Comments on: YES!!!

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 07:02:45 +0000

There’s no doubt that price enters into every decision, but I just had to locate NiCads to replace some bad batteries in my outside solar lighting and they are more expensive than the NiMH that I have in abundance. The price is reflected in the volume. The price will drop if the volume is there.

I’ll take care of it for you Andante, but it’s OK to scream on the ‘Net.

It as always been a matter of storage, Michael, and this looks very good.

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:58:47 +0000

Maybe something like this will help.

By: Michael

Michael — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:46:22 +0000

If both collection and storage can be improved by comparable factors we have effectively unlimited energy at our disposal.

By: andante

andante — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:40:10 +0000

I am boldly going on with attempting to gift-wrap innumerable gifts. Needless to say, I’m crankier than usual, and my back hurts from bending over all that mess. Bah, humbug!!!

(Please feel free to correct my bolded mess, Bryan)

By: Badtux

Badtux — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:29:23 +0000

The biggest issue will be whether these batteries can be made affordably. The Prius uses NiMH batteries mostly because lIon batteriers are half the weight for the same amount of power, but are ten times the price.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:55:42 +0000

Actually the process as described is remarkable simple, and so logical you wonder why people didn’t think of it before, but then, much of genius is stating what should be obvious, and becomes obvious when you say it aloud.

I fear you are right, Andante. If you manufacture batteries based on this break through in mass and tie them to even the current solar roof tiles that are available, most single family homes can exist off the grid. The electrical utilities will not like that eventuality.

I don’t know if you were aware of it, Steve, but for years IBM bought up patents for new technology to bury it if it affected a core IBM product line.

The other concern is that there aren’t any US manufacturers left who can build the batteries, and China may get the technology by default. Sony is an obvious company to bring these batteries into production.

By: Steve Bates

Steve Bates — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 04:23:12 +0000

Cool! (It must be that, too, if it can handle such an energy density without blowing up.) andante is right, of course. (andante, where have you decided to boldly go?) Brought to market? Feh. I'll wager the Bushists attempt to classify the technology as a matter of Heimatsicherheit, assigning manufacturing rights to a certain defense contractor... and then do absolutely nothing with it.

By: andante

andante — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 03:25:03 +0000

This is REALLY exciting!

The implications for solar energy alone are endless.

No doubt Big Oil and King Coal will fight it to the death.

By: Bryan

Bryan — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:24:12 +0000

Storage has always been the problem, and this looks really good as a solution. It solves a couple of problems with vehicles, weight and available power. A lot of power is need just to move the batteries, so the ten fold increase in storage will see another increase in less wasted energy.

Things are definitely looking up, if these things can be brought to market.

By: fallenmonk

fallenmonk — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:40:57 +0000

Not a shipstone but very good news indeed. With the latest advances in thin film solar cells and wind power we might be getting there. May be practical for even home use.