The Cool Down

Homeowner shares real-life savings six years after installing DIY solar setup: 'Save quite a bit of money over paying someone else'

One savvy YouTuber documented his six-year solar journey, revealing that installing a DIY-style panel setup paid for itself and generated daily savings.

Lawmakers announce bill to provide American renters access to plug-in solar panels: 'Giving a [renter] the same power … as a homeowner'

Maine Morning Star reported that lawmakers are considering a measure that would make it easier for renters to install the units. So-called plug-and-play panels can be self-installed and simply plugged ...

Australian solar forecasting technology shapes energy prices and keeps grids stable

At the interface of AI, big data, the energy transition and mind-bogglingly complex weather systems, the ongoing supply of electricity relies on answering a deceptively simple question: Will it be ...
Tech Xplore

Organic solar cells degrade quickly, but a solid additive could help them last longer

Solar power continues to grow—accounting for most new capacity added to U.S. electric grids in 2024—but the mid-1950s technology most often used to capture the sun's energy comes with environmental ...

A fluid can store solar energy and then release it as heat months later

To store heat for days, weeks, or months, you need to trap the energy in the bonds of a molecule that can later release heat on demand. The approach to this particular chemistry problem is called ...
IEEE

Low-Complexity and Low-Power Receiver for Solar-Cell-Based Optical Communications

Abstract: This paper presents a low-power and low-complexity data receiver circuit suitable for solar-cell-based optical receivers. The receiver circuit is based on a data slicer that has been ...

Lawmakers introduce bill to legalize ultra-cheap plug-and-play solar panels: 'This would be huge'

California regulations have made it costly and confusing for residents to install plug-in portable solar panels. Lawmakers ...
The Cool Down on MSN

Homeowner searches for advice for how to go solar on the cheap: 'I've seen a bunch of ... people who say to lowball them'

"Tell them they are welcome to leave them behind." Homeowner searches for advice for how to go solar on the cheap: 'I've seen a bunch of ... people who say to lowball them' first appeared on The Cool ...
Crude Oil Prices

Africa’s Solar Boom Draws New Investment

Global funders are backing solar-powered agricultural technologies across several African countries to address rising energy and food demand. Falling solar costs and Chinese panel imports have helped ...
thecooldown

Surprisingly cheap plug-and-play solar panels may soon take over US markets: 'No need to rewire anything'

A Redditor attracted attention online by sharing a video about new plug-and-play solar panels that are making home solar more accessible for both homeowners and renters. The video, which depicted a ...
pv magazine International

Flexible perovskite solar cells with tunable color, transparency

Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem developed a method to fabricate semi-transparent, flexible halide perovskite solar cells with tunable transparency and color via 3D micro-printed ...