Comments on: IBM Invents Super Cheap Solar Technology

By: angelique van engelen

angelique van engelen — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:32:57 +0000

Hi Meryn,
I just checked what the regular technology conversion rates are. I don’t think that the mirror based technology can be compared with the IBM technology because it’s mainly used for heating up water rather than straight conversion into energy, which is what IBM plays at.
But of all of the solar technologies in use for electricity creation, the solar dish/stirling engine to date is said to have the highest energy efficiency. A single solar dish-Stirling engine installed at Sandia National Laboratories National Solar Thermal Test Facility produces 25 kW of electricity, with a conversion efficiency of 30%.
I would imagine that IBM’s 230 watt per square cm exceeds that. Correct me if I am wrong.

By: meryn

meryn — Tue, 20 May 2008 15:01:06 +0000

How does this compare to standard (mirror-based) CSP?
We already know that non-concentrated solar power is not particularly effective.

By: Dagny McKinley

Dagny McKinley — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:14:31 +0000

Sometimes it’s the simplicity of an idea that’s amazing. Finding new ways to use technology we’ve known about for generations can take us further into the future than trying to re-invent the wheel.
Dagny McKinley
http://www.onnotextiles.com
organic apparel

By: Dagny McKinley

Dagny McKinley — Tue, 20 May 2008 12:13:45 +0000