Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar efficiency
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Re: Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar efficiency
#2This is what we need before we're all fucked.
Re: Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar efficiency
#3original article: https://news.rice.edu/2019/07/12/rice-device-channels-heat-i...
Sounds like 80% is a theoretical prediction for this method, not an experimental result:
Naik said adding the emitters to standard solar cells could boost their efficiency from the current peak of about 22%. “By squeezing all the wasted thermal energy into a small spectral region, we can turn it into electricity very efficiently,” he said. “The theoretical prediction is that we can get 80% efficiency.”
Re: Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar efficiency
#4That really needs some editing, it reads like gibberish.
Just go to the source: https://news.rice.edu/2019/07/12/rice-device-channels-heat-i...
Re: Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar efficiency
#5While this is a very interesting and ingenious development, what's needed for greater deployment are lower costs per unit of energy. Increasing efficiency will reduce the cost of land, but land isn't typically a huge factor in solar deployments. In this NREL analysis, land acquisition gets put into "Other Soft Costs" along with permitting, inspection, interconnection, sales tax, engineering, procurement, construction, developer overhead, and net profit:
https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy17osti/68925.pdf
And that broad category is ~25% of costs.
Re: Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar efficiency
#6This is what we need before we're all fucked.
probably too late but we should never give up.
Re: Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar efficiency
#7While this is a very interesting and ingenious development, what's needed for greater deployment are lower costs per unit of energy. Increasing efficiency will reduce the cost of land, but land isn't typically a huge factor in solar deployments. In this NREL analysis, land acquisition gets put into "Other Soft Costs" along with permitting, inspection, interconnection, sales tax, engineering, procurement, construction…
We shouldn't discourage progress just because it doesn't fit exactly into todays model of the world.
Re: Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar efficiency
#8While this is a very interesting and ingenious development, what's needed for greater deployment are lower costs per unit of energy. Increasing efficiency will reduce the cost of land, but land isn't typically a huge factor in solar deployments. In this NREL analysis, land acquisition gets put into "Other Soft Costs" along with permitting, inspection, interconnection, sales tax, engineering, procurement, construction…
We shouldn't discourage progress just because it doesn't fit exactly into todays model of the world.
I certainly didn't mean to discourage this at all!
But I think it's important to point out that even though people often disparage solar photovoltaic for having low "efficiency," that metric is not an impediment to its broad deployment or great utility to us.
Re: Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar efficiency
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
We shouldn't discourage progress just because it doesn't fit exactly into todays model of the world.
I certainly didn't mean to discourage this at all! But I think it's important to point out that even though people often disparage solar photovoltaic for having low "efficiency," that metric is not an impediment to its broad deployment or great utility to us.
Sure it is. Lower efficiency means you need more panels, larger panels, and more support infrastructure. It limits where it can be deployed and makes it less competitive.
Re: Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar efficiency
#10Nano tubes are super expensive