Photovoltaics Get Extreme Makeover

Industrial Equipment News ^ | 11/07/2008 | Debbie Maskin

[SC Swamp Fox]

The headline is somewhat misleading, it doesn't appear these guys have done anything to the photovoltaic cells. They have concentrated on the design of the reflector and support structures. This appears to be a simple, inexpensive and functional design.

[Travis McGee]

Bring it on. I’m for solar, got 2 panels on my boat.

[stboz]

A sheethead with a BB gun could ruin your life.

[e_castillo]

They may have some serious competition...

Mini nuclear plants to power 20,000 homes:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/09/miniature-nuclear-reactors-los-alamos

How much does the same size cell produce with the mirror than without.

[tbw2]

Unfortunately, this innovative company’s latest project has come to a halt. Environmentalists won’t let them build the power lines from the desert solar array site to the city.
So environmentalists won’t even let us build solar, the ultimate free energy.

[truthguy]

Rube Goldberg!
We will never get more than 8-10% or our total energy from wind and solar. They are intermittent and very expensive. Even if solar were to improve tremendously the sun only shines about 25% of the time on the best of days. Or a better way of saying it is that you only get effective sun about 25% of the time. What do you do on a cloudy or rainy day? How about 4-5 days in a row of no sun. What do you do then? The renewal energy people are pulling a con job on the American People. But then again the American People are easily conned as Nov 4 showed. Mencken had it correct. Nobody ever lost any money betting against the intelligence of the American Public.

[Travis McGee]

I’m more of a fan of off-grid living, so power lines are less of a concern to me.

[OneWingedShark]

Put it in New Mexico or Arizona... perfect solar station places.

[OneWingedShark]

>So environmentalists won’t even let us build solar, the ultimate free energy.

How weird... the company should tlee them to shove it and talk to the state instead.

[Travis McGee]

Ten percent is good. But that’s not my point. For me, it’s a matter of freedom. Wind and solar together, along with some other local solutions, allow those who wish to find freedom off the rat race grid. Today, with existing technologies, you can buy a piece of cheap land based on its isolation, and then make your own power for living the 21st century lifestyle.....without the power, electric and water companies hand on the switch or valve upstream from you.

[truthguy]

Wind and solar together, along with some other local solutions, allow those who wish to find freedom off the rat race grid. Today, with existing technologies, you can buy a piece of cheap land based on its isolation, and then make your own power for living the 21st century lifestyle.....without the power, electric and water companies hand on the switch or valve upstream from you.

I'm hoping you are joking man. If not then you really need to up the medication.

[SC Swamp Fox]

We will never get more than 8-10% or our total energy from wind and solar.

I agree. I have read that our energy grid would become unstable if these unreliable, alternative sources supply more then 12% of our energy.

But photovoltaic energy has some applications particularly in remote locations, and I really like the simplicity of this reflector.

[SC Swamp Fox]

I'm hoping you are joking man.

Click on his screen-name. He likes a good joke...but he's not joking. He's already posted that he uses photovoltaic cells on his boat.

[SC Swamp Fox]

Ping?

[4rcane]

a decentralized energy producing system is what we should go for. This encourage competition. Won’t it be great if your house produce all the energy you need and transport and you dont have to pay the electricity company for it

[saganite]

Coupled with the tech in the article linked below this might just be marginally viable:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/11/081103130924.htm

[listenhillary]

What happens in 2031?

[DB]

Never say never...

If solar energy ever gets cheap enough the next problem will be energy storage and that's changing rapidly as well. You need enough energy storage to cover the worst case expected sun outages. Also by placing solar production over a wide area you greatly increase the chances of the sun shining in one or more of those places. The key remains costs. If the costs are low enough one can afford to build many redundant systems.

[saganite]

LOL! If that’s true then it just confirms my opinion of environmentalists that they aren’t really concerned with solving problems to help man and save the planet but instead want only to punish man.

[SC Swamp Fox]

or this:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1749504/posts