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deepdiggdudeJul 31, 2008
<a class="user" href="http://www.physorg.com/news136738014.html">http://www.physorg.com/news136738014.html</a>Same story from a site all diggers should check daily.
dlite922Aug 1, 2008
you just said "space elevator"./crickets
alientraderAug 1, 2008
they may indeed be replacing the platinum here, but the article didn't make that clear while being so busy with the photosynthesis analogy and all...
drwho9437Aug 2, 2008
Actually if you take the time to actually read, you know science, well you'd find out that it has everything to do with thermodynamics, the best absorber is a black body at a fixed temperature. There is this thing called spontaneous emission, that you can't avoid... What subject would impose limits on solar efficiency then? Quantum mechanics? You can't model losses well, other than loss to the phonon bath, oh wait that is heat, IE the main thing Thermodynamics studies. Solid state physics is just quantum + statistical mechanics. I could have said statistical mechanics, but in the end the argument is temperature based, and not everyone might understand what stat mech is (it subsumes thermo). Anyway the limit with our sun is about 60% with one junction.
balibonesAug 21, 2008
I have solar panels and can say with certainty that my modest-sized system produces WAY more energy than I need during the day (if it's sunny) because all of that gets fed back into the grid. Battery technology is what has been holding back the solar revolution because they were expensive, toxic, inefficientand high-maintenance. This changes all of that.
betacmag4uSep 3, 2008
Can't we use the solar power the other 364 days and 23 hours..... "In one hour, enough sunlight strikes the Earth to provide the entire planet's energy needs for one year."
betacmag4uSep 3, 2008
Boeing has 60% theoretical and 40% actual cells already. google it.... just an fyi
betacmag4uSep 3, 2008
the newest solar cells that are being developed will work at 1am because they work on the IR spectrum and not visible, thus they work 24x7. google it
nw2190Feb 22, 2011
ya that's actually pretty smart,
interesting why so little public support go to these ideas...
Nick Winovich
Closed AccountOct 26, 2008
I see what you did there.
jacobhill69Dec 10, 2008
hehJacob,<a class="user" href="http://www.curemysweatyfeet.com">http://www.curemysweatyfeet.com</a>
crazypaullDec 11, 2008
very interesting, especially the part that uses electricity to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen. check this blog <a class="user" href="http://www.diysolarpowersystem.com/">http://www.diysolarpowersystem.com/</a> this guy has some interesting thoughts on making your own solar power system at home
leoburgMay 13, 2011
n a revolutionary leap that could transform solar power from a marginal, boutique alternative into a mainstream energy source, MIT researchers have overcome a major barrier to large-scale solar power: storing energy for use when the sun doesn't shine.