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shadow · 21-10-2008, 19:13

Here is a great article about the latest Solar Cell technology that is nearly 100% efficient! I hope that they have these in a commercial use as soon as possible.

TG Daily - New solar cell material achieves almost 100% efficiency, could solve world-wide energy problems

Keegan · 21-10-2008, 22:28

Sounds like a few years away or longer...until then, Kyocera

**GordMay** · 22-10-2008, 01:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keegan

Sounds like a few years away or longer...until then, Kyocera

Excerpted from the linked article:

“... The materials these researchers have created is not ready for prime time. Only a few molecules were created through a joint effort of the Ohio State University team and a team of chemists from the National Taiwan University. They synthesized enough of the material to carry out preliminary tests ...”

Trim50 · 22-10-2008, 10:09

In the world of materials science, there is a saying: "The first thing your hear about any new material is always the best."

Greenman · 23-10-2008, 12:38

This is not brand new, but still something I had read about a while back. It would be great to spray your entire deck, and by the sounds of this article, possibly even speay your sails?

Spray-On Solar-Power Cells Are True Breakthrough

**David M** · 23-10-2008, 13:43

Black sails....hmmmm. We do have carbon fiber reinforced sails now. I'm kinda with the others, no need in getting all excited until we see some real world results. If this is true though, the OPEC countries had better start finding a new source of revenue.

David_Old_Jersey · 23-10-2008, 14:09

Ok, not directly relevent - but just seen 5 minutes of a tv programme on the BBC about 3 Scientists (looked like hippies

) who have built a solar powered furnace (in a US desert somewhere).

1st demo was to incinerate a hotdog, 2nd was to melt a hole in metal. 2,300 degrees. Wow! If I had known science involved doing sh#t like that I would have paid attention at school

Not exactly boat freindly - the size of radar dish. on a Carrier

All built as part of making Gasoline from air and water. They later get to bolt a thingymajig on the end.

Will it work? no idea but well within the category of "We built it simply because we could"........

Sandia's Sunshine to Petrol project to chemically transform carbon dioxide into carbon-neutral liquid fuels - December 5, 2007

New Mexico. I reckon it's Alien Technology...........

Greenman · 23-10-2008, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

3 Scientists (looked like hippies

) 1st demo was to incinerate a hotdog, 2nd was to melt a hole in metal. 2,300 degrees. Wow! If I had known science involved doing sh#t like that I would have paid attention at school

........

Are you talking about the Hipppies? The metal melting? Or just some sweet tasty hotdogs?

Greenman · 23-10-2008, 17:50

Have you ever seen Solar Ovens? These might work wonders in the Carib for cooking Dogs.

Plans for Solar Cookers -- The Solar Cooking Archive

starfish62 · 23-10-2008, 19:42

That whole reflector technology has always fascinated me. But I was an English major, so I could never understand it!

scotty · 23-10-2008, 19:50

the one thing about any new solar tech ie cheap solar cells. is they wont be cheap. right now a 100 watt panel costs around 800 buck iirc, if you found a away to build a 100 watt panel for 10 bucks, what would you sell it for, certainly not 20 bucks or a 100 % profit. you might sell it for 600 to cover costs of research, and start up fees and feel good about your self, because in 7 years oce the patent dies china will be selling the panels for 100 bucks.