[LINK] Aussie solar energy record

[Tom Worthington]

On 10/12/14 17:45, Stephen Loosley wrote:

> Australian scientists announce solar energy record ABC Environment
> http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2014/12/08/4144142.htm
>...The four-way solar cells can be used at the centre of a field of
> mirrors ...

If you have the space, it would be simpler, and much cheaper, to lay the 
four cells out side by side and double the power output.

As Dr Renate Egan, Chair of the Australia PV Institute, has pointed out, 
it now costs more to install solar cells, than it does to make them: 
http://blog.tomw.net.au/2014/10/global-community-has-decided-on.html

Dr. Steven Chu, former U.S. Secretary of Energy, pointed out last week 
that local government regulations add to the cost of installing solar 
panels: http://blog.tomw.net.au/2014/12/light-energy-and-environment.html

So the place to look for efficiency, is not in the cells, but in sales 
and installation. This is something which ICT can help with. At present 
a careful inspection has to be made to see a roof will support panels, 
where the cable will be run and where the electronics can be installed. 
This then has to all be checked after installation.

As an alternative, buildings could be designed for the option of solar 
panels. The householder could later order solar panels on-line, quoting 
the design number of the building. The suppler would check a satellite 
photo to verify their were no problems with access and send out an 
installer with the correct kit of parts. An electrician would then plug 
the panels in. There would be no need for a separate inspection, as the 
set-up would have been type-approved. This would cut thousands of 
dollars from the cost.


-- 
Tom Worthington FACS CP, TomW Communications Pty Ltd. t: 0419496150
The Higher Education Whisperer http://blog.highereducationwhisperer.com/
PO Box 13, Belconnen ACT 2617, Australia  http://www.tomw.net.au
Liability limited by a scheme approved under Professional Standards
Legislation

Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Research School of Computer Science,
Australian National University http://cs.anu.edu.au/courses/COMP7310/