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Re:Solar-powered desalination device wins MIT $100K competition by darksaints on Wednesday May 18, 2022 @08:19AM (#31421833)
I don't know why some people are so obsessed with efficiency. Efficiency is, at best, one attribute of many which make something practical. We have had engines that are 50% thermally efficient for decades now, but no automaker has attempted to produce them because they are impractical in hundreds of other ways.

Not only would I buy this for my boat, but I would replace my more efficient spectra watermaker with it. Less noise and less maintenance are massive advantages.

Re:Solar-powered desalination device wins MIT $100K competition by ncmncm on Wednesday May 18, 2022 @12:06PM (#31424447)
Right. Panels are so cheap now that, unless you are limited in how many panels you can physically install, lower efficiency just means another panel. Even then, maybe you cant a pair of them in place of one so one picks up morning light, and the other afternoon.
Re:Solar-powered desalination device wins MIT $100K competition by konschubert on Wednesday May 18, 2022 @10:49AM (#31423487)
Yea.

- "This energy storage is only 30% efficient".

- "Yes but it's dirt cheap and so is solar peak power."