Increases is solar cell efficiency are important and those continue, but the cell itself is not the only important component. BioSolar Introduces Bright-white BioBacksheet for Improved PV Solar Panel Efficiency
BioSolar, Inc. (BSRC) , developer of a breakthrough technology to produce bio-based materials from renewable plant sources that reduce the cost of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules, announced today the introduction of a bright-white BioBacksheet in response to demand from its prospective customers.
“While meeting with PV module manufacturers in recent months, we encountered an overwhelming preference for a bright-white colored BioBacksheet in lieu of the existing translucent design. For cosmetic reasons, as well as for its high-reflectivity which improves cell efficiency, manufacturers prefer a bright-white colored backsheet,” said Dr. David Lee, BioSolar’s Chief Executive Officer.
Tests of the new bright-white model are to be completed shortly. Thus far the new bio-material is predicted to be as durable as the current translucent material.
127 MPG: This Volt Story Must Be Told
Never mind the yellow journalistic brouhaha taking place on these here fine internets in regards to the 2011 Chevy Volt. Here’s why I’m so geeked on the Chevy Volt and why you should be, too. In normal, everyday driving we got 127 miles per gallon (fine, 126.7 mpg). …… The Volt, to reiterate, used 2.36 gallons over 299 miles. That’s freaking amazing!
The Volt is built so it never actually runs directly from the gas powered engine. It burns the gas to charge the engine once the initial charge is depleted. The test drivers drove on highways and city streets. While they were going down hill at the time they did get the Volt up to 102 mph. A fun article to read and has some nice photos of the new red Volt they used. Not including manufacturer, state or federal incentives the Volt has a suggested retail price of $41k. With that kind of fuel cost per mile it would be comparable to a car costing thousands less in total operating costs.
Cicada on a branch. If you step out on the patio one night to get some peace and quiet and it sounds like a wildlife concert outside it is probably because of the cicadas – though sometimes the crickets and frogs help out. One night this past August I think the cicadas and tree frogs were having a competition to who could make the most racket.
Male cicadas have loud noisemakers called “tymbals” on the sides of the abdominal base. Their “singing” is not the stridulation (where one structure is rubbed against another) of many other familiar sound-producing insects like crickets: the tymbals are regions of the exoskeleton that are modified to form a complex membrane with thin, membranous portions and thickened “ribs”. Contracting the internal tymbal muscles produces a clicking sound as the tymbals buckle inwards. As these muscles relax, the tymbals return to their original position producing another click. The interior of the male abdomen is substantially hollow to amplify the resonance of the sound.
tangledwing 