Solar Energy

In a bid to reach net zero, homeowners are being encouraged to make their homes more energy-efficient. From installing solar panels to air source heat pumps, there are a plethora of ways we can improve our energy efficiency. With the average Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) of homes in the UK rated a D, there’s still […]

Are you thinking about going solar? Many business owners have been making the switch in recent times. There is growing pressure for organisations to do more to reduce their environmental impact, but this is not the only reason that you should consider solar panels for your business. Benefits of Solar Obviously, there are environmental and […]

Image attributed to Pixabay.com Most of us will already have a fair idea of what makes solar panel installations a sustainable investment that benefits the environment. But whilst some advantages are obvious, not many of us are aware of the precise details regarding solar energy as a reliable renewable resource. Of course, there’s no denying […]

Going camping soon and need a generator to provide you with electricity for all your appliances and tech gadgets?  Solar generators are a must-have item for travellers and eco-minded people alike. They are cost-effective, as quiet as a mouse when running, super-easy to carry, and 100% hassle-free. With no fuel needed to make them run […]

The Build Back Better plan focuses on improving U.S. infrastructure’s sustainability by developing a renewable energy grid. A significant portion of the country’s emissions is derived from fossil fuel-related electricity sources. By adopting solar microgrids, the U.S. can minimize its greenhouse gas emissions and transition away from “dirty” power sources. What Is a Solar Microgrid? […]

Solar power is proving to be an accessible form of sustainable, renewable energy. It’s versatile and cost-effective for municipal and industrial projects. It’s also a perfect ecological choice for individual homes and businesses. It’s now commonplace for solar panels to be fitted to roofs where they transform sunlight into free electricity. But solar technology is […]

Emily Newton is a manufacturing journalist who regularly covers the industry trends. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of Revolutionized. Subscribe to read more from Emily.  The demand for renewable energy increases as eco-consumer rates in America grows. However,  commercial buildings may have limited space or natural resources exposure for on-site clean power production. Fortunately, we […]

The building industry is rapidly expanding, with between 30 and 40% of total global basic resources currently being invested in creating developments suitable for modern life. However, while this may be great news for the economy, it’s having extremely detrimental effects on the environment; after heavy industry and agriculture, modern-day buildings are now the third-largest […]

The drive towards sustainable homes and lowering our carbon footprint has never been more intense, especially here in the UK with a target of net-zero emissions by 2050. Homebuilders are going to be investigating new, efficient ways to heat and power dwellings, whilst the government look set to play their part by introducing legislation and […]

Solar panels have increased in popularity in recent years. However, what solar panel installers don’t tell you is the damage caused by birds and that you will eventually call a professional solar panel proofing team. Therefore, in this article, we will share our four best tips to keep your solar panels free from pest birds such […]

Going green has become more popular than ever before. Everyone’s looking for new ways to recycle plastic bottles and reduce renewable energy waste, but does that go far enough to help minimise human pollution? If you’re not sure how to best help the planet, learn about how much waste is produced from renewables and fossil […]

Solar power is a bit of an odd thing — you face a panel toward Earth’s biggest lamp and suddenly you can power devices. Solar’s popularity has increased significantly over the years, and not just because of price. We’re seeing a lot of integrations of solar power beyond your typical solar calculator — solar lights […]

As investments in sustainable and renewable energy rise, there are a plethora of new job opportunities across several different industries. Namely, the construction industry is transforming to adapt to the addition of jobs in the clean and renewable energy sector. Due to the impacts of climate change, it’s quickly becoming a necessity to update and […]

New Energy Update, part of Reuters Events, today announced the leading companies that will share solar asset management and operations and maintenance (O&M) experience at PV Operations Europe. The event will bring together more than 300 globally recognised solar industry experts to exchange the latest thinking on the operational phase of the solar life cyle. […]

Renewable energy is not just a buzzword or a catch phrase. It is, however, one of the most important things in our time. We are not currently living sustainably. We are all living beyond our means and corporate energy suppliers are not doing enough to conserve energy and use cleaner, more sustainable methods of producing […]

When solar panels were first introduced to the UK market, there was a concern that they would not only negatively impact the sales price of the home on which they were installed, but also that of the surrounding properties. Not only have those fears proved unfounded, but they have actually been proved totally wrong. Pure […]

The way in which we view the environment in relation to our homes is changing, with many homeowners around the US realising the importance of adding eco-friendly features to their homes – not just in order to reduce their carbon footprint, but also when it comes to saving money and adding value to the property […]

