Solar Power Minus the Light

An anonymous reader writes "Popular Science is running a story about a small company trying to take advantage of all the global warming hype. Matteran Energy uses 'thermal-collection technology to heat a synthetic fluid with a very low boiling point (around 58F), creating enough steam to drive a specially designed turbine. And although a fluid-circuit system converting heat into electricity is nothing new, Matterans innovative solution increases the systems efficiency to a point where small-scale applications make economic sense.' Notably, this comes during a record breaking heat wave here in the US. So has the day finally arrived where I can run my AC off of all that heat outdoors?"

Comments

Re:Only solves 50% of the problem

[MichaelSmith]

Hm, looks simply like a small sterling engine or mini gas turbine used to drive an AC

Summer power consumption by aircon units determines max peak load on the power grid here in Melbourne, Australia. I think aircons should run primarily on photovoltaics because that way you get the highest power when it is needed the most.

our galactic stone-age

[uioreanu]

Solar energy is yet expensive, but it's easy just to look at the effects of the crisis in middle east over the fuel price to understand that we need to start thinking differently when we're talking about energy consumption. Most of the house devices we have could work just slower and consume half of what they do now; but this is a lesson we were not yet trained to learn.

Our story resembles more and more with some Age of Empires game where we start on an island, burn out everything there is to burn over there, and then have no more resources to build transporting ships.

Re:our galactic stone-age

[antoinjapan]

The middle east will own the solar age like they do the oil age now, they have the sand and the sun, and huge deserts to coat with panels. They're just waiting for the oil to go before they get started.

Use Nature's Solar Panels

[giafly]

... by planting Trees nearby. Their shade keeps your house cool, all trees produce fuel for the winter, and if you choose the right varieties they deliver free organic fruit. You'll save power by not having to run your air conditioner so much. Why must some engineers make things difficult for themselves?

Re:Only solves 50% of the problem

[It'sYerMam]

In other news, subtraction doesn't exist, you can only add negative numbers. Language is a convenience tool, and sometimes it's just more convenient to say that something sucks air, or radiates cold, or whatever.