Gizmodo
Using traditional photovoltaics and a very non-traditional inflatable concentrator and tensegrity truss rigging structure, the folks at Cool Earth Solar have developed a system that could be far cheaper than polished aluminum mirrors. In fact, the inflatable versions are up to 400 times cheaper than regular mirrors and they are so lightweight that they can be suspended on cable lines as opposed to individual base systems —thereby using far less steel in construction. That means faster installation and minimal land use disruption.
Unfortunately, the design does have its drawbacks. For one, the inflatable mirrors would be fragile and less efficient than traditional methods due to the unique shape and the effects of wind on the non-rigid frame. So, in reality, the true cost effectiveness of such a set up is still unknown. Still, Cool Earth hopes to make solar power as cheap as non-renewable power within the next three years. [Cool Earth via Eco-Geek]
Comments
3 years? ambitious! I sure hope they're right... We ALL hope they're right!
Puffy? More Ma$e really...
Can't they just make more solar panels to cut down the price of it?
No ... the reason that the panels are so expensive is the silicon not the amount they are producing.
To an extent it's like saying something made from diamond would be cheaper if you just made more of them... the fact is the materials for them is too expensive, hence why this is so cool
Meh. What happened to my $1.50/watt amorphous thin film modules that were promised "within 3 years" by 20 companies in 1995. Over promise and NOTHING to deliver. Welcome to the "cheap solar" industry. Buy your panels now when there are subsidies. When the subsidies go away, the economics will be WORSE.
cool idea, and would be super useful if we didn't live on a planet with stuff called weather...
They look so cool.
the idea will never work. kids (and myself, of course) would shoot them with our bb guns.
And at Christmas time you can add red and green bulbs to each one, making for a delightful holiday display.
If this comes to fruition, then this is extremely exciting.
@phantam:
Diamonds are artificially expensive. If all the diamonds ever mined were released to market, they would be cheaper than glass. But a few companies control the supply to inflate the price.
It's a scam.
If it's 400 times cheaper, does that mean they'd owe me 399 times the cost of one if I bought it?
Maybe you mean 1/400th the cost?
Start a discussion:
Login with your username and password below. Or comment on this post via email.
Forgot your username or password? New User?