25 is the number of years that most crystalline silicon solar panel manufacturers warranty the power output of their panels. Afterwards although the panels can still technically generate power beyond this point, their power output begins to decrease significantly.

Image via Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition.

As the industry continues to grow over the coming decades, and today’s solar modules approach the end of their useful lives, we will find ourselves with a serious solar trash problem.

A new report from GlobalData delves into a hidden side of the solar industry that will emerge as a result of this problem over the next 15 years–solar module recycling. According to the firm’s report, end-of-life PV modules are expected to generate approximately 24,855 tons of waste in 2025. By 2035, the amount is expected to increase to 1,161,173 tons.

Image via Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition.

As one might expect, there are significant financial opportunities in this sector. In 2025, a PV module is expected to generate $0.58 per watt in recycled value, increasing to $1.21 per watt in 2035. The major factors driving this trend are the rise in solar panel installations from 2000 to 2010, an expected increase in recycling rates, and a rise in the market price of solar module materials, like glass and aluminum.
Overall, the total value of recycled crystalline modules is expected to increase from $122 million in 2025 to $12.9 billion by 2035.

The emergence of solar module recycling is just part of a growing market for electronic waste, or e-waste. A recent study by Pike Research found that the amount of total e-waste generated worldwide is expected to double to 1,465 million cubic feet by 2025. Today, the vast majority of e-waste that doesn’t go to the landfill ends up in developing countries, where it is processed with little consideration for human or environmental health.
One organization that is working to ensure that the solar industry does not go down the same road as the electronics industry when it comes to recycling is the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition (SVTC). SVTC believes that solar manufacturers can ensure that PV is a truly sustainable energy resource by reducing the use of toxic chemicals in PV, developing responsible recycling systems, and protecting workers at every stage of the global PV supply chain.
The organization’s annual Solar Score Card ranks solar manufacturers according to standards of product recycling, worker health and safety, chemical use and life-cycle analysis and company disclosure statements. In 2011, the top-ranking manufacturers were SolarWorld, Trina Solar, First Solar, REC and Abound Solar.

Source: earthtechling.com. Article by Lauren Craig.

RECYCLE YOUR OLD SOLAR LIGHTS HERE – GET MONEY FOR YOUR NEXT PURCHASE!

Check out new Halloween video from Your Solar Link.

For this Halloween project 3 solar spot lights were used along with 1 solar security light to showcase the giant spider.

Giant spider is made of chicken wire, plaster bandage strips pvc pipes and some spray paint. All the solar lights that were used for this project can be found at www.YourSolarLink.com.

“If you wanted to generate all the world’s electricity, you could do it with less than 1% of the area of the world’s desert.” Gerry Wolff, Coordinator of Desertec, says. But if Wolff is correct, why hasn’t it been done yet?

Seville, Spain hosts the first commercial operation of solar tower technology in the world. It’s the first commercial solar tower plant of its type, concentrating solar power (CSP), in the world. According to the report, it features over 1,000 freestanding heliostat mirrors that follow the arc of the sun. In a process referred to as Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), the mirrors reflect solar rays to the tower, where water is boiled, and then steam is generated to drive a turbine, which in turn produces electricity. This electricity is sold to the national grid.

This is all possible because Spain’s government has provided subsidies and incentives in support for the solar industry. Without government support, it’s possible that the entire operation could not exist. That is because the upfront investment is huge, as most of the money goes into building the plant. The investor community tends to see solar plants as high risk.

But according to the video report, once economies of scale are achieved, solar power is one of the cheapest sources of energy. The report argues that it’s hard to detect the value of solar power because currently, conventional sources of electricity are subsidized, artificially making them appear to be cheap. GOOD reports that “concentrated solar power… will be a core element of the transition from dirty coal to clean energy.”

As Gus Schellekens of PricewaterhouseCoopers argues, “Solar has a huge role it can play, the fact that it’s an endless supply of energy…the one thing that’s needed to unlock much of that is the political leadership and will.”

WATCH video about this innovative solar power tower below:

VIDEO of James May (Top gear) visiting solar thermal plant in Spain:

Solar Ivy is a solar energy delivery device that draws inspiration from ivy growing on a building.

Solar Ivy was created to meet the energy needs of individuals, businesses, and communities while adhering to the values of sustainable design and environmental stewardship. Combining photovoltaic technology and piezoelectrics, Solar Ivy’s unique, patent–pending system continues to grow and to challenge our notions of what solar power can and can’t do.

Solar Ivy (from Brooklyn, NY) and its parent company, SMIT, utilize recycled and reclaimed materials and life–cycle analysis to ensure that the system and its component parts can be recycled and reclaimed.

Some features of this ingenious invention include:

Customize easily.

