----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Crystall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, July 18, 2001 12:39 PM
Subject: Re: the authority of the marketplace
> On 17 Jul 2001, at 20:51, Dan Minette wrote:
>
> <snip (about solar power)>
> > Projecting this type of improvement, we might have a competitive
> > 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 vacuum 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....
>
Since the best panels grown in a lab are about 30% efficient, I find this
very hard to believe. Indeed, if true, it would be a perpetual motion
machine of the first kind. :-) What is the cost per watt of peak power if
100% efficient panels grown in space? If you assume a factor of 10
improvement in the cost of shipping up to space and back, what would the
costs per watt of peak power be?
