Existing photovoltaic technology is not fully capable of realizing the promise of sustainable solar energy. Commercial and emerging photovoltaic technologies require energy-intensive extracting and manufacturing processes and often require metals like tin that generate social conflict and environmental harm with their mining. Slave and child labor, along with rampant environmental destruction and pollution are widespread in the tin mining industry, which in some places is even controlled by militias to fund wars.

For an example of extremely high-efficient solar cells at work, look no further than Mars. The rovers NASA sent to the red planet in 2003 relied on solar panels the size of a kitchen table and capable of converting about 27% of sunlight into electricity. To put that same technology to work on Earth, where the average rooftop solar panel is 15% efficient, the cost would be, well, astronomical.

Researchers have found out why new kinds of solar materials are so good at harvesting light - and have provided design rules for making them better. This opens up the opportunity to design flexible solar cells, which could be used in buildings and clothing.

The European Marine Energy Centre Ltd and Wave Hub Ltd have signed an agreement with Marine Energy Wales to provide strategic advice to develop the Marine Energy Test Area project which is underway in Pembrokeshire.

A new bag prototype specially designed to take advantage on the beach of the solar energy available in abundance at this time of the year by integrating flexible and versatile photovoltaic films.

Materials scientists have found a way to boost the efficiency of organic solar cells several times.

esVolta, a developer and owner of utility-scale energy storage projects across North America, has been selected by Pacific Gas and Electric Company to build an energy storage system in Santa Clara County, California.

Azuri Technologies Ltd, a leading commercial provider of pay-as-you-go solar home solutions to rural off-grid communities, welcomes Steve Haigh to the Senior Management Team in the new role of VP Software and Services.

Eversheds Sutherland has advised Faro Energy on the first certified Green Bond for solar energy in Brazil. Given the scope and size of the issuance, the transaction marks a significant milestone in European investor appetite in Brazil and paves the way for further growth in solar both in Brazil and across Latin America more widely.

A safe, reliable and sustainable way to generate power, tidal energy is opening new doors in the renewable energy sector. Cape Sharp Tidal is a joint venture between Emera Inc. and OpenHydro, a Naval Energies company, with the objective of providing tidal energy to Nova Scotians.

A new combination of materials may aid in developing a rechargeable battery able to store the large amounts of renewable power created through wind or solar sources. With further development, the new technology could deliver energy to the electric grid quickly, cost effectively and at normal ambient temperatures.

Solar powered pumps can be used to provide farmers with a cheap, renewable and zero emission solution for their irrigation needs. In this article, IDTechEx looks in more detail at the area of solar powered irrigation pumps.

A marine turbine specifically designed to harness the energy from tidal and ocean currents in those regions which, having relatively-high-speed water flows at depths with long distance to the seabed, cannot ensure an economic exploitation with fixed turbines.

Britain has a "golden opportunity" to switch to greener ways of providing energy to homes and businesses without increasing bills - but only if Ministers act now to make the most of it.

Research your market by exhibiting at the IDTechEx Show! Conducting market research on why companies want your product is usually a necessary step for successful commercialization. It is even more important when new technologies are developed that achieve things that were not possible before: Often the applications for the technology turn out to be very different from those intended by the creator.

OPENER has revealed BlackFly; the world's first ultralight all-electric fixed-wing extreme short/vertical take-off and landing aircraft. BlackFly is a single-seat Personal Aerial Vehicle with simple controls requiring no special skills to master and operate safely.

A lightweight, compact and efficient supercapacitor printed on a flexible plastic sheet has been developed by researchers.

The TRIBRID Project in Indonesia, run by KDDI and NEDO (New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization) of Japan, was accepted and registered on July 10 as an Official Project at the 8th Japan-Indonesia JCM Joint Committee in Jakarta.

Marine energy developer Minesto has initiated the commissioning program of its first tidal energy project in commercial scale in North West Wales, with initial sea trials of the company's DG500 tidal energy converter taking place in Holyhead harbour and the Holyhead Deep site.