
Homemade solar panels/cells make a great DIY project for adults and kids alike. One simple way to make a cheap solar panel is by using cuprous oxide, an oxidized form of copper. While this is a great experiment to show how a solar panel works, keep in mind that it will not produce much power at all. Part 1.

The U.S. Department of Energy and ARPA-E awarded $151 million in funds on October 26, 2009 for 37 energy research projects. It supported technologies for , , , , and . The grants also supported technologies, including and for , devices for ,