Top 100 Alternative Energy Technologies- major technology breakthroughs of many types

[philb]

Top 100 Alternative Energy Technologies
http://peswiki.com/energy/Congress:Top_100_Technologies_--_RD

1. Eneco is a development stage company that claims to have invented and patented a "solid state energy conversion/generation chip" that will convert heat directly into electricity
or alternatively refrigerate down to -200 degrees Celsius when electricity is applied. According to http://www.eneco.com/co_about.html

2. New ceramic battery may replace gas engines by 2008.
Texas company is working on an "energy storage" device made from ceramics. It's not technically a battery because it doesn't use chemicals. It can allegedly charge within 5 minutes with enough energy to move a car 500 miles on about $9 worth of electricity -- about 45 cents a gallon.
According to the patent, the device is made of a ceramic powder coated with aluminum oxide and glass.
"A ceramic power source for electric cars that could blow away the combustion engine." (CNN (http://money.cnn.com/2006/09/15/technology/disruptors_eestor.biz2/index.htm); Sept. 20, 2006)
http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:EEStore#Official_Website

3. The CIGSSe-Technology


Johanna Solar Technology GmbH manufactures thin film solar modules based on CIGSSe-technology which utilises copper, indium, gallium, sulphur and selenium. converts light into energy at a fraction of the cost of other PV systems.
http://www.johanna-solar.com/en/

4. CIGS solar PV panels: Daystar Technologies http://www.daystartech.com/

5. Green & Gold Energy was founded to to deliver cost-effective, grid-competitive solar electric power. The company's SunCube™ system is listed in the top ten because of its efficiency, low cost, simplicity, safety, and availability for residential application. *
http://www.greenandgoldenergy.com.au/

etc., etc.

[AlecBGreen]

1. we shall see

Im a believer in the market. If these work, they'll be selling like hot cakes. If they're crap, you'll never hear of them again. Cool post.

[FREEWILL56]

6. Agreed

Most breakthroughs are announced and you never hear of it again so most claims are pure bull.

[lapfog_1]

2. I wonder if the ceramic battery folks know about this...

http://www.gcn.com/print/26_17/44641-1.html

Sounds like they have a winner.

[philb]

3. New solar technology advances

International Automated Systems - Utility scale solar presently in process of being commercially installed for first time; alleged to produce electricity at 3-5 cents per kilowatt-hour.

Highly-efficient bladeless turbine has wide range of waste-heat-harnessing applications. Methanol production technique will draw CO2 out of the environment, reversing global warming. (http://IAUS.com)

http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:IAS

Solar Hydrogen Energy Corporation (SHEC) - Has developed a process that will convert landfill and other waste methane into clean hydrogen, using the power of the Sun for the reformation, at a price comparable to traditional hydrogen production methods. (http://www.shec-labs.com/) (NEC Specialist: Tai Robinson)
http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Solar_Hydrogen_Energy_Corporation_%28SHEC%29_Labs

[philb]

4. Tesla (Lotus) Electric Car- fast, fancy, and energy efficient

Tesla Motors Inc. Nears Launch of First Vehicle - Tesla Roadster is 100% electric, not hybrid. Four wheel drive (in-wheel motors) make it faster than most sports cars; and it has a 250+ mile range. Major VC backed ($40 million) company debuted the car July 19, 2006 in Santa Monica. (http://teslamotors.com)

http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Tesla_Motors%2C_Inc.

There are other lower cost and highly efficient electric car options
and a 130 MPG car discussed as well.

[Squeech]

5. FEGs?

How come they don't mention aerostat wind turbines, known as Flying Electric Generators or FEGs (http://www.skywindpower.com/ww/page003.htm)? Are they too unproven? They look like a terrific idea to me, albeit somewhat antique looking in design.

Meanwhile there are things on this list that would seem to violate the laws of thermodynamics...

[suziedemocrat]

7. Too late to recommend, but I'll kick it. Thanks!!! Battery is way cool!

[lfairban]

8. Don't try this at home!

The EEStore "ceramic battery" is a new type of Ultracapacitor.

This was discussed on E/E previously here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=115&topic_id=111154&mesg_id=111180

In another post in the above thread, someone estimated that to charge a device with enough electrical energy in 10 min. would require you to upgrade you standard 220V outlet to over 5000 amps!

[suziedemocrat]

9. I just read a book written by a Harvard professor who said when people say something is "impossible"

what they are really saying is "I don't understand how that could work." This EEstor company has been pretty tight-lipped, and clearly no one outside the company understands how this battery of their's could work....so it's impossible. I think we'll just have to wait until next summer when they are supposed to offer it to the public, and then see if it is still "impossible."

[lfairban]

10. I think you misunderstand.

First of all, it is not a battery, it is a new type of ultracapacitor.

Second, the patent is not for a device, but fabrication process.

If you look at the pronouncement from the company, it says nowhere that you can charge one of their ultracapacitors from a standard home electrical service in 5 min. and then drive a four passenger automobile 500 miles, only that it can be charged in 5 min. That would require a charging station, much like a gas station for electricity.

Actually, I am very excited about the use of Ultracapacitors, and if you follow the links to my home page, you can find a lot of valuable information.

The word, "impossible" does not appear in the above post at all.

[suziedemocrat]

11. My response was more because of the responses in the link in your post.

I read the posts in the link, then relied to your post. Probably a bad idea.