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A comment on Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar efficiency. Parent comment

Re:Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar ... by jfrankamp on Friday August 09, 2019 @05:20PM (#20658330)
Why is it not feasible? I run 32 panels on my roof, in the pacific northwest which is known for its rain, it covers 100% of my residential and electric car usage when considered on an annual basis. If roofs required solar panels we would have a large part of power generation done at a much lower intallation cost and could focus on large scale energy storage projects instead. My payoff period is 11-12 years, system is warranted to 20. No breakthrough required.
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Re:Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar ... by coldtea on Friday August 09, 2019 @05:58PM (#20658539)
>I run 32 panels on my roof, in the pacific northwest which is known for its rain

Aren't you still connected to the traditional grid anyway?

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Re:Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar ... by jfrankamp on Monday August 12, 2019 @01:52PM (#20678005)
That's right. All my neighbors use the excess solar power during the summer, and during the winter I use more grid power than I create. I get credits in the summer and use them up during the winter.

A giant leap in solar efficiency doesn't solve the storage problem, and the storage problem doesn't need a magic physics solution, just large scale heads down engineering. My point is: solar is efficient enough now, and a sound economic choice. I make enough power in a year just with my roof for my house and car. I do need a storage solution to do power leveling, which is what I use the grid for now.

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Re:Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar ... by ThomPete on Tuesday August 13, 2019 @01:42AM (#20683088)
It does need a magical physics solution unless you are fine with keep using coal, oil, gas and nuclear as backup.

When you factor in the infrastructure to support you when you don't have power yourself then it suddenly looks less economically sound.

That's the point.

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Re:Rice University researchers propose a way to boost solar ... by jfrankamp on Thursday August 22, 2019 @01:05PM (#20770206)
That's where we disagree. You think power storage will take a magic physics solution, and I think it is normal engineering (pumped storage, rail/gravity potential generators, utility scale battery banks for leveling).
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