The solar industry has been thriving in recent years. Part of it can be attributed to the various marketing strategies that have been employed by solar professionals over time. However, despite the continuous rise of the industry, there is one marketing strategy that solar professionals fail to take advantage, which is a shame because this […]

As technology continues to advance sand solar panels keep becoming more efficient and widely used, there will probably come a time within the next 10-20 years where the vast majority of newly built homes will be equipped with solar panel systems by default. In fact, this prediction goes beyond mere speculation that’s based on the […]

The Rise in Solar Energy The development and advantages of solar energy are indisputable. With over 400GW in capacity installed worldwide according to the Global Renewable Energy Status Report 2018, the deployment of solar power plants seems unstoppable. Technical experience in the design of solar projects encourages developers to carry on utility-scale projects under solar […]

Solar energy has been utilised for several years for cooking, heating water, drying agricultural products, water distillation, and various other applications. Usage of solar energy for electricity generation was discovered in 1839. However, solar power generation gained much of the momentum post the rise in climate change issues due to high emission levels from conventional […]

People are switching to clean, renewable energy to try and participate in making the world greener and solar energy is one of those favoured by homeowners. Homeowners can choose between using a grid-tied solar system or an off-grid solar system when switching over to solar energy. Since a grid-tied solar system is connected to a […]

With the significant breakthrough in solar technology, a number of new solar panels are emerging almost every month and that’s how the homeowners have ended up with a lot of panel options to choose from. And, there is no doubt that among a plethora of novelties in the panel manufacturing spectrum, none may be more […]

The Australian and international energy sector will meet in Sydney from 13–14 June to discuss the latest in storage technologies and how they are enabling the transition to new energy systems and a more reliable grid. Sydney’s International Convention Centre will be host to the 2019 Australian Energy Storage Conference and Exhibition (AES 2019), the […]

Just one minute of power generated by the sun is enough to cover the world’s energy needs for one year. In other words, energy generated by the sun in one day can satisfy the entire world population consumption for more than 25 years. It is the most stable source of energy and also the most […]

The 5th annual Power Week Asia Conference will be held from 11 to 15 November 2019 at the ParkRoyal on Beach Road Hotel, Singapore. Power Week Asia attracts the industry leaders from national power companies, government regulators, policy makers, renewable & IPPs, investors and suppliers from around the globe. With C-level speakers and attendees all […]

What Are Perovskite Solar Cells? Researchers around the world see perovskites as one of the most promising materials for the development of cheap, efficient, and environmentally friendly solar cells. The material is able to absorb light and that way create an electric charge. In other words, perovskite solar cells are a technology which transforms the […]

Over the years, the use of solar power in the UK has increased significantly. This can be attributed to the increasing change in technology and the willingness and ability of people to adjust to such changes. The UK solar power distribution rates and opportunity have been noted to be developing slowly as compared to the […]

After a successful launch edition in 2017, The Big 5 Solar will return under the Patronage of the Ministry of Energy & Industry, United Arab Emirates, to showcase solar energy solutions for the construction industry at Dubai World Trade Centre from 26-29 November 2018. As part of The Big 5, the largest construction event in […]

Under the Patronage of the Ministry of Energy & Industry, United Arab Emirates, the 4th edition of Global Solar Leaders’ Summit (GSLS) will return to Dubai World Trade Centre as part of The Big 5 Solar on 27 November 2018. Under the topical theme ‘Solar Solutions for Construction’, the 2018 summit will bring together government […]

Latin America is at the global frontier for unsubsidized solar markets. With highest irradiation levels and fast growing demand the continent is positioned to be one of the most attractive regions for solar development. Market analysts agree that Latin America will account for over 10% of global solar demand by 2022. Spearheaded by several key […]

Believe it or not, Manchester receives more sunshine each year than London down South! With more land for single-family homes, Manchester is a great place to utilise clean PV solar power in the UK. Renewable energy can protect the natural history of the landscape and keep the air clean and crisp. Here are several ways […]

The Department of Energy has acknowledged that the global energy system has entered a ‘period of transformation and unprecedented change.’ This is according to Atty. Maria Soreso of the Renewable Energy Bureau, who Represented energy secretary Alfonso Cusi at the ASEAN Solar + Energy Storage and Expo 2017 last week. “The transformation of the energy […]

In the coming November 14th- 15th , hosted by Leader Associates, co-organized by the Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA), the Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA), 2ND Annual ASEAN Solar + Energy Storage Congress & Expo 2017 will be held in The Bellevue Manila, Philippines. People from Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and other ASEAN areas’ governments, utilities, […]

