AEP + OG&E's coal power opposition

[Chicken Little]

quote:Originally posted by rwarn17588

One of the new technologies, Chicken, is triple-junction super-concentrated solar cells. These babies can take up to the sunlight of 1,000 suns (focused through lenses) and can create a lot of energy.

Dunno if the doc takes that into account or not.

That's good news.  I'm sure the guy on the documentary was talking about 1 sun panels.

[cannon_fodder]

Where do we get the extra suns?

Realistically though, that approach seems to create just as many problems as it solves.  If you have to cover the area with lenses to refract the sun, why not just put a panel there to start with?

Newer broad spectrum cells utilize the blue wave as well as the red, garnering nearly 2x the power from a solar cell.  Still too expensive even for use in novelty events like the solar challenge car race though...

[sgrizzle]

Mirrors are cheaper than the panels, plus the concentrated heat is easier to use.

One unfortunate side effect, those things frikkin' VAPORIZE birds.

[Chicken Little]

quote:Originally posted by cannon_fodder

Where do we get the extra suns?

Realistically though, that approach seems to create just as many problems as it solves.  If you have to cover the area with lenses to refract the sun, why not just put a panel there to start with?...

I was thinking that, too.  But, lenses and concave mirrors are cheap technology, and solar panels are relatively expensive.  I'm sure there are theoretical limits with solar power, and I'm sure that we'll end up having to cover vast areas, regardless.  But, I like the idea.  For one thing, the sun is everywhere, and you can use it to produce hydrogen either directly through photo-synthesis, or indirectly using electricity from solar panels.  In theory, you wouldn't have to transport hydrogen very far...that's one of the biggest obstacles, as I understand it.  Instead, you could produce it on-site or near the "gas station".

[Townsend]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

Mirrors are cheaper than the panels, plus the concentrated heat is easier to use.

One unfortunate side effect, those things frikkin' VAPORIZE birds.

I'd go see that.  I know, I know...

[Chicken Little]

quote:Originally posted by sgrizzle

Mirrors are cheaper than the panels, plus the concentrated heat is easier to use.

One unfortunate side effect, those things frikkin' VAPORIZE birds.

Just the dumb ones.  The fittest among them will figure out how to get at all the yummy cooked bugs!

[rwarn17588]

The answer on how to concentrate the sun: Fresnel lenses.