Argonne And Northwestern Seek ANSER To Solar Energy Challenges
Argonne IL (SPX) May 14, 2007 Helping the world meet increasing energy needs through solar energy will be the goal of a new research center established by the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory and Northwestern University. The Argonne-Northwestern Solar Energy Research Center, or ANSER Center, will combine and expand the research interests of both institutions to address the grand scientific challenges posed by the need for economically viable solar energy use. "Global energy needs will double by 2050 and triple by 2100," said Michael R. Wasielewski, Northwestern chemistry professor and director of the new center. "An increase in the use of solar energy is essential for meeting this need in an environmentally responsible manner." Researchers at the ANSER Center will come from both Argonne and Northwestern, and will examine new economical ways to use sunlight to produce clean fuels, such as hydrogen, from water and to produce electricity directly from low-cost photovoltaic and thermoelectric systems. "The scientific challenges to achieving these goals are complex and cross-disciplinary, requiring an integrated systems approach," said George Crabtree, director of Argonne's Materials Science Division and deputy director of the ANSER Center. "Argonne and Northwestern each have a long history of accomplishment in solar energy research, as well as a culture of interactive team approaches to problem-solving. Add the world-class complementary expertise and facilities, and the result should be real breakthroughs in understanding fundamental solar energy conversion mechanisms and the ability to dramatically improve the efficiency of converting solar energy to fuels and electricity." Another goal is to educate a science and engineering workforce able to solve cross-disciplinary energy problems through educational opportunities available through the collaboration. Key scientific challenges that will be addressed through the ANSER Center are:
+ Coupling light energy to catalysts to produce clean fuel; Related Links Argonne National Laboratories All About Solar Energy at SolarDaily.com
California Breaks It's New Solar Rebate Program Los Angeles CA (SPX) May 11, 2007 The California Solar Rebate program has snuck in regulations that makes ROI on solar harder to reach. The problems relates to forcing people who go solar to use Time-of-use metering. According the Los Angeles Times the rebate reservation requests have dropped 75% compared Q1 2006. My business has noticed a sharp increase in interest in solar, but more of the clients are scared to do it because of the time-of-use rule. |
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