Solar/IBM/Airlight

[Rorschach]

These are very cool looking...

Computer giant IBM last week revealed the prototype of its advanced solar electricity generators: a 30ft-high concrete “sunflower” fitted with wafer-thin aluminium mirrors and a maze of tiny tubes for carrying coolant through the heart of each device. The machines, which will be built in conjunction with the Swiss company Airlight Energy, can convert 80% of the sun’s radiation into electricity and hot water, it is claimed, with each generating 12 kilowatts of electricity and 20kW of heat on a sunny day, enough to supply several homes.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ ... lectricity

[Lucas]

COOL

[Lucas]

These are very cool looking...

Computer giant IBM last week revealed the prototype of its advanced solar electricity generators: a 30ft-high concrete “sunflower” fitted with wafer-thin aluminium mirrors and a maze of tiny tubes for carrying coolant through the heart of each device. The machines, which will be built in conjunction with the Swiss company Airlight Energy, can convert 80% of the sun’s radiation into electricity and hot water, it is claimed, with each generating 12 kilowatts of electricity and 20kW of heat on a sunny day, enough to supply several homes.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ ... lectricity

These need to be dotted through each neighborhood or have an acre or two dedicated to them servicing the surrounding neighborhood. Regardless of the tech I reckon it will be kept from us and we will still be screwed for taxes unfortunately.

[GeorgeH]

Have an acre or two. . .in our capital cities? HM would the Tassie ones generate? Even if we had the space would you really want a huge tower of mirrors in your neighborhood?

To get useful solar thermal energy you need a square 20Km by 20Km of collectors and generator, located preferably in a desert in our north as close to the equator as possible.

Best way, bit science fictiony yet—a space elevator, a space station in permanent sunshine at the other end, square miles of solar PV “sails” sending the electricity down to earth via copper cable running alongside the carbon nanotech cable. Space elevators would then make exploration and exploitation of space cheaper.

I’d love to see that!

[Rorschach]

Monk's obviously never heard of planning before.
That's why he backs the NBN and panics about climate change.
He also doesn't read, so he missed the vast improvement of these towers and their multipurpose.
Do puhlease go back to your blog, that way we won't have to keep replying to and correcting the crap you post everywhere.

[GeorgeH]

You never heard of the space elevator concept, roach?

It offers cheap exploration/exploitation of space and a way to get huge solar PV cheaply and more effectively than anything. Have a read up.

Presently, Jap scientists have carbon nanotech cables that are strong enough but they can’t make them long enough, not yet.

[Lucas]

Wow nanotech cables that's awesome.

[Lucas]

Have an acre or two. . .in our capital cities? HM would the Tassie ones generate? Even if we had the space would you really want a huge tower of mirrors in your neighborhood?

To get useful solar thermal energy you need a square 20Km by 20Km of collectors and generator, located preferably in a desert in our north as close to the equator as possible.

Best way, bit science fictiony yet—a space elevator, a space station in permanent sunshine at the other end, square miles of solar PV “sails” sending the electricity down to earth via copper cable running alongside the carbon nanotech cable. Space elevators would then make exploration and exploitation of space cheaper.

I’d love to see that!

You're a certified idiot.

[GeorgeH]

For the rare member with a real interest in technology, the concept of a space elevator was elaborated by Arthur C Clarke:

Arthur C. Clarke's The Fountains of Paradise, 1979 ..

Go here to read all about his space elevator story, scientifically accurate, yes - but as you have mentioned, he wasn't the best storyteller, his writing style sounded too much like non-fiction and his characters weren't well developed ..

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Fountains_of_Paradise" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(Annie on my board)

[Lucas]

Do you spank annie once you have her on your board ?