solar

We never thought we'd see an item worthy of as much ridicule as the solar hat fan, but this one comes close. Well, maybe not. But it's still eminently mockable.

The "Shade Blade" (classic name) is a prototype that Gizmodo says is billed as the "ultimate pair of sunglasses," presumably because of its theoretical ability to provide solar power for a variety of electronic devices. But frankly, the only thing "ultimate" we can imagine is how effectively it would function as a date repellant.

La Jolla, Calif.'s Envision Solar wants to convert the wasted space that covers parking garages into a utility.

The company, which has raised $600,000 and is seeking $1.3 million more, plans to put solar panels on the roofs of parking structures. The electricity produced could then be used to power an adjacent building, be fed into the grid or used to charge electric cars in the parking lot.

Tesla Motors Chairman Elon Musk has talked about cutting deals with parking garages to install solar panels. And the last time we were at Tesla's headquarters, we ran … Read more

Tioga Energy on Wednesday said that it has received $10 million in initial funding to launch its solar power services business.

The company is one of a handful that is trying to bring project financing to organizations that want to avoid the large capital outlay associated with solar electricity.

Tioga Energy will work with partners to install panels on commercial and government buildings. Once installed, it will own the panels and handle the ongoing maintenance.

The idea behind these contracts, called purchased power agreements (PPAs), is that the customer pays for the energy generated by solar panels at a prearranged … Read more

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.--Buying a solar panel should be like purchasing a refrigerator or hot tub, according to ReadySolar.

It should be a home product that comes ready to install in one box with simplified instructions so nearly anyone can install it. Hence the company's so-called "Solar in a Box" product it's pitching here at Launch: Silicon Valley.

ReadySolar makes a modular, prefabricated solar-panel box. The aim is to bring down the cost of solar installation and components, according to Meredith McClintock, the company's founder and president. The company does that by building a proprietary … Read more

Attempts to power hybrid cars with solar panels have been around for a few years. But now a company called Solar Electrical Vehicles is producing commercially available after-market panels for hybrids, starting with the Toyota Prius.

The fiberglass, molded panels fit on top of 2004-2007 Prius models. They are attached using an epoxy glue. Unlike previous attempts, these panels fit the curve of the roof.

To maximize your sun power and driving range, you need a larger battery installed than what comes standard with the Prius, according to company founder Greg Johanson, who says that battery storage is the most … Read more

Motorola is up to new tricks with its recent patent for a cell phone display that doubles as a solar cell. Apparently, the screen will be able to charge a cell phone's battery when the display is exposed to the sun. Though external solar-powered battery chargers are a reality, this is the first concept we've seen for a cell phone with an integrated solar panel. It's doubtful the phone would get all its juice from the sun. Rather, sunlight probably would power the handset while it's away from an electrical outlet. We have no idea which … Read more

Cool Earth Solar is banking on solar power priced more like a bicycle than a Mercedes.

The Livermore, Calif.-based company, which is still officially in stealth mode, has raised $750,000 in capital with a goal of raising a total of $950,000 to build a prototype, according to founder Eric Cummings. Announcements of board members and executives will be coming in June, he said.

Cummings has taken a radically inexpensive approach to solar power generation, taking into account land use issues as well.

His product design calls for hoisting several connected plastic balloons, referred to as "inflatable … Read more

If you can imagine a plane that can stay in flight for years at a time and refuel itself autonomously, then you're thinking like a government agent (or at least a science fiction writer).

Last week, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the research and development arm of the U.S. Department of Defense, began soliciting bids from the private sector to design a plane that can remain aloft for five years with a 99 percent probability.

Called the Vulture Air Vehicle Program, possibly after the vulture's ability to sail on thermal streams, the project "will … Read more

One of the most noticeable trends at this year's ICFF was the prevalence of nature-inspired design, whether it be pillows with birds printed on them or wall fixtures with antlers. There was also, predictably, a heck of a lot of "green" design and LED lighting. This prototype, called the Corona Solar Light, was one of my favorites.

Designed by Shane Kohatsu and Emi Fujita, these are long skinny outdoor lights that resemble sunflowers or some other kind of tall, long-stemmed plant. In the "head" is a solar panel, which charges the light during the day … Read more