Nissan Leaf - 100% Electric car

[zeropointbug]

Agreed Brian. On the subject of solar panels, there is so much headroom that is waiting too, with panels being between 10 - 15 % efficient. There is roughly ~1300watts per square meter on the surface of earth, so you do the math on what could be done with 100% efficiency. A couple years ago I read an article that a team of scientists have figured out how to mimic photosynthesis (99.8% efficient). So if the same process is applied to an electrical solar panel, well, wouldn't that be just grand.


I too find it strange that these unsuspecting threads keep turning political.

[georgec]

Election time, Sorry

[PBO]

Originally Posted by zeropointbug

On the subject of solar panels, there is so much headroom that is waiting too, with panels being between 10 - 15 % efficient. There is roughly ~1300watts per square meter on the surface of earth, so you do the math on what could be done with 100% efficiency. A couple years ago I read an article that a team of scientists have figured out how to mimic photosynthesis (99.8% efficient). So if the same process is applied to an electrical solar panel, well, wouldn't that be just grand.

zpb, I thought that 10-15% was entry level on panels? hasn't somebody achieved 40%+ recently?

Agree though, if 60-70% efficiency can be cost effectively achieved, the world's going solar

[lutach]

Originally Posted by PBO

zpb, I thought that 10-15% was entry level on panels? hasn't somebody achieved 40%+ recently?

Agree though, if 60-70% efficiency can be cost effectively achieved, the world's going solar

It can easily be solved if every roof top were built with solar cells, a few battery packs in the basement or a shed, a few of other free energy goodies, but they (Money hungry, greedy bastards) wouldn't be happy with empty pockets. No need for power making companies and no need to have gas runing bellow a few cities.

[zeropointbug]

Originally Posted by PBO

zpb, I thought that 10-15% was entry level on panels? hasn't somebody achieved 40%+ recently?

Agree though, if 60-70% efficiency can be cost effectively achieved, the world's going solar

Actually I think 20% is the newer typical efficiency, true, BUT, they need to be a low cost/Kw output, that is why panels efficiency vary so much, because in the end, a low output low cost panel is just as cost effective as a higher output higher cost panel. There is obviously a limit on the low end, as you run into area constraints, and would end up being MORE expensive.

Agreed as well, we need about 60-70% efficiency like you said to really get things moving with solar, and to meat energy use.