Humanity has been using the sun as a heat source for centuries — first in its rawest form as sunlight and later through the use of mirrors and magnification for greater results. Since the 1950s, we have been able to better utilize this natural resource, creating solar electric power for business and residential use. Thanks […]

Conference Background Australia Solar + Energy Storage Congress & Expo 2017 is the largest congress focusing on solar and energy storage market in Australia. It will take place in Brisbane Australia on December 5-6,2017. Participants from governments, policy makers, investors, financers, utilities, developers, network providers, solar & energy storage products manufacturers, consulting companies, associates as well […]

Conference Background 2nd Annual ASEAN Solar+ Energy Storage Congress & Expo 2017 is the largest congress focusing on solar and energy storage market in ASEAN. It will take place in Manila, the capital of Philippines, on November 14-15, 2017. The event is officially endorsed by Department of Energy, supported by Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association, and Philippine […]

This year, a new educational program will take place at North America’s largest solar event, Solar Power International (SPI), titled The Technical Symposium, it will run September 10-13, 2017 in Las Vegas. During these three days, globally renowned experts of the photovoltaic, energy storage and smart technology industries will share their knowledge on late breaking, […]

2nd BGS Solar Summit gathers 4 markets (North Africa, Middle East, West Africa and East Africa) in one place to discuss current regulatory landscapes and access to finance in a certain region. It will be complemented by 4 special sessions: • Operation & Maintenance and Asset Management in MENA • Distributed solar in MENA • […]

There are various energy sources, out there, that are renewable and above all, they are environment-friendly and make use of varied natural processes. Such energy sources offer an alternative cleaner energy source, assisting to nullify the effects of different types of pollution. There is no doubt that such power generation methods can also be termed […]

All home-owners need to replace or repair their roof shingles at some point and if you are building a home you need to keep this in mind. Roofs need to withstand harsh weathers and be the “protector” of your home, that is why choosing a quality roof should be on top of your list when […]

Solar panel prices drop from 5% to 12% in 2015 due to new photovoltaic developments Solar prices have lowered significantly in recent years, this effect is from a decrease in PV module pricing. We are now being bombarded with new reports that show on a global level that solar prices will only continue to drop. […]

Image source: techcrunch.com A recent report released by the MIT Energy Initiative recommends regulatory overhauls for power systems worldwide to remove barriers that prevent fair competition by alternative energy providers to establish a more equitable distribution of power resources. Despite existing barriers, alternative energy is still making great strides in conserving natural resources and slowing […]

Solar panels pose as a great alternative for those, who are looking to reduce their monthly electricity bills and do something for the environment. The panels might be easy to install, yet your duty does not end there. You should consider proper maintenance if you want your panels to work at their full capacity. Pollen, […]

You heard a lot of fuss about solar garden lights, but as a home owner, you know that lighting plays a very significant role in creating a wonderful home interior design. Therefore choosing the way in which you will illuminate your home is an important task which requires of you to think about performance, energy […]

As you walk around the picturesque city of Cupertino, California, especially down 1 Infinite Loop, a grandiose, and glistening 2.8 million square foot structure captures your attention. You wonder, what that spectacular building structure could be? It looks out of this world, is it a spaceship or a mothership? Actually, it is actually the construction site […]

Fresh Water Scarcity Shortage of fresh water is quickly spreading around the world and desalination of seawater is becoming more and more popular. The biggest users of desalinated water are located in the Middle East – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Bahrain, so called MENA region. Its sea water consumption counts […]

Intersolar Middle East With events spanning four continents, Intersolar is the world’s leading exhibition series for the solar industry and its partners. It unites people and companies from around the world with the aim of increasing the share of solar power in our energy supply. Intersolar Middle East is the International Exhibition and Conference for […]

Africa’s most populous nation, Nigeria, made history in December 2015 as the first African country to have its very own solar powered football pitch, following Brazil, who in 2014 launched the first solar powered football pitch in the world in Rio de Janeiro. This project was a three-way collaboration. One collaborator was UK based startup company […]

Swedish firm testing a new revolutionary solar dish For the past four years, the Kalahari desert in South Africa has been the playground of a team of developers that claim to be working with the most efficient solar power system ever created. Massive, 100m2 rotating mirrors have been installed in the Northern Cape region and […]

Subsidies and incentives for solar energy to be scrapped by the end of the year The UK government’s recent proposal to cut Feed in Tariffs and incentives for solar panel installations has caused a wave of disappointment and protesting. The majority of the complaints come from companies who were planning to invest in solar and […]

