Topic: New 50% Efficiency Solar Cells

[Stormbringer]

This could be what all the solar power enthusiasts are waiting for:  

 Super Solar Cells


 

[Scott Allen Abfalter]

This is nice and all, but all it effectively means is that two square feet of fancy solar power can do the work of four square feet of more traditional solar power.  Every bit helps, but I am not sure this is going to solve any widespread energy problems.

Fantastic news for solar powered spacecraft when you are trying to keep wieght down, though

 

[Stormbringer]

It means that and more. The most efficient solar cells besides these were 36 percent efficient but had a complex manufacturing process making them very very expensive. The lower cost ones were less efficient still. These will cost less and be easier to manufacture. Also if I remember correctly these bust someone's estimate of the maximum effciency for solar cells. Which gives hope to even more efficient ones down the line.  

[Clark Kent]

I'm all about the solar power.  I'd be all about geothermal power too, but I think that as a species we'd eventually take so much we'd leech all the heat from the planet.  Sounds implausable, i know, but we always seem to find a way...
A bit of a rant, but the idea of hydrogen powered carsreally ticks me off.  Where do you think the hydrogen comes from?  oh, i don't know, water?  And doesn't that seem a little nuts, since we already have states (california, texas) that are in serious water crisies already?  Nope, I say solar wind and hydroelectric (using moving water to do the work, not using the molecules of water themselves) are the way to go.  Aside from that, i also like nuclear power, to a point, so long as we can find a way to safely dispose of the waste materials.
I say, bring on the alternate fuels, by all means,

CK

P.S.  I like latinas...
....And apparently Asian ladies as well...

[Stormbringer]

Hydrogen can be made from sea water which is undrinkable and un useable for crop irrigation. This is no threat to california's drinking water. Infact learningto process sea water will likely lead to better desalinization methods and increase the drinking water supply in due course.

[Sirgod]

 

Quote:
 I'm all about the solar power. I'd be all about geothermal power too, but I think that as a species we'd eventually take so much we'd leech all the heat from the planet. Sounds implausable, i know, but we always seem to find a way...
 

Actually, As the Population Grows, the Heat would Get larger, regardless of If we used Geothermal Power. I think Storm has the book that had that info in It. Of course this is also many many years down the Future, Before we would come close to Critical mass.

BOT:  

Quote:
It will take to three years to assess the technical feasibility of the multiband solar cell, according to the researchers. The work appeared in the December 12, 2003 issue of Physical Review Letters.

 

We still have some time to wait then for the results. but I'll have to remember about this to look It up again in the Future.

Stephen

[Clark Kent]

Quote:
Hydrogen can be made from sea water which is undrinkable and un useable for crop irrigation. This is no threat to california's drinking water. Infact learningto process sea water will likely lead to better desalinization methods and increase the drinking water supply in due course.  

I was under the impression that for pretty much anything we do we'd have to desalinate sea water, and while it can be done, it's a very expensive process.  I'm not really up to date on the latest desalination efforts though, and am far from an expert, so I'll assume you're right.

CK

P.S. I like latinas...
....And apparently Asian ladies as well...  

[Stormbringer]

Reverse osmosis filtration is used large scale by the mi.litary and yes it is expensive. You said that you feared hydrogen power would lead to scarcity of drinking water. I said hydrogen can be made from sea water. thus there is no threat to drinking water. I also said that if they start processing sea water for hydrogen that will lead to better and cheaper desalinization technology.





[we now return you to your solar cell thread already in progress....]

[Stormbringer]

This could be what all the solar power enthusiasts are waiting for:  

 Super Solar Cells


 

[Scott Allen Abfalter]

This is nice and all, but all it effectively means is that two square feet of fancy solar power can do the work of four square feet of more traditional solar power.  Every bit helps, but I am not sure this is going to solve any widespread energy problems.

Fantastic news for solar powered spacecraft when you are trying to keep wieght down, though

 

[Stormbringer]

It means that and more. The most efficient solar cells besides these were 36 percent efficient but had a complex manufacturing process making them very very expensive. The lower cost ones were less efficient still. These will cost less and be easier to manufacture. Also if I remember correctly these bust someone's estimate of the maximum effciency for solar cells. Which gives hope to even more efficient ones down the line.  