Solar Ivy’s modularity allows for customization on a number of levels, including:

Color: Each leaf of Solar Ivy can be colored to order to meet aesthetic purposes or to “paint” your organizations name or logo.

Spacing: Density of Solar Ivy leaves can be increased or reduced depending on goals for energy gain, visibility requirements, or architectural needs.

Photovoltaic Type: Solar Ivy can be produced with one of several types of photovoltaic material depending on your energy production and environmental objectives.

Orientation: At any given geographical location there is are a range of pitch orientations available to Solar Ivy’s leaf shape. In designing a Solar Ivy solution we can take into account architectural and aesthetic priorities by adjusting the leaves to have more or less pitch, or angle at different places.

Grow Anywhere.

The stainless steel mesh that roots Solar Ivy to a building or sub-structure is flexible enough to stretch, bend, and curve to hug the contours of almost any surface, including building facades. Spread leaf concentrations thinner over windowed areas of a facade to enhance views. The modular design also allows for updating Solar Ivy as new photovoltaic technology becomes available.

Produce Renewable Energy.

Through analysis of a site’s sun exposure and geographical location, Solar Ivy’s leaf arrangement and density are designed to meet optimal performance specifications. Each installation of Solar Ivy results in a unique product whose appearance, dimensions and energy capacity harness the maximum potential wattage for the location. With its unique flexiblity and modularity, Solar Ivy can be used independently, or complementing traditional solar systems in places they can’t go (like facades and over windows), so you produce more energy.

Provide Shade.

Just like its natural counterpart, Solar Ivy provides shade while collecting and converting sunlight into usable energy. A home or business utilizing Solar Ivy enjoys substantial savings from having to run air conditioning and HVAC units less.

Residential Applications.
Solar Ivy can be used on the roof or walls of your home or garage. Shade a deck or patio with Solar Ivy. Solar Ivy can be installed on nearly all building types using standard electrical hardware that will allow easy integration with existing power service or for on–site battery storage.

Commercial & Architectural Applications.
Solar Ivy is a flexible system that can adapt to different building typologies, programmatic demands, and regional climates. From collaborating with architects and builders to harness sustainable energy sources in new buildings to retrofitting existing structures, Solar Ivy meets the needs and sustainability goals of business and property owners.

Advertising Applications.
Solar Ivy’s customization feature allows business and institutions to display logos or images as a solar “painting.” By adjusting variables like density and pitch, and by coloring individual leaves, we can accurately reproduce corporate names, logos, or identifying images with Solar Ivy.

Read more about Solar Ivy at http://solarivy.com.

1.5 billion people do not have direct access to electricity and rely on kerosene, candles or firewood for lighting. Lack of suitable home lighting is directly linked to illiteracy, poverty and heath problems. Too many children are burned or impacted by house fires linked to lighting. Lighting should be safe, clean and affordable to all.

The Unite-to-Light project started with a visit from Pastor Kofi Fosuhene and Osei Darkwa to Santa Barbara. They explained that many people in Africa, who rely on kerosene for reading, suffer health problems and financial hardship. Aware of the work done at UCSB’s Institute for Energy Efficiency on high-efficiency LED lights and high-efficiency solar cells, Fosuhene and Darkwa asked if the Institute could design an affordable reading light. Although many solar powered flashlights are available, they were interested in reading lights because of the problems related to children and education, a focus for both men.

With assistance from Engineers without Borders, John Bowers, David Schmidt, Norm Gardner and Jock Bovington set about to solve this problem. After going through several designs, the first samples were sent to Ghana and met with great enthusiasm. Unite to Light is now engaging with other organizations to supply solar-based lighting to the developing world.

Solar Reading Light at night.

Watch five minute video showing soot from a kerosene lamp.

More at www.unite-to-light.org

Even though the rest of us do not rely on kerosene, candles or firewood for lighting and have direct access to electricity, the opportunity to use free energy sources is priceless. Check out these solar reading lights HERE.

They come in two attractive colors : green and red. And are on %10 OFF sale today.

Posted by Ekaterina Kohlwes – Principal/Designer at Mindful Design Consulting.

What Mindful Design Consulting can do for you:

• Branding/Your Brand Recognition Strategy
• Human Behavior Pattern in Your Business
• Professional Space Planning
• 3d Renderings and Illustrations to See Your New Space in Action
• Color Selection Based on Psychological Responses
• New Business Concept Space Design
• Retail Design and Buying Pattern Consulting
• Custom Cabinet Drawings
• Materials and Finishes Selection Based on Human Sensibility
• Equipment Selection Serving Your Needs
• Furniture Selection for Your Style
• Construction Drawings
• Energy Efficient Lighting layout and Selection
• We partner with Licensed Architects, Engineers and Other Professional Consultants if Your Project Requires

Website:
http://www.mindfuldesignconsulting.com/
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