 80-square-meters of solar panels that can charge the car that tows it.

A solar-powered, butterfly-shaped trailer is taking a trip around the world

Last month, a solar-powered trailer set off on a four-year journey that will cross six continents and 90 countries — all in a bid to stop global warming.

Nicknamed the SolarButterfly for its set of 80-square-meter, solar panel-covered “wings” — which power the Tesla Model X towing it — the trailer began its adventure amid dramatic alpine vistas at the United Nations office in Geneva, Switzerland.

The first phase of the project — which has been largely crowdfunded, along with support from corporate sponsors — will take it on a six-month, 22,000-kilometer (13,670-mile) trip across 32 countries in Europe.

Louis Palmer, the brains behind the SolarButterfly, says the purpose of the trip is to highlight climate crisis solutions that already exist — and inspire others to take action.
“The message is that it’s possible to save the planet,” says Palmer.

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Source: CNN Travel

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Source: CNN

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The SILENT 60 yacht is a solar electric catamaran that represents the future of zero-emissions maritime travel.

An inside look at the solar-powered SILENT 60 yacht

An article from electrek:

After previously following and reporting on Silent Yachts, the solar-electric boat maker invited me down to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to experience a cruise on the vessel for myself. The SILENT 60 yacht is a solar electric catamaran that represents the future of zero-emissions maritime travel and a mere stepping stone to the more advanced vessels Silent Yachts is already developing next.

For those of you unfamiliar, Silent Yachts was founded by Heike and Michael Köhle, who together have sailed over 75,000 nautical miles around the world. Following their extensive travels at sea, the founders decided there had to be a better way to propel yachts with clean energy.

Their research into solar yacht technologies began in 2004, kicking off five years of gathering sailing data before constructing the company’s first fully self-sufficient solar-powered catamaran, the Solarwave 46.

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Source: electrek

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The new trailer has a compact design that unfolds to 700 cubic feet of space. It has a solar grid that also powers a hot shower.

World’s first fully solar-equipped, fold-out camp trailer

Solar brand GoSun and Camp365 team up to combat crowded parks, soaring gas prices, and ‘unpredictable weather’ with a trailer like no other.

GoSun and Camp365’s new camp trailer aims to mitigate key hassles in modern camping with ease of use and flexibility. Don’t believe us? Check out the adjective list: The companies say they partnered to create the first “aerodynamic, lightweight, expandable, off-grid solar trailer,” which takes less than 10 minutes to set up.

The trailer weighs 1,800 pounds, so nearly any vehicle could tow it, even electric cars.

Though the Camp365 trailer sleeps up to six people, it doesn’t take up much space when folded down for transport. That helps it fit in most parking spaces in garages. It also comes with an emergency power system capable of powering electronics, as well as cooking, refrigeration, and fresh water.

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Source: Gear Junkie

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