News like this must be giving coal companies ulcers. Actually, based on the number of solar breakthroughs that have been reported over the past year, a steady supply of Prevacid might be a great idea. Fossil fuel companies may have the money and political backing, but innovation and time are defenitely not on their side. Over the next several decades, as these developments leave the laboratory and become commercialized, purchasing a simple array to offset the power of a home may become as ubiquitous as shelling out for a microwave oven. Until then, private industry, investment, and R&D will continue to be the yardsticks of progress.

With that in mind, let's take a look at some of the solar news that shined brightest this week. First up is General Electric, who is finally taking their "Ecoimagination" campaign and applying it to the home front with a massive corporate solar installation. Almost 840 panels pushing 168 KW of energy will be installed at their HQ in Connecticut. To give you an example of how hungry GE's complex is, this array will only supply 5-8% of their energy needs. Um, someone needs to invest in some additional efficiency upgrades….

Helping GE (and the industry as a whole) boost the power that can be created from each solar cell is a company called Spectrolab. This subsidiary of Boeing has announced a breakthrough that will allow a cell to reach about 45% efficiency — within the next five to six years. This is encouraging, but it's worth noting that there are already alternatives that exist (At least in the lab) at 40%. To achieve these high numbers (nearly twice that of present-day panels) the cells can capture three layers of the solar spectrum versus the single layer used today. Break out the sunglasses. The future's looking bright.

Finally, in Australia, road crews have started building noise-dampening walls along higways made of solar panels. The project is part of Australia's vision to incorporate more green aspects into road construction. The 210 panels will provide about 10% of the energy needed to illuminate street lights along the highway. Roads Minister, Tim Pallas commented on the design saying, "While this type of application is a first, it points to future projects having environmentally friendly elements in their original design, and as technology allows, will provide future transport infrastructure in an increasingly environmentally responsible manner."

Now if we can just get our cars to be as green as these roads, it will be a match made in heaven. Hit the jump for more.