Twin Creeks solar panel technology

[AdamLein]

New technology for producing solar panels, could reduce the price by half:

Solar panel made with ion cannon is cheap enough to challenge fossil fuels | ExtremeTech

(with a nod to the storage issue).

[flyingwelshman]

Originally Posted by AdamLein

New technology for producing solar panels, could reduce the price by half:

Solar panel made with ion cannon is cheap enough to challenge fossil fuels | ExtremeTech

(with a nod to the storage issue).

Interesting.

I'm going to keep my eye on this.

[HDChopper]

Verry interesting Adam Thanks for the link!

[travlineasy]

According to the article, the cost per watt would be about 4-cents for the new type of solar panel. Before jumping up and down, you may want to do some comparisons by looking at Directory:Cents Per Kilowatt-Hour - PESWiki

One of the least expensive, and logical ways to create electricity, IMO, is harnessing tidal currents. This technology has been used in some northern nations with a great deal of success. I'm amazed that it is now being utilized in the U.S., especially considering its low environmental impact. I wish I were young enough to put together a manufacturing company to create and install the tidal turbines in this part of the world. It is so much more effective than solar and wind. Keep in mind that unlike wind and sunlight, we can accurately predict tidal currents centuries in advance.

Cheers,

Gary

[AdamLein]

Originally Posted by travlineasy

According to the article, the cost per watt would be about 4-cents for the new type of solar panel. Before jumping up and down, you may want to do some comparisons by looking at Directory:Cents Per Kilowatt-Hour - PESWiki

Nice data. Though it would be good to see how well each item scales; the list seems to refer only to large-scale projects (like wind farms). Is wind as cheap per watt on yacht scales, I wonder?

Anyway, if this technology brings the price of solar down to the level of the cheapest available conventional, renewable power source (wind, on that list), the side benefits of solar (simplicity, lightweight, silent, low windage) seem to make it the leading candidate, especially for yachts.

One of the least expensive, and logical ways to create electricity, IMO, is harnessing tidal currents.

I agree. Not to mention awesome and, unlike hydro, can be installed all along the coast. But not really available for yachts.

[AdamLein]

Wow, just realized that I put "Twin Peaks" in the subject line. The company is called "Twin Creeks". Apologies all around :P

[SlowButSteady]

One of the least expensive, and logical ways to create electricity, IMO, is harnessing tidal currents.

Tidal generation works in Northern Europe because of the large tidal ranges there. Most of North America doesn't have enough of tidal range to make such a project practicable. Additionally, depending on the configuration of the machinery and structures involved, generating electricity with tidal energy can have pretty significant environmental impacts.

[AdamLein]

Originally Posted by SlowButSteady

Tidal generation works in Northern Europe because of the large tidal ranges there. Most of North America doesn't have enough of tidal range to make such a project practicable.

True... guess there is a benefit to the extreme PNW tides.

Additionally, depending on the configuration of the machinery and structures involved, generating electricity with tidal energy can have pretty significant environmental impacts.

Right, I think I was thinking of wave energy, which uses much smaller structures than tide energy, and don't involve diverting water flows. I'd expect tide energy to be similar to hydro in terms of environmental impact.

[SlowButSteady]

Originally Posted by AdamLein

...
Right, I think I was thinking of wave energy, which uses much smaller structures than tide energy, and don't involve diverting water flows. I'd expect tide energy to be similar to hydro in terms of environmental impact.

Hydroelectric projects are far from environmentally benign. Their impacts on migrating fishes (particularly salmonids) and downstream hydrology can be severe.

In other words, there's no such thing as a free lunch.

[AdamLein]

Originally Posted by SlowButSteady

Hydroelectric projects are far from environmentally benign. Their impacts on migrating fishes (particularly salmonids) and downstream hydrology can be severe.

Exactly. The more mundane and practical tide power approaches I've read about essentially work the same way: diverting the natural flow through turbines. I think that could affect coastal ecosystems the same way hydro affects rivers.

Btw, hydro ravages upstream ecosystems as well, since it usually involves flooding a large basin.