Comments on: BREAKTHROUGH IN CHEAP SOLAR POWER! http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/ Future-forward design for the world you inhabit Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:00:12 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Shaman Hawkhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-81747 Shaman Hawk Sun, 18 May 2008 18:46:55 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/#comment-81747 This is great news. Not only could we plug into our clothes but my girlfriends sex toys could just sit on the window sill and we won't need batteries. This is great news. Not only could we plug into our clothes but my girlfriends sex toys could just sit on the window sill and we won’t need batteries.

]]> By: Johanhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-69931 Johan Fri, 01 Feb 2008 09:12:19 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/#comment-69931 I living in South Africa, and with our powergrid in upgrade we will battle to have enough power for the next 3 - 5 years. I have found many websites that announce new and cheaper solar panels etc, but none of them refers a person to a distributor of such products. Any help in this department?? I living in South Africa, and with our powergrid in upgrade we will battle to have enough power for the next 3 – 5 years. I have found many websites that announce new and cheaper solar panels etc, but none of them refers a person to a distributor of such products.
Any help in this department??

]]> By: Chrishttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-60438 Chris Fri, 16 Nov 2007 04:08:19 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/#comment-60438 I'm building a house and ready to roof. Can someone give me bottom line on availabilty or costs of the solar shingles? Should I put up solar roofing now, vs. adding panels later? I can't find anything about availabilty of anything (or costs) outside of traditional solar panels.Thanks for your quick reply, in progress NOW! I’m building a house and ready to roof. Can someone give me bottom line on availabilty or costs of the solar shingles? Should I put up solar roofing now, vs. adding panels later? I can’t find anything about availabilty of anything (or costs) outside of traditional solar panels.

Thanks for your quick reply, in progress NOW!

]]> By: Hariramhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-46344 Hariram Fri, 25 May 2007 05:29:19 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/#comment-46344 What will be the circuit diagram to connect and collect elecron-charges from the dyes? What will be the circuit diagram to connect and collect elecron-charges from the dyes?

]]> By: Guruhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-46233 Guru Wed, 23 May 2007 14:21:33 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/#comment-46233 Well sounds great. I guess it will take a few more years to bring it to market though. Allot of testing will be required to determine useful life against cost etc... Well sounds great. I guess it will take a few more years to bring it to market though. Allot of testing will be required to determine useful life against cost etc…

]]> By: Markhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-45586 Mark Sun, 13 May 2007 06:13:17 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/#comment-45586 Forget it all, just turn your lights off when you leave the house, don't forget your bike, and lastly stop wathcing so much tv. Mark Forget it all, just turn your lights off when you leave the house, don’t forget your bike, and lastly stop wathcing so much tv.
Mark

]]> By: Reaganhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-43804 Reagan Thu, 19 Apr 2007 06:56:53 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/#comment-43804 I think it sounds great ( provided it doesn't decompose ). It could have several benefits, especially in places like the gulf (UAE), where sunlight is plentiful and space is no problem. If the cost is feasible, we could easily have buildings being constructed completely clad with such cells. I think it sounds great ( provided it doesn’t decompose ). It could have several benefits, especially in places like the gulf (UAE), where sunlight is plentiful and space is no problem. If the cost is feasible, we could easily have buildings being constructed completely clad with such cells.

]]> By: bernardhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-43669 bernard Mon, 16 Apr 2007 14:43:25 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/#comment-43669 climate change is damaging our planet versy fast, please distribute the technology ASAP even without royalty to pay this is anemergency to ourplanet climate change is damaging our planet versy fast, please distribute the technology ASAP even without royalty to pay this is anemergency to ourplanet

]]> By: Nick Simpsonhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-43495 Nick Simpson Sat, 14 Apr 2007 09:53:47 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/#comment-43495 Whatever way you look at it if it's a step in the right direction it's good news. Photovoltaics (i.e. panels that convert the sun's energy into electricity instead of hot water) simply aren't financially viable yet. Anything that makes it take that step towards being viable is great. Whatever way you look at it if it’s a step in the right direction it’s good news. Photovoltaics (i.e. panels that convert the sun’s energy into electricity instead of hot water) simply aren’t financially viable yet. Anything that makes it take that step towards being viable is great.

]]> By: Davidhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-43371 David Thu, 12 Apr 2007 01:24:27 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/#comment-43371 Jorge- FYI-If I am not mistaken, they are "silicon" not "silicone" solar cells. Jorge-
FYI-If I am not mistaken, they are “silicon” not “silicone” solar cells.

]]> By: Roberthttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-43345 Robert Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:36:51 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/#comment-43345 The comment about Michael Graetzel is correct. He is the originator of the titanium dye cell. The Konarka company in Lowell, Mass. has further developed this kind of cell in the US, and their products should be widely available in the next year or two. The comment about Michael Graetzel is correct. He is the originator of the titanium dye cell. The Konarka company in Lowell, Mass. has further developed this kind of cell in the US, and their products should be widely available in the next year or two.

]]> By: Fredhttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-43336 Fred Wed, 11 Apr 2007 11:52:56 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/#comment-43336 People have been doing this for decades. The idea is that TiO2 is very efficient at turning light into electricity, if the light is in a relatively narrow band in the UV (where sunlight is weak). The dyes absorb light, and inject an electron into the semiconductor, adding an absorbance band where sunlight is stronger. Unfortunately, the dye minus an electron is very reactive, and oxidative decomposition is one of the reaction paths open to the dye. The problem has always been that the dye decomposes fairly rapidly (this incidently has been used to clean up some rather nasty chemical problems on the bench scale). The press release linked to above doesn't mention if this problem is solved People have been doing this for decades. The idea is that TiO2 is very efficient at turning light into electricity, if the light is in a relatively narrow band in the UV (where sunlight is weak). The dyes absorb light, and inject an electron into the semiconductor, adding an absorbance band where sunlight is stronger. Unfortunately, the dye minus an electron is very reactive, and oxidative decomposition is one of the reaction paths open to the dye. The problem has always been that the dye decomposes fairly rapidly (this incidently has been used to clean up some rather nasty chemical problems on the bench scale). The press release linked to above doesn’t mention if this problem is solved

]]> By: charleshttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-43332 charles Wed, 11 Apr 2007 11:11:18 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/#comment-43332 this technology was invented in 1991 bei swiss physicist called michael graetzel. it's know under the common name "graetzel-cell"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dye-sensitized_solar_cells this technology was invented in 1991 bei swiss physicist called michael graetzel. it’s know under the common name “graetzel-cell”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dye-sensitized_solar_cells

]]> By: Jorge Chapahttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-43322 Jorge Chapa Wed, 11 Apr 2007 05:30:06 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/#comment-43322 Well, from what I can gather, and I admit to not being an expert in the matter, the embodied energy of silicone solar cells is much higher than those manufactured from these dyes. Well, from what I can gather, and I admit to not being an expert in the matter, the embodied energy of silicone solar cells is much higher than those manufactured from these dyes.

]]> By: Ty Joneshttp://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/comment-page-1/#comment-43317 Ty Jones Wed, 11 Apr 2007 03:22:08 +0000 http://www.inhabitat.com/2007/04/10/breakthrough-in-cheap-solar-power/#comment-43317 WOW ... is this the break through, or a leeast a lead forward, that consumers have been waiting for? WOW … is this the break through, or a leeast a lead forward, that consumers have been waiting for?

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