Another Solar breakthrough, 40+% efficiency

[greenman3610]

This is the second one I've posted this week reaching
>40% efficiency. (This appears to be
a different discovery by a different team..)


http://www.eetimes.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=196602149




A breakthrough in solar cell technology promises to make solar power a cost-competitive energy option and to reduce U.S. dependence on oil.

With funding from the Department of Energy, Boeing-Spectrolab has managed to create a solar cell with 40.7% sunlight-to-energy conversion efficiency, said DoE assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy Alexander Karsner on Tuesday.

The solar cell represents "the highest efficiency level any photovoltaic device has ever achieved," according to David Lillington, president of Spectrolab. That claim has been verified by the DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo.

--------


On edit: here's the first one:

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/12/researchers_ach.html#more

Michael Grätzel and his colleagues have developed a device that sets a new benchmark for efficiency in splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using ordinary sunlight. The research will be published in the 13 December issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

Previously, the best water photooxidation technology had an external quantum efficiency of about 37%. The new technology’s efficiency is 42%, which the researchers term “unprecedented.” The efficiency is due to an improved positive electrode and other innovations in the water-splitting device.

Most of today's solar cells are between 12% and 18% efficient. Some of the ones used to power satellites are around 28% efficient. In 1954, 4% efficiency was state of the art.

[wakeme2008]

1. sounds good

maybe you should post this over at the energy forum :)

[rosesaylavee]

2. Now, if it could come down in price for us little guys

to afford, we will have a great alternative to oil and coal.

[lostnotforgotten]

3. Article Misleading - Liquid Fuels Problem Not Electricity

"A breakthrough in solar cell technology promises to make solar power a cost-competitive energy option and to reduce U.S. dependence on oil."

This sentence frames the problem improperly.

More efficient solar cells will not solve our liquid fuels problem.

Solar cells do not run jet liners or our cars.

[greenman3610]

5. some electricity still generated from Oil

also, plug in hybrids will make the
leap from liquid to electric power.

Catch "Who killed the Electric Car" on
DVD. That technology is being updated.


(Tesla motors roadster powered by electricity)
http://www.wired.com/news/wiredmag/0,71414-0.html

[moose65]

7. I'll confess my ignorance here...

I realize that solar cells can't produce the energy to power cars or airplanes, but how about ordinary household appliances? Golf carts? Radios? To me, anything that gets us a little off the oil teat is worth it. We may not power our cars from the sun, but if we could power our houses, wouldn't that make us a little less dependent on oil? We need to explore ALL avenues and use everything we can to reduce oil use.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

8. not really...

liquid fuels are still used in homes that could move away from them (oil fired boilers in homes and some businesses for instance) and in many places the burning of coal is generating electricity. This could greatly reduce those 'burned' energy technologies.

And on the car note, if generating electricity is given to the homeowner through solar power, then electric cars become more feasible and do not require burning of fossil fuels to generate the electricity to power them. Then, it is a matter of battery life and we are there...

sP

[originalpckelly]

10. Yes, but they could run hydrogen producing machines...

to store the power.

Cars can even be run on batteries.

I don't think there is any obstacle in the way of burning hydrogen in airplanes, though it may not combust in a way suitable for a jet engine.

I wouldn't be so hopeless, things will work out.

[michaelwb]

11. Sigh

"Solar cells do not run jet liners or our cars."

When people talk about electric cars, someone chimes in that electricity is still produced by oil/coal/etc., so it doesn't help.

When people talk about generating electricity through alternative renewable means (solar, wind, etc.) someone chimes in that cars don't run on that ("electricity").

It's like folks deliberately avoid thinking in bigger terms and I'm frankly sick of it.

The solution is in no one single thing (conservation, renewables, etc.) but in the combination of things.

The regular attacking of things that are part of the solution for not being the WHOLE solution, makes me wonder about the motives of the naysayers.

[w4rma]

19. Imho, you are exactly right, michaelwb. (nt)

[GreenPartyVoter]

12. True, but it will reduce heating fuel use and oil/gas

power stations. The more buildings that provide their own electricity and hot water the better.

[lostnotforgotten]

17. All The Criticism Misses The Point

The article exposes common misrepresentations that abound in the media.

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. Anyone know how well any solar cells are working in cloudy conditions?

Living in Britain, that always seems more of a concern to me than what they can do in bright sunlight :evilgrin:

[brentspeak]

6. You guys gotta do something about all that fog.

[roody]

9. I sure enjoy having a negative electric bill

due to 9 solar panels on my roof.

[ramblin_dave]

13. What type of solar panels do you have?

Brand - surface area - kw, just curious

[roody]

15. I got the SunRoof 1250. STC rated output 1485w.

The panels are from Schott. I only use about 6kw per day.

[Nabia2004]

14. I plan on going Solar and Geothermal

How productive is the solar in cloudy conditions? I plan on going Solar and Geothermal for my new house. With the earth providing the heat I hope to get into that "negative" dependence zone.

The following link has info on Geothermal heating and AC.
http://www.geo-thermalnorthwest.com/

[roody]

16. I want to go geothermal also. Since the warm floor is so

expensive, I am researching radiators. I live in N. Cal. with 6 months sun and 6 months rain. The sunny suplus carries me through the winter. I have a grid tied electrical system.

[Nabia2004]

18. Radiant floor heating is heavenly

My home has radiant floor heat and I can not imagine living in a house without it. Its noticeably cheaper to heat this way over conventional methods, and I love the comfort of a warm floor and the solid feel it has. Just have to be careful about people playing with the thermostat. In winter I only need to run the boiler 30 minutes three times a day. Left on too long and you will have to leave the windows open to cool off. Once hot, the 2 inch concrete slab under the hardwood floor takes time to cool.

[roody]

20. Sounds wonderful! I meant solar thermal

not geothermal.