Harvesting Electricity Directly from plants?

Researchers from the Universities of Georgia turned their heads towards the inspiration of nature. They are now developing a new technology in ways to generate electricity from plants. Plants are the most assured source for clean energy. Most of them operate at nearly 100 percent efficiency, providing the plant equal amount of electrons from every photons captured from the sun. If converting even a portion of this to electricity would greatly over power every solar panels being made with only 12-17 percent efficiency.

During the process of photosynthesis, plants convert the sunlight captured into water atoms that are split to hydrogen and oxygen which then produces electrons. The plants use these electrons to create natural sugars for in most part uses them much like food to advance towards reproduction and growth.

"We have developed a way to interrupt photosynthesis so that we can capture the electrons before the plant uses them to make these sugars," said Ramasamy, who is also a member of UGA's Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center.

In the near future, this technology can well be used in remote sensors or even portable electronics that require fewer power consumption.

"We have discovered something very promising here, and it is certainly worth exploring further," he said. "The electrical output we see now is modest, but only about 30 years ago, hydrogen fuel cells were in their infancy, and now they can power cars, buses and even buildings."

Ramaraja Ramasamy, right, and Yogeswaran Umasankar work together to capture energy created during photosynthesis. Ramasamy is an assistant professor in the UGA College of Engineering and Umasankar is postdoctoral research associate working in his lab. (Credit: Image courtesy of University of Georgia)

Solar Day Pilipinas -- A Yearly Event From Now On

      During this extreme heatwave coming this summer in the Philippines, there lies potential for solar power to grow as our reliance on fossil fuels can be reduced or dimmed. The Philippine Solar Power Alliance (PSPA) and the World Wide Fund for Nature Philippines (WWF) has, in fact, celebrated their very first Solar Day Pilipinas 2013 on April 26. PSPA President Dante Briones had described solar power as being a cutting-edge technology and a tool for improving national competitiveness, especially in the Philippines. "The country is actually one of the leading countries in Asia when it comes to solar energy," Briones said.
      Solar power is also estimated to produce 20-30% less emissions of harmful gases than coal power. "Why do we have to thoroughly dig the soil just to look for coal when all we need is to raise our heads to see the sun?" said Claire Marie Yvonne Lee, PSPA Vice President. According to Lee, she observed that many businesses and institutions have already begun to start using solar panels. Some of these, she points out, are Starbucks, the Asian Development Bank, the Makati Medical Center and the Department of Trade and Industry.
       Solar power, however, proves to be quite costly. As a matter of fact, the cost of acquiring one solar panel may exceed the initial savings generated from not connecting to the country's power grid. Though this may be so, PSPA and WWF believe that as costs decrease, solar panels will be economically efficient over time. In addition, solar technology usually is covered by a 25-year warranty. "A solar system is a good investment," said Lee. "Unlike a car or a cellphone, it's not a dead investment," she added.
       At Solar Day Pilipinas 2013, there were products of various solar power developers showcased for the public to view. The products consisted of a range of solar phone chargers to large-scale solar systems for residential areas and commercial establishments. Ten solar power developers present were included as follows: Renewables Made in Germany, MERALCO, Tritec, Transnational Uyeno Solar Corporation, GNB Exite, Maschinen and Technik Inc., Cagayan Electric Power, Sasonbisolar Inc., One Renewable Energy Enterprise Inc., Solutions Using Renewable Energy Inc., CEnAG, SunPower Inc., and Propmech. "Solar Day Pilipinas will be a yearly event from now on," said PSPA Founder and Chair Teresa Cruz-Capellan.

Did you know a bug can actually produce electricity?

This here is what is known for as the oriental hornet. Like many other insects or hornets, it is able to digest other insects. It lives in many areas of the western Mediterranean and India region, specifically in Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Afganistan, and the list goes on. 

So, how does this oriental hornet actually produce electricity?
    Well, the hornet's exoskeleton and the silk surrounding the pupae and its comb walls conduct electricity. The yellow stripe on its abdomen is capable of harvesting the sun's light and converting it into electricity. Its brown exoskeleton traps the sunlight, instead of it being reflected off the hornet's body.

But, how exactly does it work so that they can produce electricity?

