New and old solar tech development

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Researchers at Georgia Tech have been working on making an old, but inefficient solar fullerene technology more efficient. Recently they hit a home run, improving conversion efficiency from a lowly 1% to over 18%! This could be another step toward lighter, more flexible and less expensive panels.

Researchers Revive Outdated Durable, Reliable Solar Technology

A chemistry tweak turns fullerenes into non-fullerene acceptors, which show promise for efficient and abundant energy generation.

www.designnews.com

 

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Has anyone been following this? What is the potential? is it scalable and durable?

New Green Technology from UMass Amherst Generates Electricity ‘Out of Thin Air’ | UMass Amherst

Scientists at UMass Amherst have developed a device that uses a natural protein to create electricity from moisture in the air, a new technology they say could have significant implications for the future of renewable energy, climate change and in the future of medicine.

www.umass.edu

 

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Yet another efficiency breakthrough in solar tech that could see commercial opportunities in a couple of years.

Researchers claim solar efficiency breakthrough for flexible 'skin'

Engineers at the University of Queensland say technology could be used to power small devices, such as a phone, within two years

www.theguardian.com

 

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Here is technology for converting plastic waste to Diesel.

(broken link removed to http://www.nhfrontpage.com/Articles-Coos-County-Democrat-c-2015-05-06-160288.113119-Michel-Bisson-shows-off-Prima-America-plasticstodiesel-plant.html)

One thing that is not mentioned is cost per gallon. The closest landfill to that plant has cheap tipping rates of around $44 a ton for members of the solid waste district, the nearest commercial landfill is somewhere around $80 per ton. If its treated as a waste minimization project its probably on sound footing. I am not so certain if they treat is as a competitor to diesel compared to pulling it out of an oil well In some of the other articles they talk about it displacing oil used on ships which is typically far nastier stuff than regular diesel.

BTW, if you look around on the web there are videos on how to do it at home. Its not that tough.

 

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Here is technology for converting plastic waste to Diesel.

(broken link removed to http://www.nhfrontpage.com/Articles-Coos-County-Democrat-c-2015-05-06-160288.113119-Michel-Bisson-shows-off-Prima-America-plasticstodiesel-plant.html)

One thing that is not mentioned is cost per gallon. The closest landfill to that plant has cheap tipping rates of around $44 a ton for members of the solid waste district, the nearest commercial landfill is somewhere around $80 per ton. If its treated as a waste minimization project its probably on sound footing. I am not so certain if they treat is as a competitor to diesel compared to pulling it out of an oil well In some of the other articles they talk about it displacing oil used on ships which is typically far nastier stuff than regular diesel.

BTW, if you look around on the web there are videos on how to do it at home. Its not that tough.

I have read about doing this elsewhere too. Not a new tech. It is used in Japan for example. One can see why they would be talking about this in the farm belt. Ag waste is a serious issue and it can fill up a landfill quickly. Some farms use a huge amount of plastic films. Also, their equipment is mostly if not all diesel. But I am surprised to see it introduced in NH.

Large Scale Plastics Chemcycling Process | Pyrolysis System for Diesel Fuel | Cogeneration & Recycling Technology | Klean Industries

Klean provides pyrolysis & gasification systems that convert rubber tires, scrap plastics & municipal solid waste into electricity and fuels.

www.kleanindustries.com

This company details the process nicely

Beston Group - Professional Pyrolysis Plant Manufacturer

As a professional pyrolysis plant manufacturer, Beston Group is specialized in providing high-quality and high-performance pyrolysis plant.

bestonpyrolysisplant.com

 

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Trying to build anything in VT Is a nightmare. There is regulation called Act 250 that can take years to go through. NH is far more business friendly and is not that far away from VT. VT does have a big plastic ag waste issue and much of the trash is hauled up to a large expensive landfill near the Canadian border in Coventry VT. Groveton NH on the other hand is an old papermill town that lost two papermills in a very short period of time. The equipment is gone but the buildings and infrastructure remain including a permitted water system and wastewater treatment plan and is run like business incubator. its not far from the Canadian border and some Canadians prefer to do business on the US side of the border as the tax burden is lower. There is also a plant being built that I posted awhile back that claims to have a breakthrough in stripping hydrogen out of the water. They are building a plant and claim they can produce hydrogen from water, run it through a recip engine and generate power for the local businesses at the site for half the cost of utility power. The world will beat a path to their door if they pull it off.

 

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More on perovskite development front. 25% conversion efficiency and cheap. This could be a game changer.

Lead-Trapping Coating Could Make Cheaper, More Efficient Solar Cell Viable

Pervoskite solar cells can produce more energy than their silicon counterparts but have risked leaching lead into the environment

www.scientificamerican.com