Scientist Arthur Nozik, of the National Renewable Energy Lab, Golden, Colorado is researching a phenomenon called Quantum Dots, which could revolutionary improve efficiency rates of solar cells.
New solar power photovoltaic technologies developed on the principle of Quantum dots could dramatically lower the price of solar cells by using only a fraction of previously used expensive semiconductors.
We could also add some additional positive facts to already mentioned much lower production price and much higher efficiency rate:
- a massive production of solar cells and their products (solar panels, solar shingles-tiles) could additionaly lower the cost of solar photovoltaics devices
- tax rebates
- other financial incentives
Sadly, all this could happen only after the Presidential election, because of the very strong opposition from US government and the White House.
The future of solar powered roofs is very bright, under the new President.
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Although solar power is a good thing, Gasoline prices are going to bring this Country to a screeching halt. Oil and Refining capacity = National security...Period
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'Squawk Box' Guest Warns of $12-15-a-Gallon Gas
It may be the mother of all doom and gloom gas price predictions: $12 for a gallon of gas is “inevitable.”
Robert Hirsch, Management Information Services Senior Energy Advisor, gave a dire warning about the potential future of gas prices on CNBC’s May 20 “Squawk Box”. He told host Becky Quick there was no single thing that would solve the problem, due to the enormity of the problem.
“[T]he prices that we’re paying at the pump today are, I think, going to be ‘the good old days,’ because others who watch this very closely forecast that we’re going to be hitting $12 and $15 per gallon,” Hirsch said. “And then, after that, when oil – world oil production goes into decline, we’re going to talk about rationing. In other words, not only are we going to be paying high prices and have considerable economic problems, but in addition to that, we’re not going to be able to get the fuel when we want it.”
What we are seeing is price rationing. People with little cash will begin to die. During the other oil shocks, people froze to death. The elderly were pitched into the streets. I saw this during the seventies. It broke my heart. It was hard, going around, dealing with this horror. I used to carry extra money when shopping so when an elderly person was seen shoplifting, I would take them by the hand and say, 'I'll pay for this. Don't worry. Here is my card. We can help you.' It was so tragic. The elderly in Japan are now shoplifting food, for example. The stresses on the systems in the G7 will rise as oil shoots up in price. Japan has clung to a cheap yen despite this 175% hike in oil costs. The US vacillates between a strong and a weak dollar, pursuing a fractured foreign trade policy that cannot reconcile with itself its own contradictions.
For a weak dollar=>high energy costs=>higher trade deficits=>more inflation. But it also increases exports of manufactured goods! Which the US wants. The idea that we can have rationing at home, tariffs on imported energy and imported manufactured goods and then sell to the world. This is not even considered! The rest of the world might put up trade barriers. But so what? They ALL depend on the US markets! We don't depend on any of their markets. Since we have a deficit with nearly every nation on earth.
One thing economists, Congress and the media refuse to talk about is this harsh fact of life: when we have rising energy costs, we ALWAYS go into inflation of necessities and deflation of consumer buying of other goods. After a short spurt due to everyone frantically buying more efficient energy systems and transportation, things come to a grinding halt. So this time is no different! Bernanke thinks all we need is more loans and voila! Things will boom again.
But they cannot! They NEVER did this in the past! They won't do this in the future. History is adamant about this. Just like all post-war periods mean deflation or frantic government induced inflation, often both at once. For winners and losers both!
http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080521145247.aspx