Great article here from the illustrious JCWinnie, who I am proud to say commented on a recent article of mine. It details how IBM is working on a technology previously demonstrated to boost solar PV efficiency to 38% in National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) tests.
They boosted the power output by 10 times from the PV cell, which cuts the number of expensive PV cells needed for an installation to 10%, and the cost along with it. Using a liquid metal cooling system that could cogenerate signifigant heat for domestric hot water heating.
This sort of highly efficient, very low cost concentrating solar PV/heat cogeneration system has been eagerly anticipated (and mentioned constantly for years) here in this blog by your humble narator. It's finally coming together. Maybe it could be mass produced now? Don't hold your breath, hehey.
I think instead we need to take deep breaths and shout this news right onto our rooftops. For 5 cent per kwh solar? I think so.
