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IBM Solar Collector Could Provide Power To The Entire Planet

by HeySal
14 replies
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This is really awesome - and something I bet TPTB are going to try to stop with every fiber in their beings.

IBM Solar Collector Magnifies Sun By 2000X – These Could Provide Power To The Entire Planet | Collective-Evolution
  • Profile picture of the author David Braybrooke
    This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free!
    Shwowzers - Big Time! Great share!
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  • Profile picture of the author Dennis Gaskill
    It would be great if it were true, and I'm not saying it's not true, I'm just always a little skeptical about fantastic claims. And if it's true, somehow, the government or industry will find a way to make it as profitable, and probably as expensive, as energy currently costs.

    Maybe I'm just becoming jaded.
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    • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
      Sal,

      All it would take is for one country to decide they valued energy over ideology, and the secret would be leaked. This isn't something that can be hidden for long, if true.

      The basic idea was proposed ages ago (well, decades anyway), but the collection/conversion tech didn't exist. The funny thing is, this same sort of system could be used in space to send power wherever it's needed, including asteroid mining operations. Which makes it a prime target for Da Goog's efforts in that direction.

      This stuff is more than just the obvious. This is a potential shift in everything we do.


      Paul
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      • Profile picture of the author Kurt
        Originally Posted by Paul Myers View Post

        Sal,

        All it would take is for one country to decide they valued energy over ideology, and the secret would be leaked. This isn't something that can be hidden for long, if true.

        The basic idea was proposed ages ago (well, decades anyway), but the collection/conversion tech didn't exist. The funny thing is, this same sort of system could be used in space to send power wherever it's needed, including asteroid mining operations. Which makes it a prime target for Da Goog's efforts in that direction.

        This stuff is more than just the obvious. This is a potential shift in everything we do.


        Paul
        Actually, the tech has existed longer than that. Archimedes created the parabolic mirror a couple of centuries BC. The sterling engine was invented in the early 1800's. Once we knew how to create electricity using a generator, It was really a matter of someone thinking of putting the two together, but the ability to convert sunlight into mechanical energy has existed for 200 years (but no one thought of it).
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  • Profile picture of the author Kurt
    The claims of 25% yield really aren't a big stretch. I believe the previous record was about 24% using a similar parabolic mirror with a a sterling engine.

    This system uses what's called a "super cell". A super cell is a high grade solar cell where a single cell is used, unlike the "traditional" solar panel that has dozens of cells, making it a much cheaper technology. The key is cooling the super cell with all the sunlight being reflected on it so it doesn't melt or is damaged by all the heat caused.

    It appears the unique process with the IBM system is that they are using a cooling system that will use the excess heat (the other 75% of the energy) to desalinate water. I would say that this cooling system isn't as effective as using what's known as "super salts" to produce electricity, but their claim of 25% yield would say I'm wrong, plus they are creating fresh water.

    Here's another similar technology using a parabolic mirror and a super cell. This technology is super cheap to create. It's basically a big baloon that is coated with a thin layer of reflective mylar, basically the same material used in reflective gift wrap.




    Here's a video (which I can't embed here) with more info on the solar "balloons" from a company called Cool Earth:
    Solar Balloons! | Eco Company TV
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  • Profile picture of the author Paul Myers
    Kurt,

    Thanks for throwing a forward-looking perspective back into the Dark Ages.


    Paul
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  • Profile picture of the author DJL
    Originally Posted by HeySal View Post

    ... TPTB are going to try to stop ...
    What is "TPTB?"
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    • Profile picture of the author Dan Riffle
      Originally Posted by DJL View Post

      What is "TPTB?"
      The Powers That Be
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      Raising a child is akin to knowing you're getting fired in 18 years and having to train your replacement without actively sabotaging them.

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      • Profile picture of the author DJL
        Originally Posted by Dan Riffle View Post

        The Powers That Be
        OK, I get it now: all the evil KORPORASHUNZ that continually squelch the many wonderful Perpetual Motion Machines that crafty inventors are forced to hide in their Mom's basements!
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        • Profile picture of the author HeySal
          Originally Posted by DJL View Post

          OK, I get it now: all the evil KORPORASHUNZ that continually squelch the many wonderful Perpetual Motion Machines that crafty inventors are forced to hide in their Mom's basements!
          Yeah - kinda like the guys that squashed Tesla and brought down industrial hemp in the US.
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          Sal
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          Beyond the Path

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    • Profile picture of the author socialentry
      Originally Posted by DJL View Post

      What is "TPTB?"
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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    That's some serious clean energy news.

    If true, this is a game changer and TPTB won't take this laying down.

    We'll see what happens.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    Well, in the 1970s, Corporations, IRONICALLY, bragged about developing photovoltaic while casually sweeping it under the rug. It has SLOWLY been picking up pace though. HOME DEPOT now sells kits that can do better than most and provide a quite and long power supply at a moderate cost. Of course, if the IBM device they talk about HERE even PARTIALLY lives up to the claims, WOW! ONE of these could provide charging and/or power for a decent backup for like every house on a block, or more, in about the same space.

    They don't give enough details to indicate how it works, but they refer to the water as used for COOLING, and say the cells are photo-voltaic. That states that the CELLS convert the sun into electricity. OBVIOUSLY, that water can get HOT, and they mention 90c. That is 194f. Although below boiling, it WILL evaporate, etc... and that can be used to desalinate water by distilling.

    Steve
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