Solar panels have already hit above 20% efficiency. 60 times that would mean 1200% efficient. I'm no thermodynamics expert, but I'm pretty sure that's impossible.
I guess you need to look at it from the point of view of least unrealistic exaggeration ;)
Maybe by some measure this "3D" approach might be more efficient per square foot since the conventional flat panels are basically a 2D capture solution.
Plus it sounds like there are multiple photosensitive layers within the sphere which might be theoretically capable of more thorough energy recovery, perhaps turning reflective panel losses into internally reflected sphere gains.
Or maybe adding to more output per square foot at least.
They're in NYC, if you can't build out, build up ;)
Measuring efficiency of photovoltaic panels takes into account the maximum amount of energy that can be recovered for a given amount of sunlight (a theoretical max of about 1kw/m^2). So 20% efficiency implies that 20% of the total energy that hits a given area of panel is converted to electrical energy (the rest is presumably reflected off or converted to heat). Whether the area is 2 or 3 dimensional is irrelevant; any upper layer will necessarily result in diminished energy passed to the lower layers.
Doesn't seem like you would abide with any exaggeration at all ;)
What I would really like to see is their lab, to find out if I think they have the necessary instruments to make proper measurements.
If not then I would want to find out how their measurements were taken.
If so then I would like to see some real-time measurements myself.
When you see a single sphere resting upon a large rectangular pedestal like that, it's always possible there is a battery under there being charged by solar energy. Equally possible I guess that there's a battery under there powering the sphere instead.
Similar odds it could also be a rehash of futuristic 1960's technology, if each sphere contains a rare dilithium crystal from the original Starship Enterprise ;)
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[ 5.0 ms ] story [ 20.7 ms ] threadMaybe by some measure this "3D" approach might be more efficient per square foot since the conventional flat panels are basically a 2D capture solution.
Plus it sounds like there are multiple photosensitive layers within the sphere which might be theoretically capable of more thorough energy recovery, perhaps turning reflective panel losses into internally reflected sphere gains.
Or maybe adding to more output per square foot at least.
They're in NYC, if you can't build out, build up ;)
What I would really like to see is their lab, to find out if I think they have the necessary instruments to make proper measurements.
If not then I would want to find out how their measurements were taken.
If so then I would like to see some real-time measurements myself.
When you see a single sphere resting upon a large rectangular pedestal like that, it's always possible there is a battery under there being charged by solar energy. Equally possible I guess that there's a battery under there powering the sphere instead.
Similar odds it could also be a rehash of futuristic 1960's technology, if each sphere contains a rare dilithium crystal from the original Starship Enterprise ;)