I’m waiting on Beamreach Solar—aka Solexel—to unveil their second generation solar cells this year. Their business model has changed. Hundreds of patents, light weight modules, and solar cells capable of withstanding temperature extremes-what could possibly go wrong in the solar industry? Also they claim the process they use can make extra large wafers of other than silicon materials—super cheap if possible.
I don’t see a practical lid on “what we can make.”
The lid is found in “why we want to make it.”
And I could see technologies like this used to help lift large areas of Third World off the ground rather quickly, getting them the blessings of electricity without the need to bring in fossil fuels or arrange widespread power transmission. There’s no reason these areas have to recap the history of the First World on the way to their respective paradises (figuratively speaking). The people have different expectations, and they will view different things as wonders. They may want to visit the First World, but won’t need to in order to see a greatly improved manner of life. In fact they may view the First World as somewhat spoiled. We had to electrify EVERYTHING, rather than just what made the most sense.