Photovoltaics

The MS Tûranor is on a voyage around the world, powered only by the sun. Thanks to batteries and a whole lot of solar panels, the ship can sail through day and night, storms and open ocean without any trouble. The boat is currently on a scientific expedition, examining the Gulf Stream.

Farmers around Pennsylvania, and indeed around the country are increasingly taking the money they make opening their land up to fracking and investing in renewable energy. Specifically, a number of farmers have chosen to plow their windfall into solar panels.

Helen Palmer installed solar panels on the roof of her home in 2012. And since then, basically, she hasn’t seen an electric bill. In fact, when last she checked, she had a credit of nearly $43 on her bill. She hasn’t paid off her initial investment, but she’s making progress.

The Gloucester Marine Terminal, a gigantic produce warehouse in New Jersey, has completed construction on the largest rooftop solar installation in America. The installation has drawn attention to the potential for more corporate rooftop solar projects.

India, a country struggling to meet surging demand for power, has turned to small renewable stations on people’s homes to help make sure there’s a continuous supply of power.