Photo credit: Aaron Lamoreux Kirigami art inspires new technique to make solar panels more efficient Ever since the introduction of solar panels in the 70s, scientists have been wracking their brains to find ways to make them more efficient. Currently, solar panels only convert 20% of the sunlight they absorb into electricity. While that is indeed […]

Photo credits: a katz / Shutterstock.com The Democratic Candidate is Planning to Make America a “Green Superpower” Renewable energy is still a hot topic in the United States, and among the central ones in the current presidential campaign. There seems to be a strong divide between Republican and Democratic candidates about the reality of global warming, […]

Harnessing the power of the sun in your home is both environmentally and budget friendly. To some, however, traditional solar panels are unattractive and displeasing to the eye. At Modernize, we appreciate the desire to beautify your home while maintaining sustainability. Check out these fun solar powered products that are sure to keep the exterior […]

Words like visionary and revolutionary are thrown around quite often on media outlets, usually with very little care. And yet, sometimes we come across ideas that truly make us stop and marvel at the world of possibilities that they could introduce. This Indiegogo campaign has made just that: meet Solar Roadways, a project that may […]

The question behind Google’s new Project Sunroof is pretty straightforward: why are we not taking advantage of the endless source of free, clean energy that’s hanging over our heads? The potential sun-catchers seem to be concerned with a number of issues, such as the technicalities of installation, the position of their house and the potential […]

After past fluctuations, solar power has once again topped the polls in popularity when it comes to renewable energy options within the UK. The findings were released by both Good Energy and the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC), and show that 75% of the individuals polled favored solar energy while just 6% oppose it. […]

The Solar Impulse Experience The Beginning of a Great Story If you haven’t heard about it yet, it is time now to catch up with the latest trends. But what is this project? The Solar Impulse is a Swiss experimental project which has as a main goal to succeed in doing a round the world […]

Solar Energy Versus Traditional Energy Sources   Over the past few years, the world has witnessed a considerable fall in the cost of solar energy, particularly considering the price of rooftop and PV solar panels. Solar energy, that entered the market place only recently, at very high price, is now considered as an alternative source […]

Hosted in San Diego, the event will work around the theme “Energy solutions for a sustainable future” The ASME 2015 Power and Energy Conference will take place between the 28th and 2nd of July 2015 in San Diego Convention Center, San Diego, California. The event will gather 4 of ASME’s major conferences, all in relation […]

IKEA has installed Kansas’ largest rooftop solar array in IKEA Merriam Although solar energy is not the first thing that comes to mind when talking about IKEA, the furniture retailer is rapidly taking a huge step into this renewable source of energy. IKEA is one of the world’s leading home furnishing retailers, and has recently […]

GPC, ANES and Ilumexico join forces to supply power in rural schools in Mexico. Green Power Conferences (GPC), the National Solar Energy Association (ANES) and Ilumexico got together to solve the problem of Mexican rural schools with no access to electricity. Ilumexico is a social enterprise founded by Mexican entrepreneurs which aims at providing clean […]

Solar bonds are an interesting opportunity for investors and a favorable choice for the environment. As renewable sources of energy get more popular, the contagious effect attracts even more people to invest in green energy. Consequently, as the industry attracts more users and more money, there are new incentives and mechanisms to exploit the industry’s […]

As solar panels get more popular, their target audience broadens Solar panels are not only popular on the domestic market, but also among big companies that are switching to renewables to run their businesses. One original and latest news is that mosques in Jordan will be powered with solar energy by the end of the […]

Although initially considered very expensive, solar energy is getting cheaper and is quickly expanding in multiple markets, with China taking the lead. Solar energy has become a key industry in the past years. Not only for its attractive benefits to the environment, but also for its decreasing price. Opposite to other sources of energy, whose […]

An Increasing Shift Towards Renewables… Nowadays more and more countries are turning to renewable sources of energy. It is nice to see that all over the word there are many initiatives going on and that many countries are achieving excellent results. Let’s take a tour around the world to see what is going on and […]

Tommy Hilfiger has launched a new controversial item: solar power jackets. Will people accept them? Some have already rushed to say they are ugly, but since Tommy has thousands of loyal consumers worldwide, they might have developed an item than will be soon envied by many. The jackets are embedded with a small array of […]

Renewable Energy in China and Brazil China and Suntech Power China has been recently awarded with the title of the world’s strongest economy, and there are a number of reasons why they are so good at what they do. China has set a world record in solar cell efficiency with the help of the firm […]

Coming To a School Near You? Renewables are playing an increasingly important role in the world’s energy mix, therefore it is crucial to include the engagement and education of young people in the world of “green” energy. Schools across the world are launching class programs for primary and secondary students. The goal is to have […]

