Not Logged In Log In   Sign Up   Points Leaders
Follow Us    1:50 PM

Message Forum - Read Message

Category: Science news > Topics Add to favorite topics   Post new topicPost New Topic
Author Topic: Discovery of a 'Dark State' Could Mean a Brighter Future for Solar Energy Post a Reply Back to Topics
six_ball_man
Champion Author
Rochester

Posts:8,527
Points:1,389,190
Joined:Oct 2007
Message Posted: Dec 16, 2011 10:24:35 AM
 Ignore six_ball_man Report Abuse


ScienceDaily (Dec. 15, 2011) — The efficiency of conventional solar cells could be significantly increased, according to new research on the mechanisms of solar energy conversion led by chemist Xiaoyang Zhu at The University of Texas at Austin. Zhu and his team have discovered that it's possible to double the number of electrons harvested from one photon of sunlight using an organic plastic semiconductor material.

Link to the article

[Edited by: six_ball_man at 12/16/2011 11:25:19 AM EST]
REPLIES (newest first)
Profile Pic
oilpan4
Champion Author Virginia

Posts:12,034
Points:306,460
Joined:Jul 2006
Message Posted: Jan 4, 2012 3:18:06 AM
 Ignore oilpan4 Report Abuse

"organic plastic" doesn't inspire confidence that it will hold up to heat and UV solar panels are exposed to constantly.
Profile Pic
six_ball_man
Champion Author Rochester

Posts:8,527
Points:1,389,190
Joined:Oct 2007
Message Posted: Jan 2, 2012 10:06:37 PM
 Ignore six_ball_man Report Abuse


I have seen some estimates of $10 billion per year for oil industry subsidies here in the US.

Doesn't matter though, as the oil industry controls our government (or at least as much of it as they need to control to have things their way) and we are never likely to know how ending these subsidies will effect anything.

And the amount doesn't even matter, IMHO. An industry that PROFITS $10 billion per quarter and pays no income tax, does not need any money from joe sixpack's pocket other than what they get at the pump. PERIOD.
Profile Pic
mudtoe
Champion Author Cincinnati

Posts:9,471
Points:1,285,645
Joined:May 2008
Message Posted: Jan 2, 2012 11:42:21 AM
 Ignore mudtoe Report Abuse

I take it you are referring to tax breaks to oil companies for exploration expenses. If so, that's an infinitesimal number compared to the dollar value of all the oil bought and sold in the world. On the other hand, subsidies and tax breaks are basically the only reason anyone buys solar panels, because what they cost versus the amount of electricity they actually produce is so far out of line that nobody would buy them otherwise.

Now, if this discovery can change that, then it's a good thing.


mudtoe
Profile Pic
six_ball_man
Champion Author Rochester

Posts:8,527
Points:1,389,190
Joined:Oct 2007
Message Posted: Jan 2, 2012 8:17:47 AM
 Ignore six_ball_man Report Abuse


Oil is subsidized....just sayin'.
Profile Pic
mudtoe
Champion Author Cincinnati

Posts:9,471
Points:1,285,645
Joined:May 2008
Message Posted: Jan 1, 2012 12:27:59 PM
 Ignore mudtoe Report Abuse

If this discovery is enough to turn a solar panel into a commercially viable product, that could compete with other forms of energy on its own merits without government subsidies or interference, that would be a very good thing.


mudtoe
Post a reply Back to Topics
"Consumers working together to save on gas"