Nanosolar's Breakthrough - Solar Now Cheaper than Coal!

[Deathridesahorse]

Originally Posted by karmakop

French renewable energy group EDF Energies Nouvelles said Tuesday it will invest $50 million in solar panel maker Nanosolar Inc.

Nanosolar gets $50M from EDF Energies - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:

Good that a French company are investing what with the nuclear they have.

I'm pleasantly surprised, too!

[include]

They certainly seem to be the solar company everyone has heard of. Almost celebrity status

[Wobs]

Originally Posted by Deathridesahorse

I'm pleasantly surprised, too!

Why?
Just because a country is sensible enough to invest in nuclear doesn't mean they won't explore other technologies. Its not a "them an us world" unless you make it one.

[Deathridesahorse]

Originally Posted by Wobs

Why?
Just because a country is sensible enough to invest in nuclear doesn't mean they won't explore other technologies. Its not a "them an us world" unless you make it one.

I rather think it is.

[Deathridesahorse]

Originally Posted by include

They certainly seem to be the solar company everyone has heard of. Almost celebrity status

The new Maccas!

[sparky]

EDF are also interested in British Energy aren't they? So the rumours go anyway.

[Wobs]

Originally Posted by Deathridesahorse

I rather think it is.

It clearly is in your world, but we don't all hide behind baracades. Some of us are open minded enough to explore a wide variety of technologies. Just because you object to nuclear technology does not mean that those that are in favour of it should object to solar or wind. In fact all evidence points to the fact that those of us that are in favour of nuclear do not object to wind turbines (up to a point, as too many cause grid instability etc), and solar power where appropriate.

We just recognise the downsides of these technologies, and realise that they provide a very different type of supply to nuclear, and so there is no reason to exclude them unless they are inappropriate for certain applications (such as baseload supplies).

[sparky]

Another company called Sunrgi is now in on the act. Energy company Sunrgi recently announced an astounding new solar system that will break our grids free from the fossil fuel lockdown. Their Xtreme Concentrated Photovoltaics promise a low-cost, high-efficiency system with an incredible projected energy pricing of 5 cents per kilowatt. This puts solar on par with the cost of coal, natural gas, etc..

http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/08/...-solar-system/

[LMagic007]

Originally Posted by sparky

Another company called Sunrgi is now in on the act. Energy company Sunrgi recently announced an astounding new solar system that will break our grids free from the fossil fuel lockdown. Their Xtreme Concentrated Photovoltaics promise a low-cost, high-efficiency system with an incredible projected energy pricing of 5 cents per kilowatt. This puts solar on par with the cost of coal, natural gas, etc..

http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/05/08/...-solar-system/

Interesting article. I had actually thought of that also, as I suspect had many others. i.e. CSP-PV has been shown in the power station model, but in the domestic model, I had not yet seen this technology applied. This changes that dynamic and potentially the whole ball game for solar PV. i.e. concentrated solar PV on household rooftops at 37% + conversion efficiencies. This type of technology could signify the beginning of a hugely significant evolutionary step for solar PV in terms of bang for buck affordability, cost / benefit etc... It could be the driving force that pushes solar PV centre stage to even greater prominence than ever before. This type of technology has the potential to really help us save our fossil fuels for when they are really needed. It's early days, but definately a positive sign of things to come.