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04-19-2011, 09:19 PM
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Location: Texas
5,070 posts, read 9,789,378 times
Reputation: 1648
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ANN ARBOR, Mich.--- A dramatic and surprising magnetic effect of light discovered by University of Michigan researchers could lead to solar power without traditional semiconductor-based solar cells. The researchers found a way to make an "optical battery," said Stephen Rand, a professor in the departments of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Physics and Applied Physics.In the process, they overturned a century-old tenet of physics.
Interesting stuff... It could revolutionize solar power and who knows what else? |
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04-21-2011, 05:31 PM
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1,357 posts, read 1,219,608 times
Reputation: 875
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Solar Cell efficiency has long ago been over 10% conversion efficiency.
Thin films line CIGS are manufactured at 11% panel efficiencies, Concentrated PV tech. goes as high as 28% conversion efficiency.
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04-21-2011, 11:51 PM
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34 posts, read 46,248 times
Reputation: 17
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10% efficiency isn't any different from today's PV technology. However, it would be good to harness solar power minus PV solar cells- hope it's cheaper to do so too.
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04-22-2011, 12:30 AM
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4,047 posts, read 4,883,348 times
Reputation: 1328
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Not more efficient, but much cheaper. It just needs a couple hunks of glass apparently - a lens to direct the light and the material to direct it through.
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04-22-2011, 09:56 AM
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1,357 posts, read 1,219,608 times
Reputation: 875
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Just a reminder, as with any technology, the more people adopt it the less expensive it gets. If solar cells get 30% less expensive then everyone will be adopting....
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04-22-2011, 12:35 PM
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Location: Victoria TX
42,661 posts, read 83,338,715 times
Reputation: 36548
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I've had a solar-powered clothes dryer for decades. It cost me about 10c a foot.
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