      Within the oriental hornet's body, there are pigments that actually captures the energy of the sun's rays. Dr. Plotkin, whom was the researcher who discovered that the oriental hornet's abilities, commented that "the pigment melanin gives the hornet its dominant brown color; the pigment xanthopterin, in the head and abdomen in a form of stripes and bands, gives the Oriental hornet its bright yellow color." He also claims that "xanthopterin works as a light harvesting molecule transforming light into natural energy." This also explains why they become more active during the middle of the day, when the sunlight may be most intense. 

The end of chargers are near, expect it!

This video explains how the efficiency of solar films, which are made transparent, can be a new revolutionary innovation that can change how many people acquire power in their phones, tablets, notebooks, and other electronic appliances in this day and age. Thanks to a band of researchers in France, they are finding ways to harness the energy of the sun from an ultra thin film that can replace current solar panels that are being manufactured today.

Wipe out your electric bills!

      Some countries have already begun piquing their curiosity and experimenting with solar technology. What about the United States? Are we also far behind when the countries around us are advancing their resources?

     No. It seems California is advancing as well, as we speak. Compared to the East Coast, the West Coast has more tendencies to support such technology. Due to the warm weather conditions, with the support of the communities as well as many government grants and programs, there has been many rooftop solar installations on residential and commercial buildings. They are even free of charge after incentives for businesses and  off grid rebates for homes that are struggling to pay their bills on time.

     The east coast, on the other hand, are not so Eco friendly. Therefore, Our fellow neighbors settled in the east coast took their matters into their own hands by purchasing portable gas powered generators, powering their own appliances through the use of gasoline. But these generators have no value outside power failures, especially when gasoline can never be produced but bought. For example, homes that were affected by hurricane "Sandy" had no way of getting their hands on gasoline when it was limited in supply. Therefore, the government had provided gas stations with limited amounts of gasoline. The government had no choice but to set up a gas rationing plan, "odd-even", restricting cars with odd-numbered license plates on odd days as well as even-numbers license plates on even days. The rationing had been going on for until weeks end.

     

Solar Technology around the World

     It has been reported recently that China has been the most highest demand towards renewable energy investors. Costs of solar technology had been falling drastically over the years and is expected to ease China's power shortage by 2015. Solar supplies are expected to be leveled to the same price as electricity fees that is passed on right now. Soon, there will be the era of Solar Panels around every residential and  commercial rooftops in a large scale in a short period of time as well as the supply of coal and oil dropping slowly but surely in our economic crisis with Obama's viewpoint towards the production of oil and gas.


     South Korea had also been following the crowd towards solar energy and the government had been, without a doubt,  the greenest government in the world. Largest industries and companies such as Samsung, LG, and Hyundai are making massive investments towards wind, solar, tidal, and nuclear energy onto vehicles, power supplies and home appliances.

Nepal is also not far behind in introducing solar technology.
Did you know you can conduct energy through human hair?
     In a recent discovery in Nepal, Malin Karki, a Nepalese teen who attends school in Kathmandu, invented  a solar panel that conducts static energy through strands of human hair called melanin. These pigments of hair are connected to each pin designed in a square panel that can produce up to 18 watts of power that costed him as low as $38 as a whole. Inspired by a book written by Stephen Hawking, he may have started an amazing revolutionary idea around the world.

Hi and Welcome to SolarEcon

     Let me introduce myself, the name's Lee and I saw a vision of SolarEcon being the key factor to our everyday life. In our present age, we had been led towards the mobile and tablet world, requiring electricity that we all love and rely on. Why not have a world of infinite renewable energy powering our electronics and appliances?
     Beginning with the use of coals that accompanied the Industrial Revolution, development of solar energy in the 1860's had brought many Americans hope. Though it hadn't lasted long, solar technology had dropped drastically during the 20th century and had been brought back up 20% and has been rising after the 1973 Oil Embargo and the energy crisis.
     Development of solar equipment such as solar panels, solar powered backpacks or even solar powered cars will be the future towards our everyday lifestyle and well being for the health and the beneficial factor to our environment on the earth that we love and live in. Lets bring that lifestyle to the test, shall we?