| Author |
Message |
ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 03, 2005 - 9:03 pm: | |
/Geek-mode must be on to read this/
What began as a basic research question points to a potential practical application of great value. For if solar cells can be made with this alloy, they promise to be rugged, relatively inexpensive -- and the most efficient ever created.
http://www.lbl.gov/Science-Articles/Archive/MSD-full-spectrum-solar-cell.html |
Ed Jewett (Kristinsgrandpa)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 9:53 am: | |
Does this mean that I can throw away the 6V-92 and start looking for an electric motor? I could probably only go through the mountains on sunny days, but that would be OK.
Maybe someday OPEC will be sitting on 100 gazillion bbls. of oil saying "$5.00 a bbl. today, I need potatoes to feed my children"
The price of gensets will also decline.
I know...I know... I'm just dreaming.
Ed |
David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 10:02 am: | |
I checked out the info, Very interesting that discoveries are made while exploring other projects.
The gist of it is that while exploring new technology for the design of L.e.d lights they found new information that could be used to re-invent the solar cell to make it more efficient.
Now if they take that further they can build solar cells that use all spectrums of light and even ones that would generate power from infrared heat (radiant) sources all the way up through the far U.V. Ranges.
Not bad when you consider it all started in 1957 with the transistor. Look where we are now. |
Bill Collier
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 2:22 pm: | |
With the money and attention to alternative energy sources recently put in the Federal budget I was hoping to see better and cheaper solar panels in a few years. Doesn’t look like this was a result of the new budgeted money but it may get exploited better due to available start up money if it pans out.
Anyone know what to make of the statement in the article:
"If it works, the cost should be on the same order of magnitude as traffic lights," Walukiewicz says. "Maybe less." Solar cells so efficient and so relatively cheap could revolutionize the use of solar power not just in space but on Earth.
I don’t get the comparison of cost on same magnitude as traffic lights?? I don’t know what a traffic light cost....., but maybe I missed something, I am thick at times. I am actually waiting to buy any solar panels to see what may come up in a year or two, I am hopeful the price will go down.
Bill Collier |
Phil Dumpster2
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 5:33 pm: | |
The traffic light reference is to the recent replacement of incandescent bulbs in traffic light systems with LED technology. Virtually all new traffic lights use LEDs even though they cost more than incandescent bulbs because the cost per hour of operation is lower. The same is hoped for with this new potential solar cell technology, greater initial cost but lower overall cost per watt/hour produced.
The transistor was invented in 1947, not 1957. |
David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, December 04, 2005 - 7:30 pm: | |
Sorry Phil,
I must be stuck in that time warp again.... |
Mike (Busone)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 05, 2005 - 12:03 am: | |
"Virtually all new traffic lights use LEDs even though they cost more than incandescent bulbs because the cost per hour of operation is lower. The same is hoped for with this new potential solar cell technology, greater initial cost but lower overall cost per watt/hour produced."
I did not get that they were saying the panels would have a higher initial cost. I thought they were saying that they would cost as much as a bunch of LEDs. Whatever they meant to say it will be interesting to see what happens with the technology. |