IKEA, the furnishing giant, decided to power their shops in America using renewable resources. The company made two major investments into wind farms: one in Illinois, and another almost two times the size in Texas. The two plants have a very high potential, expected to provide energy needed for 90,000 American households. Why Renewable Energy? […]

  The Urban Community Energy Fund (UCEF) allocates a new amount of funds that will allow English citizens to access either grants of 20,000 pounds maximum, or loans of up to 130,000 pounds in order to support renewable energy programmes. What is the Funding for? The plan incorporates 10 million pounds that are meant to […]

 A Great Dream Danes have a dream: making Denmark completely independent from fossil fuels and polluting energy sources by leveraging on renewables. This is the most ambitious project ever conceived, but Danes are not waiting idly by for the change to happen; they are actively moving to make it happen by 2050. Many countries have […]

The AGC Glass Building While some places are still left behind in matters of environmental awareness, others are standing out from the crowd and embracing revolutionary projects. The green energy trend is definitely here to stay and more often we will be surprised with new renewable technologies, sustainable buildings and other projects that will change […]

Solar Energy Southeast Asia 2014 Renewable energy is gaining increasing attention from governments all around the world. Several large-scale renewable energy projects are being developed and planned not only in Europe but also in other places like South America, Africa and Asia. In SE Asia governments are working towards expanding the energy mix and many […]

Brazil Puts High Hopes on Solar Energy Alike many other countries, Brazil is entering the solar energy industry with high expectations. The country, which has been criticized by environmentalists for taking long to incorporate solar energy to its energy mix, has finally decided to make good use of its high potential for solar power. Until […]

The company announced a project to build UK’s largest solar mounted roof top. The solar array will be fitted on the M&S East Midlands Distribution Centre in Castle Donington and the project is expected to be completed during the first months of 2015. Amber Infrastructure is going to be the founder of the 24,272 panels […]

Solar energy from North Africa is under the eye of investors who are seeking UK’s government funding for this ambitious plan. Various overseas energy producers are fighting to export energy to the UK. The Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced new rules to allow foreign energy producers to bid for contracts that guarantee […]

UK is an example of a country where, partly due to legislative solutions, solar energy is increasing at a rapid pace. The goal of the British government is to have a 20GW photovoltaic system by 2020. This will contribute towards meeting the UK’s target of 15% renewable energy from final consumption by 2020. Rise in […]

The case of Egypt and renewable energy. Although the world has seen great developments in renewable sources of energy, there are still many countries where the potential of renewable energy is untapped. This is the case of Egypt, where wind and sun are abundant but yet not widely used to generate electricity. This is particularly […]

Combining efforts in solar power and energy efficiency are on top of the list Solar Energy According to a couple of reports of the International Energy Agency (IEA), solar energy could be the largest source of electricity by 2050. The report suggests that solar PV could eventually be able to generate 16 percent of the global […]

If by any chance you’re  walking through Tottenham Court Road and you’re pushed by the crowd you might end up in front of a green phone box. Don’t be shocked and try not to blame the painter, just take a look inside. You will probably be surprised to find some cables in place of the […]

US Airports use solar energy to reduce costs and save the environment. According to the Airport Cooperative Research Program, the operational costs of running the airports in the USA are really high and many of them are losing money every year. ACRP also points out that airports are one of the largest public energy user […]

Floating Solar panels may be more beneficial than traditional solar installations Floating Solar Panels on a Reservoir Following the example of Japan, UK now has its own solar panel project up and running. The solar panels are installed on a reservoir in a fruit farm situated in Berkshire. The project consists of 800 solar panels, […]

With significant rise in the price of fossil fuels and an extended awareness about climate change, comes interesting opportunities to invest in green energy. It is not only companies but also governments that are investing a lot of money in renewable sources of energy, the energy of the future. It is becoming more common that […]

France’s symbol in the world and the showcase of Paris, The Eiffel Tower, welcomes almost 7 million visitors a year. Around 80% of them are foreigners. Without a doubt, this is the most visited monument that you have to pay for in the world. Since the 1980s, the monument has been regularly renovated and adapted […]

Read about what makes “free” solar panels attractive and find out if they are really worth it

What Are Solar Panels? Solar panels are represented by either photovoltaic (PV) modules or  solar thermal panels. PV panels are used to generate electricity in residential and commercial buildings. Each module is rated by its DC output power under standard test conditions (STC), which typically ranges from 100 to 320 watts. A module’s efficiency refers […]