New "Spin" on PV Solar

[mezmo]

I came across this very interesting conical PV unit on the GIZMAG [another favorite web site of mine]
web site tonight. Per the Maker's web site, the conical Spin Cell PV unit just uses
existing technologies in new ways to achieve 20x the output of the same
SqFtage of the same size flat panel PV unit. No tracking or bearings needed either.

I'm not well versed in the PV area, but this looks very promising. It
will be interesting to see if they can bring it to market as they plan.

Here are the links:

http://www.gizmag.com/v3solar-spin-cell/24352/
http://v3solar.com/

Cheers,
Norm/mezmno

[GPW]

That’s really Cool !!!

[Shadow Catcher]

Far too short on details, and frankly sounds too good to be true

[GPW]

SC, we can only Hope .... it does make sense , from what we’ve read the PVs do better at lower temps ... Nice to see someone thinking “out the box” ... 

[bonnie]

Solandra had a very innovative idea, too. E2 is not giving very much info on the real testing; real energy harvest, cost ratios or anything else a knowledgeable consumer/business would want to know. While solar power is not cost effective as of yet; there's not reason why an American built panel couldn't compete. I buy American made when I can. I know others that do the same.

Time will tell, I think.

[48Rob]

I read it to say 20 percent more, not 20 times more?
Interesting still!

Thanks for the link.

Rob

[GPW]

Maybe they don’t want the Chinese to steal their innovations...? Or have a large Corporation outsource production “over seas” .. Seen too much of that already ...

[jstrubberg]

There's parts of that article that make no sense at all. I'm not sure if it's because the reporter didn't understand or the whole thing is hogwash.

A concentrator to increase efficiency? You can use a concentrator to raise the heat you get out of a sunbeam, but PV doesn't work by heat.

20X efficiency? Seems kinda tough when only one small segment of the spinning array is going to be at optimal angle at any one time.

While spinning might reduce heat at any one point, the whole array is still going to heat up over time. How are they dissipating heat from that covered array?

I dunno guys. Seems fishy.

[eamarquardt]

Yup, it seems reminiscent of all the "inventions" featured on the covers of Popular Mechanics and Popular Science when I was a kid. Very few panned out.

Typical high quality solar cells are maybe 15% efficient.

http://solar.smps.us/solar-cell-efficiency.html

So, if you get twenty times more energy out of the new ones yer getting 300% efficiency. Yes, a perpetual motion machine that violates the laws of thermodynamics. I'm not entirely convinced at this point.

I think this is all "spin".

Cheers,

Gus

[asianflava]

Sounds like BS to me. First of all, 20% more power but it takes power to spin them? Second just like the Solyndra tubes, yes it's true that angle doesn't affect it is much, but this is at the expense of less frontal area.

[bonnie]

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/251317-report-solar-firm-nearing-federal-loan-guarantee-draws-solyndra-comparisons

Sounding more and more like Solandra. Hmmmm.

[bdosborn]

Its not the best shape for a camper and I wonder how well it would hold up bouncing down the road. It's an interesting approach, we'll see if it pans out. I wonder what the $/watt is? I can get a flat PV panel for less than $2/watt.
Bruce