Nick Palmer wrote:
Robin from Oz wrote:-
<<I wouldn't get too hung up on this prize. It looks more like Branson buying
cheap advertising.>>
Right, of course. A true solution would still be good value at $1
billion dollars or maybe even $1 trillion
It would take billions or perhaps trillions of dollars to implement a
solution, but $25 million might be a great help to someone trying to
scale up a potential solution, or convert it from a prototype to
something practical. For example, suppose Branson awards this to a
plug-in hybrid research company, or to a company that has
demonstrated an array of 5 prototype solar-thermal stirling engine
generators. Research in these two areas is still done on a small
scale, and $25 million would still be a big contribution. Both have
been demonstrated in practical devices, although not in mass-produced
devices. They could both reduce fossil fuel consumption
significantly. I think solar-electric is promising for places like
Los Angeles or Saudi Arabia, and on a large scale it would greatly
reduce coal consumption.
For cold fusion $25 million would be like manna from heaven, needless
to say. But it ain't happening. Branson has never heard of cold
fusion, and if he does hear of it, his scientific advisors will tell
him that it is fraud, lunacy, all a mistake, etc., etc.
So, I say kudos to Branson. One kudo, anyway. Or as the Japanese say,
kudoi! (Enough already!)
- Jed
