Rapid Rise of Solar Tech

[jmac00]

so basically, none of these inventions will trickle down to the consumer for at least 25 to 30 years.

There is still no *affordable* solar power for the NIMBY crew. There is only massive power projects that will cost billions upon billions of dollars with ZERO ROI

swell

[Space Racer]

so basically, none of these inventions will trickle down to the consumer for at least 25 to 30 years.

There is still no *affordable* solar power for the NIMBY crew. There is only massive power projects that will cost billions upon billions of dollars with ZERO ROI

swell

Yeah, right.

Bear in mind that the rate of technological advancement is exponential, not linear.

While we're on the subject, check these out:

Graphene-based solar cell hits record 15.6 percent efficiency
http://www.gizmag.com/graphene-solar...iciency/30466/

Organic flow battery could transform renewable energy storage
http://www.gizmag.com/organic-flow-b...storage/30433/

[NiHaoMike]

"Efficiency" is mostly irrelevant for stationary applications. It's total $/W that really matters.

[lytning]

A guy in Gray Me spent about 20K on Solar, he is putting in a ductless split system. He has no batteries, the power he doesn't use goes back into the grid and he gat a credit.
Although I like the whole idea, his payback must be 20 years although I am sure he got tax credits. I hope he doesn't have any problems and or major repairs.

[jmac00]

Yeah, right.

Bear in mind that the rate of technological advancement is exponential, not linear.

While we're on the subject, check these out:

Graphene-based solar cell hits record 15.6 percent efficiency
http://www.gizmag.com/graphene-solar...iciency/30466/

Organic flow battery could transform renewable energy storage
http://www.gizmag.com/organic-flow-b...storage/30433/

ok, these "batteries" have my attention. WHAT organic material are they using??? what exactly is the DOD (Depth of Discharge) around here you need enough battery storage to last a minimum of three days~~~without sun before you need to recharge the batteries or start a generator to charge the batteries.

So if these organic batteries only last one full day and then need to be recharged, that maybe a problem

[jmac00]

A guy in Gray Me spent about 20K on Solar, he is putting in a ductless split system. He has no batteries, the power he doesn't use goes back into the grid and he gat a credit.
Although I like the whole idea, his payback must be 20 years although I am sure he got tax credits. I hope he doesn't have any problems and or major repairs.

ya, thats a "grid tie" system. you're still tied to the utility system.

Im trying to get rid of the utility company by going "off grid" My dream is to one day call RG&E (Rochester Gas & Electric) and tell them the meter is laying in the front yard, come get it

[lytning]

Sounds like a great plan. Costly, but good.

ya, thats a "grid tie" system. you're still tied to the utility system.

Im trying to get rid of the utility company by going "off grid" My dream is to one day call RG&E (Rochester Gas & Electric) and tell them the meter is laying in the front yard, come get it

[jmac00]

Sounds like a great plan. Costly, but good.

exactly, it will be a few years before there is any ROI.

[Space Racer]

New Polymer Could End Battery Fires, Quadruple Efficiency

Lithium-ion batteries are at the heart of the phones, tablets, cars, and planes we use every day, but they have an inconvenient habit of occasionally bursting into flames. Now, a team of scientists have found they can replace the unstable, fire-prone chemicals in batteries with an exceptionally stable polymer.

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2014/02...mable-polymer/

[jmac00]

New Polymer Could End Battery Fires, Quadruple Efficiency

Lithium-ion batteries are at the heart of the phones, tablets, cars, and planes we use every day, but they have an inconvenient habit of occasionally bursting into flames. Now, a team of scientists have found they can replace the unstable, fire-prone chemicals in batteries with an exceptionally stable polymer.

http://www.wired.com/autopia/2014/02...mable-polymer/

oooh man, if they could make these batteries commercially viable, that would be fantastic

[Space Racer]

Stacking Method Enhances Solar Power Efficiency

The stacking method involves placing several solar cells on top of each other, and is at present the most efficient form of social power installation on the market, capable of converting 45 per cent of the sun’s energy they harvest into power.

http://sourceable.net/stacking-metho...er-efficiency/

[Space Racer]

Musk may reduce battery cost as much as 40% by building a factory.

http://nextbigfuture.com/2014/02/elo...ry-market.html

[jmac00]

Stacking Method Enhances Solar Power Efficiency

The stacking method involves placing several solar cells on top of each other, and is at present the most efficient form of social power installation on the market, capable of converting 45 per cent of the sun’s energy they harvest into power.

http://sourceable.net/stacking-metho...er-efficiency/

so I looked into this "stacking", it's not anywhere near ready for consumers and it maybe years or decades before it is. It is an a great idea though. But it seems it produces a LOT of heat. and heat is bad for a solar panel.

[mofotech]

Hey Jmac, you don't have a solar water heater system at your cabin? Solar water heater systems I think give the best ROI compared to solar panel systems.

[jmac00]

Hey Jmac, you don't have a solar water heater system at your cabin? Solar water heater systems I think give the best ROI compared to solar panel systems.

not-a-chance, it is seasonal property, we only go up north in the winter once or twice on a weekends (maybe once in Jan and once in Feb) and we go when we know it's going to be at 30° or greater.

This morning it was MINUS 5° with a 8-15mph wind.....wind chill would be around minus 13 to minus 25.

when we close up for the winter, we drain the water and sewage systems and put in anti-freeze that good to minus 50.

The solar panels are strictly for lights and water pumps, and the ceiling fan when its sunny enough.

[mark beiser]

The thing is, if the tax dollars that are being flushed down the solar/wind energy toilet was redirected to developing and building full scale Thorium salt nuclear power plants, we would have all of the clean, relatively cheap, and intrinsically safe electrical generation we could ever need...

[NiHaoMike]

They should end oil subsidies first.

[Space Racer]

New commercial PV cells achieve >22% efficiency.

http://ir.trinasolar.com/phoenix.zht...732&highlight=


Perovskite PV efficiency is on the rise.

http://www.theguardian.com/sustainab...re-solar-power

[Space Racer]

Another article on stacked cells

How It Works: The Highest-Efficiency Solar Cell

http://www.popsci.com/article/techno...ncy-solar-cell

[Space Racer]

Solar Perspective

http://nextbigfuture.com/2014/04/sol...-go-to-be.html