Quote:I remember watching some program on the discovery channel about 4-5 years ago. The guy was talking about the technology they have today only harvest about 2-5% of the energy the sun produces, they where researching materials trying to find the right element or combination of materials that could harvest 30-35% of solar energy, he said when they find that element or even create the element that's when the switch to solar will be done.
 
Just always stuck in my head, don't know why......

Sounds about right. That would suggest we are at least 15 times less efficient than what is needed. Unfortunately, only start-up companies with limited resources are invested in it.

I saw a documentary many years ago, probably in the mid-90s, where it was suggested we could launch a massive concave mirror (so to speak) into space which would capture solar light and concentrate it's energy into a beam directed at a single point on the earth where the highly intense energy could be captured for power consumption. Since there would be no power lines from the energy source to it's destination there would be no loss of energy in transmission. I wonder if we have the technological materials to absorb that much power?

Regards...............the Chiefjag

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