New solar panel technology announced

Well, I certainly hope so and it's fast.

I've been wanting to go photovoltaic for a decade but just can't afford the $20,000-$30,000 up front costs. Not even with government rebates.

 

Considering this invention dates from 2004 and it hasn't been heard from since... I wouldn't get your hopes up for a rapid roll-out.

 

Was just coming in to say something similar. I've read the same claims every year for about ten years now. Not to be a wet blanket - I want this as much as anybody - but this is just like every year when we hear "next year" we'll have fuel cells in our laptops. Won't happen until it happens, I'm afriad. It won't happen tomorrow.

 

Being as I did solar research during grad school I'm not holding my breath on anything until I see it as buyable in the stores. I've been in the position to see new technologies get announced, technologies become squashed, and technologies that stay prohibitively high.

I seem to recall UCBerkeley working on a solar "paint" really in-efficient but hey if you cover the side of a house who cares. I've seen patents for stuff I was working on (after doing my research *sigh*) and from my side of things it's a feasible concept for cheap power, but for some reason you don't see it. I always will love solar energy, but I just have this overwelming paranoia that the electric companies are helping squash any innovation.

Hope I'm wrong on this one though.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MikeSF @ Apr 23 2006, 08:55 AM) [snapback]243960[/snapback]</div>

This was a thought that also crossed my mind, but it's a large world and even if US electric companies are following the pattern of GM and the tire companies of the '30's, it seems like someone somewhere in this wide world will be able to break through the stalling techniques and equip us all to enter a new age. I also think the same thing about drug companies...they would rather keep us on expensive pills rather than allow research to come to fruition and remedy or cure wide spread diseases. There ought-a be a law #398.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MarinJohn @ Apr 23 2006, 09:34 AM) [snapback]243968[/snapback]</div>

What stalling techniques? What are the "US electric companies" up to? Please share.

 

I doubt the conspiracy theories. You could have said the same thing about the horse and buggy industry. We just havn't seen anything that really creates a paradigm shift... yet. There are a lot of really interesting technologies out there that have the potential to revolutionize the way that the average joe thinks about energy. I don't think that the utilities care. Afterall, they still own the grid.

 

The power companies are between a rock and a hard place, at least in NC - they are required by law to supply the cheapest power possible - there are no provisions in this law for pollution, etc. Right now solar doesn't fit the bill, unfortunately. Coal and nuclear are it. Right now they are trying to get the permitting and such to build a new nuke. While this is better than a coal plant IMO, I am hoping that people will see this being proposed and work to reduce their load on the grid so that the nuke isn't necessary or can be postponed. Hopefully by the time they really need it, solar will have become less expensive. We'll see...

 

I am openly agenst the plug-in theory, in regards to hybrids
I concider most EV vehicles kit cars "neat novelty"
they lack range, performance & require plug-in down time..

I would however like to see a EV vehicle that doesnt need to be plugged in, one that recharges it self with regenitive braking and intragated solar charging tehcnology built into the roof design that would hold 5 adults + luggage. That would be the Sh**,. only have to replace tires, and rutine maint.

The real world problems

1) Consumer cost $$$$ of such a vehicle ie no need to stop for fuel or plug in but only for emergency's.

2) Dealership money, onetime purchase, service would be expencive and would be limited to drive train or replacement E motors & solar panel.

3) body shop cost for thos replacment parts.

4) A mass produced vehicle of such magnatude would shut the gas stations down in a cpl of years.
so the gas stations would lose money / maybe even close.

5) jobs being lost from lack of needed things (we could blame that on the president)

Hmm im sure Im missing something else.......

Im sure we are a long way off from the days of hovering/floating cars like the jetsons

 

I read about this around a year and a half ago or so. If I remember correctly there is an upstart company in either california or arizona that is supposed to be working on making this marketable in the U.S. I really wish I could remember the name of the company because they were listed in an investing publication that I was reading as a company to watch in the next 5 years. Anyway, I also don't buy the conspiracy theories about electric companies. Honestly, I don't understand why they don't embrace solar. There will still be a need for electricity distribution once we move past the big coal, nuclear plants, etc... because the majority of people will not want to manage an off-grid system where they have to worry about batteries, etc...

Mike

 

As some one who works for a electric company (who shall remain nameless). I know of nothing done within the company to prevent, delay or otherwise undermine solar. Solar actually would compliment utility operations greatly. Power in the summer would be generated during peak use periods, to run your AC and reduce the load and stresses on both our generations capacity and our TRANSMISSION capacity. Which is a real problem in the summer. That is the primary cause of black and brown outs. Load peaks are not the same for winter utility use but if a home uses electric heat and store their solar, even better.
But the price does need to come down from the bleeding edge. We even have people paying extra for green power and we run into problems just getting things installed. Its hard enough to get thru the regulations for an installation, then have to pay this kind of premium for the kit. The Enviro's want to buy it, but they just want it produced in your back yard. Like everything else. (sorry personal rant there.)
And some of the new nuclear tech is very promising. Very safe, and engineered for use in third world in some cases. (sealed units)
DO NOT QUOTE ME.
I'm not authorized to talk to the media and although i've said nothing here that is wrong - I don't want a phone call about it.




<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(wakeman84 @ Apr 23 2006, 03:20 PM) [snapback]244011[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusguy04 @ Apr 23 2006, 12:08 PM) [snapback]244005[/snapback]</div>

1. It isn't a theory.
2. what could you possibly be against?

I consider just about ALL kit cars to be "neat novelty." What does that have to do with real EVs?

That would be groovy but would only really work in the summer, in a few states, and only if you didn't park in a garage. Why not put solar on the roof of your home and plug the car in when you're home. You speak of the "plug-in" down-time... but all you need to do is consider what your current vehicle does most of its life: sit parked.

I can't tell if you were just having fun, or you're serious... so I'll stop here.

 

I'm a little skeptical, but let's see how that goes. Supposedly the solar panels don't work as well when they're dirty. I'm not sure if people will be that enthusiastic about maintenance...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Begreen @ Apr 23 2006, 10:43 AM) [snapback]243954[/snapback]</div>

The Europeans are so far ahead of us when it comes to solar energy. Amazing stuff. Now I know why the Prius doesn't come with a sun roof...it gets in the way of solar panels - option #9.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Begreen @ Apr 24 2006, 07:53 PM) [snapback]244597[/snapback]</div>

Begreen,
Yes, but now my wife has it...

Thanks for asking. What a great car!

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cameron @ Apr 24 2006, 06:08 PM) [snapback]244575[/snapback]</div>

Actually, only Germany. They won't be, however, when So Cal Edisons 1.6 GW of Sterling Engine CSP capacity comes online. To me is seems ridiculous what germany is doing. They're sucking up vast amounts of PV to create 5 MW centralized "plants". Seems stupid to me. The great thing about PV is that it lends itself to distributed generation where as the other solar technologies, the CSPs don't. If they wanna build large solar plants they should be going for CSP technology instead. Am I missing something? Can anyone explain why the germans are pursueing what seems to be an odd solar strategy?