QuoteMichigan State University scientists have developed a new plastic see-through solar collector that they say can harvest solar energy and be used to power smart phones and tablets without blocking the view.
http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=4453

A solar power collector that doesn't block or black out the view has been created.

And these people are worried about powering cell phones?

When there are way more important things this material could be used for. Such as using it for the windows in buildings and cars in order to generate free, clean, power for everything from sky scrapers to our homes, to electric autos for example.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg of things such a material (if this article's claims are true) could be used for.

This material could really solve a lot of the "issues" with solar power collection. Such as the problem of the need for acres and acres of "collectors".

When using this material they could simply put it into buildings using it for windows, and have ready made acres of collectors hidden in plain sight within our cities.

But watch, there will never be anything that comes of it. Why is that. Because free solar power, won't make the gummamint any money.

Quote from: daidalos on August 20, 2014, 01:41:33 PM
A solar power collector that doesn't block or black out the view has been created.

And these people are worried about powering cell phones?

When there are way more important things this material could be used for. Such as using it for the windows in buildings and cars in order to generate free, clean, power for everything from sky scrapers to our homes, to electric autos for example.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg of things such a material (if this article's claims are true) could be used for.

This material could really solve a lot of the "issues" with solar power collection. Such as the problem of the need for acres and acres of "collectors".

When using this material they could simply put it into buildings using it for windows, and have ready made acres of collectors hidden in plain sight within our cities.

But watch, there will never be anything that comes of it. Why is that. Because free solar power, won't make the gummamint any money.

I haven't yet read the article you link to. I will be interested to learn about a solar collector that somehow doesn't "block the view."

If the technology is suppressed, it will probably be private firms that suppress it. As you point out, "free" power won't benefit the government. But it won't hurt the government either. It would, on the other hand, decimate certain high-cap sectors of the private economy.

Always follow the money. In this case, it's private energy concerns who have the most to lose.

Actually this tech has been around for sometime now, even used in a few experimental high rise buildings in Europe.
Problem is, it's too damned expensive to justify it's use without taxpayer subsidies.

It really is simple, windows cost plus output limited to 10 years vs savings, just don't add up.
Do I like it, Hell yeah, it has a place in society, but like all solar, it has absolutely no place on the grid.

Tech like this is ideal for remote cabins, sail boats, where space is at a premium, cell phones etc.

But the idea that it can somehow compete on it's own is ridiculous.

Oh, and they produce far less than their mono crystalline cousins,  which only capture roughly 10% of photons hitting the surface.

Quote from: Solar on August 20, 2014, 05:47:23 PM
Actually this tech has been around for sometime now, even used in a few experimental high rise buildings in Europe.
Problem is, it's too damned expensive to justify it's use without taxpayer subsidies.

It really is simple, windows cost plus output limited to 10 years vs savings, just don't add up.
Do I like it, Hell yeah, it has a place in society, but like all solar, it has absolutely no place on the grid.

Tech like this is ideal for remote cabins, sail boats, where space is at a premium, cell phones etc.

But the idea that it can somehow compete on it's own is ridiculous.

Oh, and they produce far less than their mono crystalline cousins,  which only capture roughly 10% of photons hitting the surface.

As you well know, satellite internet has a place in society too, but only where the obviously more economical alternatives aren't available. I'm not saying that satellite internet shouldn't exist. I'm saying don't shove it up my ass and don't make me buy it for somebody else. This principle applies to almost everything the federal government tries to do these days.

Yes, solar energy, regardless of form or structure, has its place, but we should be allowing the open market to define that place. If the technology to extract energy from the sun that was cheaper than buying juice from the local electric company makes its way to market, I'll be the first in line to pony up. Until that happens, no matter what the government wants, I ain't buyin' it.

Quote from: TboneAgain on August 21, 2014, 01:53:59 AM
As you well know, satellite internet has a place in society too, but only where the obviously more economical alternatives aren't available. I'm not saying that satellite internet shouldn't exist. I'm saying don't shove it up my ass and don't make me buy it for somebody else. This principle applies to almost everything the federal government tries to do these days.

Yes, solar energy, regardless of form or structure, has its place, but we should be allowing the open market to define that place. If the technology to extract energy from the sun that was cheaper than buying juice from the local electric company makes its way to market, I'll be the first in line to pony up. Until that happens, no matter what the government wants, I ain't buyin' it.

