Posted on 02/10/2014 2:04:46 PM PST by grundle
The solar energy industry is still in the process of exploring how to make photovoltaic panels more efficient and less intrusive, and researchers at Stanford have already pushed forward with peel-and-stick solar panels. However, for high power usage the devices must be large and in direct contact with the sun at all times, meaning they need to track its position in the sky using sensors and equipment that are expensive and susceptible to bad weather. Currently seeking funding through Indiegogo, Rawlemon is an alternative in the shape of an oddly beautiful eyeball-shaped lens, that uses refraction to concentrate sunlight with minimal need for tracking.
Designed by German architect Andre Broessel, the invention uses a large glass sphere lens, which collects diffuse light from multiple angles. The shape of the lens focuses this light into a fine beam — much like a magnifying glass — that can deliver a greater amount of sunlight — around 70 percent more — than traditional photovoltaic panels can collect on their own, even when they track the sun. The system enables Broessel to reduce the size of the solar panel to around one percent of the typical PV device. At the same time, the Rawlemon product is arguably much more aesthetically pleasing than the gray, oblong panels currently in use.
(Excerpt) Read more at smallbusiness.yahoo.com ...
roflol. Exactly. Although that one isn’t powered by the sun.
liquid is pretty heavy too.
“And I still think every city with more than 50,000 should prepare a site, just in case. So that in an emergency, they could drop a mini-nuke plant in, hook it up and have power restored in 48 hours.”
I agree. There seems little impetus to “be prepared” by those that have that responsibility regardless of Party. Everything from wars elsewhere to foreign aid gets a higher priority.
My take on it has been that government should be leading and encouraging USA business and homeowners to provide themselves with minimal off grid power generating ability. It would provide a means of improving national security and the ability of the populace to survive in disasters etc. Way too many keep their head in the sand and then wonder when the fan hits, why society collapses.
I’m totally in favor of every business or residence or multi-family having a minimal 1K - 2KW power per generating ability using solar and inverters and batteries for basic needs.
roflol
I always knew American would end when we got glass balls..
If subsidized with a healthy TAX CEDIT by the Government then it should only cost each taxpayer $1.00.
If you're an ILLEGAL then it's totally FREE.
Liquid is heavy... but potentially inexpensive. And, the filling of the orbs could occur after installation.
Maybe the solar cells could be built with small spheres that just look like bubbles on what’s basically a planar surface. I dunno—but the idea of using spheres as corner-reflectors—just like the light-tape on jogging suits and sneakers—is worth exploring and either using or putting to bed, depending on how good it turns out to be.
Agreed. For folks behind laws and policies, it’s not about “sustainability” of everyone, though. It’s about their own exclusive sustainability and the extinction of others—fascism.
Case in point: a city for thousands of exclusive folks has been advertising its (fake) consideration of hydroelectric power—yeah, from a little creek. The real plan in action: diesel generators, PV solar systems, etc. They do expect a worldwide and ongoing energy shortage before long because of rapidly increasing consumption in quite a few “developing” countries.
Another case: big, grid-tied, suburbanite, PV solar system installations with big tax breaks from big incomes were recently all the rage. A few years ago, political discussion boards were buzzing about installing such systems for when the “SHTF.” Now that so many systems are installed, according to comments on political boards, PV solar technology is crap.
Many political regulator folks are invested in local energy of all kinds. After gas goes up, electricity goes up. And they don’t want the lowly consumers to get off of the plantation. On a planet that they see as being “overpopulated,” they only want the unstylish masses to go away.
Problem with their plans is that they’re incapable of fixing anything or solving any complicated physical problems. They haven’t done a real day’s work in their whole lives.
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