QS2
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Registered: 03-2006
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Solar power in the future.
Lately I've been seeing a lot of articles like this one, which imply that within a few years solar power could produce power which is competitive with even coal power. Another example is this company, with some what similar claims.
So is it possible that by midway next decade that solar power could be a competitive as coal? Or do you think that it might not work out quite so easy? And if so, what kind of future might we be looking at?
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8/9/2008, 9:09 pm
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Reythia
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Re: Solar power in the future.
That's very interesting, QS. I hadn't heard about that type of cell. Looks promising.
Though, I have to admit, it sort of goes against the grain for me to accept a cell with a measly 10% efficiency. Keep in mind, I'm used to staring at the numbers for spacecraft, where everything needs to be as efficient and small as possible, to keep down weight and decrease the size of the area surface forces like drag act upon. But for ground applications, that's really not as important, now that I think about it. I mean, it'd be NICE if the cells were 30% efficient (which, I believe, the best space-grade ones are approaching), but if you can make 10%-efficient cells that are 10 times cheaper than the 30%-efficient ones... well, just use 3 of them to get the same effect, and save some cost.
Interesting. Oh, and yes, I think that solar is definitely going to be a necessary power source in coming years. I don't think it'll be sufficient on it's own, frankly -- it's tough to efficiently (and cheaply) save up the power for night-time use, for example. However, we would be fools not to take advantage of this "free" power that the sun gives us every day. I think that in rural regions and smaller towns this will (or should) become even more important than in cities, as well.
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8/11/2008, 5:22 am
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Firlefanz
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Re: Solar power in the future.
I think that solar, wind and water energy (plus some biofuels like simple wood chips or biogas) combined with a smart storage unit like that hydrogen unit they are developing at some place I forgot - this combo will be what gives us energy in the future, on the grid, off the grid and definitely widely spread out.
I have to admit that it's a vision I would love to come true.
--- - Firlefanz
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8/11/2008, 8:07 am
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QS2
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Re: Solar power in the future.
There definitely is some hope for hydrogen storage overnight, now that they've probably eliminated the platinum catalysts from it, thus making the entire assemblies much cheaper. Though I suppose I'll let the engineers ponder the best solutions, maybe they'll think of something better yet. 
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8/11/2008, 8:13 am
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Reythia
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Re: Solar power in the future.
Here's another source of fuel for you:
CNN: "Lab makes renewable diesel fuel from E. coli poop"
This would have no effect on climate change problems, but would have a strong effect on the supply issue -- if it can be scaled up. ...I'm not sure that's such a good thing, myself, since the easier and cheaper we make it to remain a car-driving, petroleum-using society, the less likely that is to change. Still, I have to credit the scientists for a neat product.
--- -- YAR! |
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8/14/2008, 4:07 pm
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QS2
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Re: Solar power in the future.
On the positive side, plant diesel fuels are typically much cleaner then the stuff we use now. And I while I don't know if this particular variant can be scaled up, other variants seem to be highly scalable indeed and use magnitudes less land then any crop known for making fuel. Not to mention that they don't require the use of crop land, something which is some what more scarce these days.
I guess that this is basically a bit of an unusual solar energy system, albeit a fairly clever use of microorganisms to solve immediate energy problems. Still making petroleum fuels is really kind of wasteful compared to somewhat more direct energy cycles, so I kind of hope this isn't going to be the long term future. 
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8/15/2008, 7:08 am
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Reythia
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Re: Solar power in the future.
AH, quantum dots. I haven't heard much about those in recent years. Then, I typically do my best to avoid the EE/Csci scene, I admit. 
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9/29/2008, 4:18 pm
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Loud G
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Registered: 01-2005
Location: Maryland, USA
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Re: Solar power in the future.
I think ANY energy source that takes us away from biofuels and oil (which is technically a bio fuel, just a really old one) should be our focus. We shouldn't be wasting food growing land on fuel production. Solar, water, and nuclear are the way to go I think.
The combustion engine was a great invention, but we really need to move beyond burning stuff for our fuel...
--- Reading: Mistborn
Writing: Eriadhin
"Life is like a book, except it takes longer to get to the climax."
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9/29/2008, 5:26 pm
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