A new parabolic solar collector from MIT could revolutionize the energy industry. According to a recent article in the Daily Tech, a team of students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a revolutionary solar dish that “concentrates sunlight intensely enough to melt steel.”
While traditional photovoltaic cells have advanced significantly in recent years, producing more power and reaching payback as in as fast as four years. Another technology growing in popularity is the parabolic collector, which focuses sunlight at water pipe. The MIT creation is based on the concept of a parabolic reflector, but takes the concept to a new level in size, power and efficiency.
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The results are staggering — the completed mirror focuses enough solar energy at its focal point to melt solid steel. The energy of typical sunlight is concentrated by a factor of 1,000. This was showcased during a demonstration, in which a team member held up a board, which instantly and violently combusted, when brought within range of the focal point.
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In a more realistic context, the collector can instantly vaporize water in pipe, creating immediate means for producing energy or heat.
Currently available solar technologies take several years to achieve payback, even with significant government incentives. This new parabolic collector would achieve payback in just a couple years.
Filed under: 8th Continent Business Plan Competition, News, Space 2.0 | Tagged: 8th Continent Project's Business Plan competition, MIT, solar energy
The MIT Solar Dish discovery should be kept from the jaws of the Oil/Energy Giants. Venture Capital may be available through Al Gore’s connection to the West Coast Venture Capital Group.
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