T&T: Bateries, solar cells, etc.

[Greg Bradley]

There are new ideas out there though...

Slashdot mentions a solar heat engine that works at 60% efficiency...
http://tinyurl.com/2ptnb9

The Popular Mechanics article about it is at:
http://tinyurl.com/2nyhss

Greg...

--- LRZeitlin at aol.com wrote:

> In a message dated 1/7/08 12:01:46 AM, Michael writes:
> 
> 
> > I recently read a series of articles and web sites talking about
> batteries
> > that will be able to hold 10X the amount of juice in the same space
> and
> > weight, and solar cells that will be 80% efficient instead of the
> current
> > 20% or so, utilizing nanotubes, nanoflakes, nanoantennas, etc. 
> Rapid
> > developing nonotechnology applications will allow these advances. 
> These
> are
> > programs evidently well past research phase and supposedly
> discussing
> > pre-production prototypes with manufacturers.
> >
> 
> Michael,
> 
> Don't believe all the hype. While an 80% efficient solar cell is
> theoretically possible, it falls into the same probability category
> as cold
> fusion.
> 
> A 80% efficient solar cell would have implications far beyond the
> boating
> community. It would upset the entire world order, negate the
> influence of the
> Middle East in global politics, and revolutionize technology. Enough
> solar
> energy
> falls on the Earth each day to power the entire world's economy for a
> year.
> About 1000 watts of energy falls on each square yard of surface for
> about 6
> hours a sunlight day. If 80% of that energy could be converted into
> electricity,
> the south facing portions of my house roof would collect 192 kw/hrs
> daily,
> about ten times my typical power use.
> 
> I'll bet that if you carefully examine the web sites mentioned, a
> majority
> will be looking for funds or for potential investors to bring the
> product to
> market. I personally would like to see an 80% efficient solar cell. I
> would
> even
> rejoice if anyone could produce a 20% efficient cell at $1 a watt.
> 
> Larry Z
> 
> 
> **************



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