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36 Comments
- DirtPile, on 07/02/2009, -1/+10"Neato"
"Very neat!" - askantik, on 07/02/2009, -1/+8These don't generate a ton of electricity, but they seem more practical for many applications than traditional panels. Hell, you could even run these up light poles to power the street lights or something.
- 3tcp, on 07/02/2009, -5/+11Seems like a waste since there's a lot of extra space in between the leaves and the ones they generate less electricity when they're not facing the sun.
I don't understand why people don't just focus on the most productive, efficient and cost effective methods for solar power. It's like they're trying to be a part of the movement but their efforts are just a distraction from what will actually make sustainable, renewable energy a reality. A green energy infrastructure will not be built on the backs of millions of fluttering flaps of solar panels. - disappointed, on 07/02/2009, -0/+4It's not necessarily a bad idea but it's not currently cost effective. They are waiting on improvements in solar cell technology. Also, I'm not convinced everyone will find them so attractive.
- Yukaroni, on 07/02/2009, -0/+4I NEED that on my apartment building wall.
- 3tcp, on 07/02/2009, -0/+4I might agree with you if this product had any advantage or niche that could not be filled otherwise. The only way that this is not inferior to more conventional solar cells is the aesthetics.
Even that is a matter of taste. That picture they have with these on a building, it looks like it's covered in black velvet. - snagglefoof, on 07/02/2009, -0/+3You didn't read the article did you?
- inactive, on 07/02/2009, -4/+7That's just amazing! No need to put up heavy panels on the roof.
- decker12, on 07/02/2009, -0/+3What happens when real ivy grows on the building and covers up these cells?
- appleofdischord, on 07/02/2009, -0/+2I would think they could make slightly less efficient but more aesthetically pleasing solar cells by constructing them to only absorb certain wavelengths... (essentially the same reason plants are green).
- bridgesteffen, on 07/02/2009, -0/+2If you click on the SMIT site, you can see how they leaves shimmer in the wind. It's so cool looking.
- Memnochxx, on 07/03/2009, -0/+2No, they generate electricity. They do not generate energy. And any sparkling going on would be because that light was reflected and not absorbed, so sparkling is essentially the opposite of capturing the energy.
- gauchoman2002, on 07/05/2009, -0/+2Super cool.
- EnderSaveUs, on 07/02/2009, -0/+2these are old. iirc the reason they aren't as efficient is because they're not all run in series like traditional PV--which, btw, makes the energy go bye bye when a little piece of panel gets blocked.
- foofightrs777, on 07/02/2009, -0/+2Apparently it doesn't occur to any of these scientists that it's going to be near impossible to beat the speed and efficiency of equine life forms (horses) evolved over millions of years.
They should be spending research funds on better saddles and horseshoes; not this "horseless carriage". - nullcodes, on 07/02/2009, -0/+2Good idea, but as currently implemented ..it doesn't look that great .. I'd rather have actual solar panels.
- Memnochxx, on 07/03/2009, -0/+1Yes, I did. What does that have to do with my comment?
- arpad, on 07/02/2009, -2/+3Yes, from the article:
"A 4 x 7 foot strip of Solar Ivy is capable of generating 85 Watts of solar power."
85 watts! I'm sure it wouldn't cost more then a few thousand dollars! It almost makes sense if you don't have pony up the bucks and you're entranced with the idea! - FreddyBoy1, on 07/02/2009, -3/+4"A green energy infrastructure will not be built on the backs of millions of fluttering flaps of solar panels."
Maybe not by themselves, but these are a tiny part of a full spectrum of advanced solar applications that have emerged recently...including flexible panels that apply directly to steel roofs, systems that are applied like paint, solar steam generators, and interior 'daylighting' mechanisms. With all of these, solar power can be collected and used in more ways then ever . I count this as another (small) advance in the field. - BlindWebster, on 07/02/2009, -0/+1Just because there's a gap to fill doesn't mean it is going to be filled. I'm only assuming that those suggestions are better than the null case, not that they will maintain the status quo. That is far possible
- angryredplanet, on 07/03/2009, -0/+1"A green energy infrastructure will not be built on the backs of millions of fluttering flaps of solar panels."
I beg to differ. I think it would be better to decentralise power systems. It will make domestic power more reliable by taking away the flaky old grid that distributes power generated at major plants, transmitted long distances with ensuing losses and inefficiencies to the substations, which then (only after you've paid your bills) is delivered to your house. This concept is more about reducing the need for expensive "green" public infrastructure by creating your own.
This idea has advantages over standard solar panel technology in that they incorporate wind generation, are modular and can be scaled very easily. My only real concern is at what cost? - foofightrs777, on 07/02/2009, -0/+1Surely, they must generate energy somehow.
- 3tcp, on 07/03/2009, -0/+1I agree entirely that the power system should be more decentralized. I do not believe that this will do anything to help that though. Modular systems that scale easily exist that are better than these.
- foofightrs777, on 07/04/2009, -0/+1Sorry that was an attempt at a "Surely" joke. I can see it would not be appreciated here. Moving on...
- TauQuebb, on 07/02/2009, -1/+1On your roof and the walls of buildings? I don't see farming or GM-Plants filling this gap any time soon.
- BlindWebster, on 07/02/2009, -0/+0I'll have to look into the efficiency. I know it's nowhere near energy return on investment of fossil fuel but assumed it's still a net gain. I'm also figuring the number of farms is going to increase massively in the coming years. I don't want to use bio-fuel to sustain the status industrial quo, just one of many alternative fuels. The industrial/automotive age is dead no matter what.
- BlindWebster, on 07/02/2009, -0/+0Good point. I suspect people will be riding horses in 100 years. Your whole worldview is going to fall apart within 10? We've used a million years worth of stored solar energy (oil, etc.) in a hundred years. We're already on the decline; a technological breakthrough is extremely unlikely at this point.
- zippyflounder, on 07/02/2009, -0/+0funny, each leaf in each panel is wiggling in the wind, and the leaf is being held by a little tab of plastic with copper leads. I wonder how long before metal fatigue kills most or all of them...not long at all.
- davidbrowne, on 07/02/2009, -1/+1Whatever great efficiency solar life forms have is lost once you start burning them. Once you start replacing traditional crops with bio-fuel crops you also interfere with food production which can and has had complex knock on effects such as aiding in increasing food prices across the world.
- BlindWebster, on 07/02/2009, -2/+2Apparently it doesn't occur to any of these scientists that it's going to be near impossible to beat the efficiency of solar life forms (plants) evolved over millions of years.
They should be spending resources on advanced farming, bio-engineering, and bio-fuel techniques? - FreddyBoy1, on 07/02/2009, -2/+1How about on buildings with south facing walls where the conventional type solar panels are too ugly...?? I agree that they do not replace conventional solar.
- illinest, on 07/02/2009, -6/+5damn that's ugly.
- pinksunflowers, on 07/02/2009, -7/+6Very neat!
- xtraimagination, on 07/02/2009, -7/+5Neato
- repaul20, on 07/02/2009, -3/+1Most good things come from Brooklyn.
- Memnochxx, on 07/02/2009, -9/+5They don't generate energy, and they don't capture it by sparkling either.
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