Jerry's Comments

Reflected (albedo) radiation will be a primary key to continued cost/watt reductions, especially when you consider we are entering a period of increased solar activity. The reflectors which can increase albedo gain, will also allow the instantaneous capture of free electron emission from the excited reflector surface materials as solar flares emitting photons, free electrons and protons impinge on the reflector and as excited electrons are emitted. It is easy to envision
how thin-film might be the ideal reflector from a total output standpoint, where the receiver might be a fresnel lense, stirling engine or an mhd coil. Another possability is a hybrid panel which includes thin film absorbor plate backed by a roll bonded hot water heater absorbor plate. The important thing here is how many solar megawatts or gigawatts capacity per day can we get on line before next year! In the same manner we need to integrate solar projects with wind energy and other renewable projects to increase the peak capacity, one of solars greatest advantages. JerryCheesman@yahoo.com

An interesting possability might be the integration of geothermal projects with solar projects so as to increase the peak generating capacity during the day time hours to produce the effect of more carefully matching capacity to the load over time. If in fact there are hundreds or thousands of additional MW Geothermal capacity coming on line this year, that can translate into a lot of opportunity to add solar capacity there as well. Currently, we are seekinig funding for a 1.5 MW tracking solar photo-voltaic project, and are hopeful someone out there knows of an investor.

It was inspiring to learn solar photo voltaic has achieved lower cost/watt installed than combined cycle natural gas plants. With the averageinstalled cost/watt for photo voltaic from $5.00-$8.00, imagine the advantages of recent thin-film developments, ie. near 100% absorbtivity, and around 90% conversion efficiencies, at a cost of less than $1.00/watt installed costs. Of course, again, thin-film requires a surface and a compatable adhesive to attach the thin film to that surface. It seems the proponent of small systems has identified many of the factors which make them more attractive and economical than the cheapest form of fossil fuel electric produc tion.

I have heard that thin film on average surpassed Photo-voltaic panels in 2010 from a standpoint of cost/watt installed/efficiency. In May 2010, U.S.Solar was quoting 74 cents per watt installed cost. Possibly, something extra is going on here. Perhaps, we are seeing the integration of the photo-voltiac effect with several other effects which can also add to the total output of thinfilm. For example, where most of the solar energy is converted to heat upon contact with the thimfilm, it is possible to capture the free electrons released as they are excited into higher energy levels by the solar radiation. This capture precludes the loss of this energy and increases the output per square meter of aperture area. Further, it may be possible to include the pizo-electric phenominum, as another income stream for driving down the cost/watt.

Some specific storage options available, but seldom discussed, might be;
1) the use of excess-off-peak wind energy capacity, to store hydrogen in one tower section and oxygen within another tower section, then using it in a fuel cell type technology to produce the equivelent electricity during peak demand periods thus improving grid stability, where the hydrogen can be stored as a solid in chemical combination with another element, to be catalytically released to re-power an undersized fuel cell, by the effect of the rate of release of waste heat frum the fuel cell into the chemical stornage area.
2) near term efforts to identify wind farms which have good records of infrastructure and high levels of solar contribution/sq. meter, and where the appropriate land is available to add solar electric capacity to smooth out the match between supply and load from a renewables standpoint and from a load standpoint. A good example would be the wind farms here in Solano County, California, which could be complimented both on and off-site by solar farms. In this case we are speakinig about as much as 850 MW solar generating capacity. Currently, PG&E, and SMUD, are in the process of installing 250 MW and an unknown amount respectively. This would act like storage at a reduced cost due to the ability of solar to more closely match the peak demand period. This has the effect of more efficiently providing peak demand from current solar than from storage.

I have been designing, selling and installing solar equipment since 1977 and the prospect of a heat battery is viewed by me as of prime importance. One idea which comes to mind immediately is a closed loop system which allows a fluid to transfer the heat from a solar collector to the battery. Of course if the stored heat is inside a heated area, it is of no great advantage over water as the previous comment alludes to. Still the concept of integrating the battery into the design of a product which uses energy could make this very attractive. For example, this principle could be applied to the storage of hydrogen as a solid in chemical combination with say sea-salt or some other element wherein it could be released by catalytic effect to replenish a small fuel cell to power an electric car. JerryCheesman@yahoo.com

We are seeking a specific market ready newly developed product to install a 1.5 MW solar electric facility. The owner of the project wants tracking capability to maximize gain per day.
We will consider; suncatcher or similar technology as a point focusing path to achieve this level of output. We will consider Solon tracking panels or similar technology as there is a 2 MW Solon non-tracking solar field within 1200 yards of the proposed site. We are also interested in a thin film application which applies the Cal Tech lab breakthrough, in a pilot project here. We seek this information with an emphasis on KWH/Sq. Meter/day potential output For Vacaville Ca. JerryCheesman@yahoo.com

"Abu Dhabi to Invest $15 Billion in Renewables,"  Here we see another example of how other nations and their leaders and citizens continue to lead the way in renewable energy development and production.  As a citizen of the U.S.A., I am gtrateful other nations are making these committments and am hopeful it will stimulate such investments in the U.S.   JerryCheesman@yahoo.com  

This committment by Santa Barbara is a step in the right direction.  The impediments previously experienced by many relating to building codes included the inability to obtain building permits for experimental design concepts such as; Vacuum Modular Roll bonded Aluminixed Steel Buildings, which provide the low cost opportunity to use the entire exterior of a building to absorb ambient energy and use phase change to transfer the energy to a small turbo-compressor-generator so as to produce electricity, and torque capability from stored compressed air.  The waste heat could be recovered for heating hot water and heating and air conditioning, etc.  JerryCheesman@yahoo,.com

Three Dollars a watt generating capacity is in fact quite reasonable compared to some costs as high as 17.00/watt for construction of other types of electrical generation systems. Futher, the true cost of many fossel electrical generation systems exclude the environmental costs, which is, in effect, cooking the books, and passing the accountability costs of their improper actions/decisions on to others.

JerryCheesman@yahoo.com

These two colleges have provided an example of how we can take control of our own lives and change things for the better within the system.

JerryCheesman@yaho.com

This was a great catch for Solar World and I am hopeful I can learn more about the opportunities for employment there.
JerryCheesman@yahoo.com
707-290-6488

Its Refreshing to see wide acceptance of the need to encourage renewable energy development and application. I am seeking to learn which domestic companies are producing renewable energy products for dealers who seek to install the systems for the public. In seeking to re-enter the market, I have had difficulty in this area.

JerryCheesman@yahoo.com

The Chinese market commitment to production and installation of renewable energy systems is of great value in the effort to reduce further development of fossel fuel power plants. This development of wind farm capacity in China will also allow the use of the available night time wind energy capicity to charge electric car batteries and fuel cells for commuter use in the daytime. This will allow more useful electrical output per day from wind, while reducing gasoline consumption. Chinese car manufacturers have just completed a deal with Dahmler Chrysler to supply their small cars through their dealers here in the U.S. Hopefully they will also consider fuel cell/electric cars as well.
JerryCheesman@yahoo.com

To Jim Berry: Due to the effects produced by increasing carbon levels in the atmosphere, water, and soil, (directly attributable to mans use of fossil fuels ini the past 50 years), we are now faced with global warming. Further, we may be seeing the effects of our overconsumption of these fuels as an individual nation, contributing to loss of our economic, social and political standing in World markets and in how we are viewed by citizens of other nations. One fact is clear. We need jobs in America and many of those needed jobs can come from Conservation and Renewable technologies being applied here by American Workers replacing the fossil fuels imported from overseas.