Solar Spray (3)

1 Name: Sling!myL1/SLing 05/01/16(Sun)04:08 ID:ngS0lNWs

http://www.axcessnews.com/technology_011505b.shtml
"Scientists at the University of Toronto have invented a solar cell that's made of plastic which can be sprayed on and harnesses infrared light so it even works on cloudy days."
"Researchers at a U.S. university say that the polymer could be enhanced to harness up to 30 percent of the sun's energy. Current technology can only reach a 6 percent level of effective energy production."

2 Name: !WAHa.06x36 05/01/17(Mon)14:19 ID:AwTGBp/L

Hmm, the article is mostyl technobabble, but it probably does work at least to some extent like they claim. Question is, what does it cost to make?

Also, it's not "current technology" that can only reach 6 percent, that's current cheap mass-produced cells (and I think they're closer to 10 percent). The expensive stuff reaches 30 percent already, but costs far too much to use for anything much other than spacecraft.

3 Name: Sling!myL1/SLing 05/01/17(Mon)19:33 ID:RMLRKpXN

Well it's plastic, so the odds are good it can be produced cheaply, I believe. Then, the infrared part may be attractive to sponsors - unless it has been done before. But prolly not with plastic. The "could be enhanced up to 30" is hard to decode - do they mean it's around the corner, or do they mean it's a vague hope? What is the current sustained output during a cloudy day, etc.? Need more hard facts.

IMO the points to remember here are:

  • this is a possible energy source that has been ignored for too long
  • so guys, hurry and develop this before someone else does and reap all the benefits
  • don't forget to harness infrared as well
  • and don't forget to make it cheap, e.g. use plastic.
Return Entire thread Last 50 posts
This thread has been closed. You cannot post in this thread any longer.