Harnessing direct solar energy – a progress report
Further Reading
October 2008, pages 7-9
Solar energy – the punter’s choice, but is it realistic? (by John Wright)
Reviews the status of solar thermal energy in Australia.
October 2008, pages 13-16
Photovoltaics: An elegant technology for electricity (by Andrew Blakers)
Reviews the status of photovoltaics for energy from an Australian perspective.
September 2006, pages 31-32
Photosynthetic photovoltaics (by Simon Grose)
Profiles solar cell technology that is inspired by photosynthesis.
27 January 2011
Solar power on a hot tin roof (by Fiona MacDonald)
Reports on new technology that turns light-absorbing organic molecules into ink that can be printed onto plastic paper.
11 July 2008
Organic dye turns windows to solar cells (by Katie Lee)
Describes new technology that can concentrate the energy received by a window into small solar cells set around the edges.
May 2007, pages 68-75
Empire of the Sun (by Bob Johnstone)
Reports on developments in solar technologies.
18 April 2007
Slicing the cost of solar power (by David Kay)
Looks at a novel approach to make low cost photovoltaic cells.
No. 160, 2011
Towards baseload solar thermal power (by James Porteous)
Discusses various types of solar power that have the potential to provide electricity around the clock.
No. 145, 2008, pages 14-16
The sun rises slowly for Australian solar (by Robin Taylor)
Examines the status of solar technology in Australia.
No. 144, 2008, page 7
Crystals that make solar power and purify air
Describes titanium oxide crystals that could be used to capture solar energy and purify air.
No. 131, 2006, pages 12-14
Solar cities generating new approaches (by Hartley Henderson)
Describes the Solar Cities program to trial the latest solar technology in cities across Australia.
No. 130, 2006, page 33
Roof tiles go solar (by Steve Davidson)
Describes a roof tile that is a solar panel that provides both solar power and solar hot water to homes.
No. 129, 2006, page 4
Solar thermal power warms up
Suggests that solar thermal energy is emerging as a cost-competitive source of electrical power.
No. 124, 2005, pages 28-30
A stirling idea (by Wendy Pyper)
A new spin on the age-old technology of the Stirling engine could provide a cheap, portable, low maintenance renewable energy unit.
No. 117, 2003, pages 8-9
One golden pond (by Wendy Pyper)
Describes a 'solar pond', which uses shallow ponds of saline water to harness solar energy.
No. 116, 2003, pages 10-12
Siphoning the sun (by Graeme O'Neill)
Describes the kilometer-high solar tower project which could power 200,000 homes.
7 September 2006, pages 19-22
A new day dawning?: Silicon Valley sunrise (by Oliver Morton)
Looks at interest in photovoltaic research in California's Silicon Valley.
A collection of stories on energy and fuels is available.
8 December 2007, pages 32-37
Solar power: The future’s bright (by Bennett Daviss)
Explores the future of power generation from solar energy.
24 November 2007, pages 42-45
Plugging into the sun (by Dan Cho and David Cohen)
Investigates the potential of space solar power.
5 May 2007, page 15
High cost of capturing solar energy is diminishing (by Jim Giles)
Looks at the potential of concentrated solar power as a source of energy.
9 December 2006, page 32
Cut-price solar panels follow the sun (by Duncan Graham-Rowe)
Reports on a new solar panel that is designed to cut the cost of harnessing the sun’s energy.
18 December 2004
Pliable solar cells are on a roll (by Fred Pearce)
Describes a light, flexible solar panel that is made in rolls and can be cut to any length.
15 May 2004, page 16
Wring more might from your light
A new semiconductor nanocrystal could convert 60 per cent of sunlight into useable power by releasing more electrons per photon.
June 20, 2011
Can North Africa Light Up Europe with Solar Power? (by Lisa Friedman and ClimateWire)
Discusses the feasiblity of providing electricity to Europe from a solar plant in Africa.
December 16 2007, pages 48-57
A solar grand plan (by Ken Zweibel, James Mason and Vasilis Fthenakis)
Presents a grand plan employing solar technology to provide the U.S. with power.
Page updated December 2011.