IBM Solar Collector Magnifies Sun By 2000X – Providing Power To The Entire Planet

© IBM

Cleverly combining solar PV with solar thermal to reach 80% conversion efficiency 

Thanks to Eva

Concentrating the sun's ray onto solar photovoltaic (PV) modules requires walking the fine line between optimizing power output and not literally melting your very expensive super-high-efficiency solar cells. A team led by IBM Research seems to have found a way to push back the line. They have created a High Concentration PhotoVoltaic Thermal (HCPVT) system that is capable of concentrating the power of 2,000 suns onto hundreds of triple junction photovoltaic chips measuring a single square centimeter each (they even claim to be able to keep temperatures safe up to 5,000x). The trick is that each solar PV cell is cooled using technology developed for supercomputers; microchannels inspired by blood vessels but only a few tens of micrometers in width pipe liquid coolant in and extract heat "10 times more effective than with passive air cooling."

Full story at: http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x-without-cooking-itself.html
  

Video:  A Solar Energy Breakthrough

In the video below, IBM research scientist Bruno Michel gives an overview of the project:

 

“Each 1cmX1cm chip can convert 200-250 watts, on average, over a typical eight-hour day in a sunny region. In the HCPVT system, instead of heating a building, the 90 degree Celsius water will pass through a porous membrane distillation system where it is then vaporized and desalinated. Such a system could provide 30-40 liters of drinkable water per square meter of receiver area per day, while still generating electricity with a more than 25 percent yield or two kilowatts hours per day. A large installation would provide enough water for a small town.” (2) - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

IBM Solar Collector Magnifies Sun By 2000X – These Could Provide Power To The Entire Planet - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

IBM Solar Collector Magnifies Sun By 2000X – These Could Provide Power To The Entire Planet - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

A team at IBM recently developed what they call a High Concentration Photo Voltaic Thermal (HCPVT) system that is capable of concentrating the power of 2,000 suns, they are even claiming to be able to concentrate energy safely up to 5,000X, that’s huge. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

A team at IBM recently developed what they call a High Concentration Photo Voltaic Thermal (HCPVT) system that is capable of concentrating the power of 2,000 suns, they are even claiming to be able to concentrate energy safely up to 5,000X, that’s huge. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

A team at IBM recently developed what they call a High Concentration Photo Voltaic Thermal (HCPVT) system that is capable of concentrating the power of 2,000 suns, they are even claiming to be able to concentrate energy safely up to 5,000X, that’s huge. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

A team at IBM recently developed what they call a High Concentration Photo Voltaic Thermal (HCPVT) system that is capable of concentrating the power of 2,000 suns, they are even claiming to be able to concentrate energy safely up to 5,000X, that’s huge. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

A team at IBM recently developed what they call a High Concentration Photo Voltaic Thermal (HCPVT) system that is capable of concentrating the power of 2,000 suns, they are even claiming to be able to concentrate energy safely up to 5,000X, that’s huge. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free! Good reasons as to why we cannot implement this technology are non existent. At the end of the day, it seems that big oil corporations will do whatever they can to prevent change from happening, but the power of the people is greater. All we have to do is come together, create, and cooperate - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free! Good reasons as to why we cannot implement this technology are non existent. At the end of the day, it seems that big oil corporations will do whatever they can to prevent change from happening, but the power of the people is greater. All we have to do is come together, create, and cooperate - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free! Good reasons as to why we cannot implement this technology are non existent. At the end of the day, it seems that big oil corporations will do whatever they can to prevent change from happening, but the power of the people is greater. All we have to do is come together, create, and cooperate. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free! Good reasons as to why we cannot implement this technology are non existent. At the end of the day, it seems that big oil corporations will do whatever they can to prevent change from happening, but the power of the people is greater. All we have to do is come together, create, and cooperate. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free! Good reasons as to why we cannot implement this technology are non existent. At the end of the day, it seems that big oil corporations will do whatever they can to prevent change from happening, but the power of the people is greater. All we have to do is come together, create, and cooperate. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free! Good reasons as to why we cannot implement this technology are non existent. At the end of the day, it seems that big oil corporations will do whatever they can to prevent change from happening, but the power of the people is greater. All we have to do is come together, create, and cooperate. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free! Good reasons as to why we cannot implement this technology are non existent. At the end of the day, it seems that big oil corporations will do whatever they can to prevent change from happening, but the power of the people is greater. All we have to do is come together, create, and cooperate. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free! Good reasons as to why we cannot implement this technology are non existent. At the end of the day, it seems that big oil corporations will do whatever they can to prevent change from happening, but the power of the people is greater. All we have to do is come together, create, and cooperate. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free! Good reasons as to why we cannot implement this technology are non existent. At the end of the day, it seems that big oil corporations will do whatever they can to prevent change from happening, but the power of the people is greater. All we have to do is come together, create, and cooperate. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free! Good reasons as to why we cannot implement this technology are non existent. At the end of the day, it seems that big oil corporations will do whatever they can to prevent change from happening, but the power of the people is greater. All we have to do is come together, create, and cooperate. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free! Good reasons as to why we cannot implement this technology are non existent. At the end of the day, it seems that big oil corporations will do whatever they can to prevent change from happening, but the power of the people is greater. All we have to do is come together, create, and cooperate. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free! Good reasons as to why we cannot implement this technology are non existent. At the end of the day, it seems that big oil corporations will do whatever they can to prevent change from happening, but the power of the people is greater. All we have to do is come together, create, and cooperate. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free! Good reasons as to why we cannot implement this technology are non existent. At the end of the day, it seems that big oil corporations will do whatever they can to prevent change from happening, but the power of the people is greater. All we have to do is come together, create, and cooperate. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free! Good reasons as to why we cannot implement this technology are non existent. At the end of the day, it seems that big oil corporations will do whatever they can to prevent change from happening, but the power of the people is greater. All we have to do is come together, create, and cooperate. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf

This is another great technology that could provide power to the entire planet for free! Good reasons as to why we cannot implement this technology are non existent. At the end of the day, it seems that big oil corporations will do whatever they can to prevent change from happening, but the power of the people is greater. All we have to do is come together, create, and cooperate. - See more at: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/02/21/up-for-grabs-ibm-solar-collector-magnifies-sun-2000x/#sthash.WnLVu8uo.dpuf