On 18 Jul 2001, at 14:30, Erik Reuter wrote:
> On Wed, Jul 18, 2001 at 06:39:47PM +0100, Andrew Crystall wrote:
> > On 17 Jul 2001, at 20:51, Dan Minette wrote:
> >
> > <snip (about solar power)>
> > > Projecting this type of improvement, we might have a competative
> > > power
> > > system in 50 years. We may also hit the slow part of the growth
> > > curve. My guess is that a fundamental breakthrough (like
> > > transistors replacing vacume tubes) will be needed for effective
> > > solar power. That
> >
> > Lessie..you mean like growing them in zero-G, where you can get
> > pannels which are AT LEAST 3-4 times as efficient, and some trials
> > suggest as much as 7-8 times....
> >
>
> Reference?
Don't have one handy (I'll look something up..), but it's because in
micro-G, the silicon will form perfectly and symetrically, as
opposed to the irregular, asymetrical jumble you get in gravity.
Andy
Dawn Falcon
