Inflatable Solar Collectors

Lateat video of this product:
http://www.eco-company.tv/video/solar-balloons
CoolEarthSolar.com has a patented idea for inflatable solar collectors that are much cheaper than polished mirrors to concentrate sunlight onto Photovoltaic chips. Their design is 400x cheaper than polished aluminum mirrors, will withstand 130 mph winds, lasts a year, repairs with tape, takes 15 minutes to change out, costs $2 per balloon, or 18 cents per watt, compared to $5 per watt for conventional installations, and has a minimal effect on the ground underneath the array!
http://www.coolearthsolar.com/technology
Animation: Mark4Lewis@Comcast.net

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• solar
• energy
• coolearthsolar
• collector
• photovoltaic
• concentrator
• animation
• illustration
• lewis
• bryce
• peakpixels
• CoolEarth

[PeakPixels]

Actually tested in 125 mph winds, and designed so the concentrator can produce electricity in winds up to 40 mph.

The wires and harnesses are very stable.

[ntuman]

how does it reflect light?

[PeakPixels]

The inner Mylar mirrored surface in back on the balloon reflects the light back out to the Solar Cell concentrated as much as 600 times.

[ericj9]

So when exactly does it come to market? After going to the website, I found this fun FAQ:

Can I buy coolearth's solar concentrator? How much?

No, we don't sell our products or systems to third parties and consequently we don't quote our prices either on this web site or through email inquiries.

$0.18 per watt does nothing for me if I can't get it. Somehow I don't see the utility company passing the savings on to me either. I wish there was an alternative to the $8 solar panel. distant future?

[littlejay123]

agreed

[WarblesOnALot]

@magna45

@LiquidChem

@PeakPixels G'day Bob. Thanks for sending me here... Um, as LiquidChem says, it is a trifle ambiguous. Methinks that mowing under it would be a Pain in the Arse. Windstorms & Hail would wreak lots of Damage. The Plastic doesn 't hold THAT pressure for long. Diurnal Temp.-Cycles send the Bags Floppy...; and UV discolours Plastic, too. And if they're up against Polished Aluminum, they're Mirrors, focussing on a Boiler. I think ?

[tappakeggaday1]

@ericj9 I agree, if someone invents something like this that people could easily erect in their back yards then it would put the hurt to the electric companies.they are making them for themselves and like anyone who is in business they are looking for the greatest gain for themselves and not humanity.they could make so much more if they marketed their item for the public instead of just selling electricity to the power companies. 

[HHO4ALL]

Nice

[lifehackertips]

It's been 4 years and nothing. Even their website hasn't had any news since 2010.

[ConnorXV]

@LiquidChem i think it is just a video/animation to show what it looks like and go along with say a presentation, theyve just stuck the video on YouTube.

[9493760]

YOUR ONTO SOMETHING HERE. GIANFRANCO FRONZI AUGUST 14/11

[LiquidChem]

@LiquidChem I might have thought about purchasing this product, but im sitting here going What does it DO?! what IS IT?! skip this- NEXT video..what a waste of time..

[LiquidChem]

I think it is just mind boggling that a company would make a product and a demo video, and NOT even say WHAT this thing is, exactly, and what it does. Obviously, its some kind of solar collector, but what is it doing? If this is how stupid the people are running this company, i surely dont want any of thier products. You should say in the very beginning, "This is a device that uses sunlight to make electricity by doing this:" - even a simple explanation. something.

[b101aa2]

it's a good idea in theory. but ground mounted, they would be easily destroyed. the moment any bird lands on one, poof.. and that will be all day every day. if they were assembled in a modular fashion and tethered several thousand feet in the atmosphere, it becomes much more practical as they would be much harder to damage then. my 2 cents.

[olzzn]

Does it blend?