Yeah, it's not "Big Oil" keeping it out of our hands, in truth, it's "Big Govt" trying to force it down our throats, while picking our pockets to pay for it.

That aside, I really do love the advancements in the tech, particularly this product.
They have devised a way to reflect energy to the sides of the glass where cells capture it, I don't care about capturing it, as much as I do diverting it.
Think about the spin off tech that might be developed in the future, like sunglasses that don't tint, just block out bad rays that damage the eyes, or windows that face south allowing in the light without allowing the rays that damage and fade everything in it's path.

But don't force me to pay for it, I'll buy it if I want it..

I was thinking more along the lines of homeowners installing it to supplement the power in homes.

The ever raising costs of energy, for homeowners is a big problem. One that is only getting worse.

Every year programs like Heap and E Heap are seeing ever increasing numbers of applicants for government (tax payer subsidized) help.

It's getting to the point that as a nation, we are either going to foot the bill to just hand out money to subsidize folks, or we start allowing them to produce and use their own energy.

And Obama's "war" on coal and nuclear power, isn't helping things either. I know liberals don't like to realize/admit it.

But the more the government under Obama imposes regulations on coal and nuclear power. The more new "tech" energy producers have to install to meet those regulations, the more it is going to cost the consumer.

I say let the people install windows made of this material in their homes, rv, cars etc....Which as it is right now, is illegal in some places.

As it is here for example.

Yep that's right, while one might think you can produce your own power for your own use.

In actuality you can't.

For example I can't just set up my own wind turbine or solar panels and generate my own energy. (regarldess of the fact that here where I live windmills at farms have been around since the 18'00s)

No I am forced by law, to buy it from the utility company.

Which they justify with all kinds of b.s. excuses.

Claiming everything from "it's a safety issue" which I say is b.s. for the same reason I say seat belt laws are b.s.

Too it creates an unfair advantage for the rich who can afford such high tech solutions while the poor can't, so to be fair to everyone, everyone has to buy it from Duke.

Quote from: daidalos on August 21, 2014, 04:49:34 PM
I was thinking more along the lines of homeowners installing it to supplement the power in homes.

The ever raising costs of energy, for homeowners is a big problem. One that is only getting worse.

Every year programs like Heap and E Heap are seeing ever increasing numbers of applicants for government (tax payer subsidized) help.

It's getting to the point that as a nation, we are either going to foot the bill to just hand out money to subsidize folks, or we start allowing them to produce and use their own energy.

And Obama's "war" on coal and nuclear power, isn't helping things either. I know liberals don't like to realize/admit it.

But the more the government under Obama imposes regulations on coal and nuclear power. The more new "tech" energy producers have to install to meet those regulations, the more it is going to cost the consumer.

I say let the people install windows made of this material in their homes, rv, cars etc....Which as it is right now, is illegal in some places.

As it is here for example.

Yep that's right, while one might think you can produce your own power for your own use.

In actuality you can't.

For example I can't just set up my own wind turbine or solar panels and generate my own energy. (regarldess of the fact that here where I live windmills at farms have been around since the 18'00s)

No I am forced by law, to buy it from the utility company.

Which they justify with all kinds of b.s. excuses.

Claiming everything from "it's a safety issue" which I say is b.s. for the same reason I say seat belt laws are b.s.

Too it creates an unfair advantage for the rich who can afford such high tech solutions while the poor can't, so to be fair to everyone, everyone has to buy it from Duke.

One problem. Your local PUC is packed with hand picked crony capitalists not interested in the public one bit, they do the bidding of the Governor and the utility companies that contribute to his election.

It's already happened in Ca. The PUC (Public Utilities Commission) already passed regulations exempting utilities buying back solar power from it's customer base, and it's all legal.

The Marxist in the WH dictated that 10% of all electricity come from some alternative source, (think Green BS).
So the utilities build solar farms with the ability to generate 10% of there required "Green" energy, completely exempting them from being forced to lose generated income from it's customers.

Keep in mind, this is a win win for utility Co's, they don't lose 10% profit, they got the solar farms for free, thanks to rebates from the Fed via stolen taxpayer money, and nothing changed, except the solar roofed home owner gets soaked in the long run and never sees a return for their investment.

It's for this very reason I never sold a grid tie system. When govt gets involved, nothing good ever comes from the symbiotic "leech, Host" relationship. Never!