[Clark Kent]

I'm all about the solar power.  I'd be all about geothermal power too, but I think that as a species we'd eventually take so much we'd leech all the heat from the planet.  Sounds implausable, i know, but we always seem to find a way...
A bit of a rant, but the idea of hydrogen powered carsreally ticks me off.  Where do you think the hydrogen comes from?  oh, i don't know, water?  And doesn't that seem a little nuts, since we already have states (california, texas) that are in serious water crisies already?  Nope, I say solar wind and hydroelectric (using moving water to do the work, not using the molecules of water themselves) are the way to go.  Aside from that, i also like nuclear power, to a point, so long as we can find a way to safely dispose of the waste materials.
I say, bring on the alternate fuels, by all means,

CK

P.S.  I like latinas...
....And apparently Asian ladies as well...

[Stormbringer]

Hydrogen can be made from sea water which is undrinkable and un useable for crop irrigation. This is no threat to california's drinking water. Infact learningto process sea water will likely lead to better desalinization methods and increase the drinking water supply in due course.

[Sirgod]

 

Quote:
 I'm all about the solar power. I'd be all about geothermal power too, but I think that as a species we'd eventually take so much we'd leech all the heat from the planet. Sounds implausable, i know, but we always seem to find a way...
 

Actually, As the Population Grows, the Heat would Get larger, regardless of If we used Geothermal Power. I think Storm has the book that had that info in It. Of course this is also many many years down the Future, Before we would come close to Critical mass.

BOT:  

Quote:
It will take to three years to assess the technical feasibility of the multiband solar cell, according to the researchers. The work appeared in the December 12, 2003 issue of Physical Review Letters.

 

We still have some time to wait then for the results. but I'll have to remember about this to look It up again in the Future.

Stephen

[Clark Kent]

Quote:
Hydrogen can be made from sea water which is undrinkable and un useable for crop irrigation. This is no threat to california's drinking water. Infact learningto process sea water will likely lead to better desalinization methods and increase the drinking water supply in due course.  

I was under the impression that for pretty much anything we do we'd have to desalinate sea water, and while it can be done, it's a very expensive process.  I'm not really up to date on the latest desalination efforts though, and am far from an expert, so I'll assume you're right.

CK

P.S. I like latinas...
....And apparently Asian ladies as well...  

[Stormbringer]

Reverse osmosis filtration is used large scale by the mi.litary and yes it is expensive. You said that you feared hydrogen power would lead to scarcity of drinking water. I said hydrogen can be made from sea water. thus there is no threat to drinking water. I also said that if they start processing sea water for hydrogen that will lead to better and cheaper desalinization technology.





[we now return you to your solar cell thread already in progress....]

[Stormbringer]

This could be what all the solar power enthusiasts are waiting for:  

 Super Solar Cells


 

[Scott Allen Abfalter]

This is nice and all, but all it effectively means is that two square feet of fancy solar power can do the work of four square feet of more traditional solar power.  Every bit helps, but I am not sure this is going to solve any widespread energy problems.

Fantastic news for solar powered spacecraft when you are trying to keep wieght down, though

 

[Stormbringer]

It means that and more. The most efficient solar cells besides these were 36 percent efficient but had a complex manufacturing process making them very very expensive. The lower cost ones were less efficient still. These will cost less and be easier to manufacture. Also if I remember correctly these bust someone's estimate of the maximum effciency for solar cells. Which gives hope to even more efficient ones down the line.  

[Clark Kent]

I'm all about the solar power.  I'd be all about geothermal power too, but I think that as a species we'd eventually take so much we'd leech all the heat from the planet.  Sounds implausable, i know, but we always seem to find a way...
A bit of a rant, but the idea of hydrogen powered carsreally ticks me off.  Where do you think the hydrogen comes from?  oh, i don't know, water?  And doesn't that seem a little nuts, since we already have states (california, texas) that are in serious water crisies already?  Nope, I say solar wind and hydroelectric (using moving water to do the work, not using the molecules of water themselves) are the way to go.  Aside from that, i also like nuclear power, to a point, so long as we can find a way to safely dispose of the waste materials.
I say, bring on the alternate fuels, by all means,

CK

P.S.  I like latinas...
....And apparently Asian ladies as well...