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Re: Photonic crystals keep solar cells cool while still catching light

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On 5/6/2016 8:58 AM, Sam Wormley wrote:
> Photonic crystals keep solar cells cool while still catching light
>> http://phys.org/news/2016-05-photonic-crystals-solar-cells-cool.html
>
>
>> Solar cells turn sunlight into electricity, but they're only about 20
>> percent efficient. Much of the leftover energy turns into heat, which
>> actually harms the solar cell.

...only if the temp gets up near melting point 300 degrees

>>
>> Now researchers from Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA,
>> have developed and tested a new material that can cool a solar cell
>> by up to 13° Celsius (C) under the California winter sun. Because
>> heat makes solar cells less efficient, the researchers predict their
>> cooling layer could help solar cells turn approximately 1 percent
>> more sunlight into electricity, a big boost from a relatively simple
>> add-on.

what is the cost of this cooling system 2% ?


> The cooler temperatures also mean the solar cells will likely
>> last longer due to greatly reduced efficiency degradation rates.

          no.


cooling solar cells for greater efficiency has been known for 4 decades 
or more.  cost stops implementation

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Photonic crystals keep solar cells cool while still catching light Sam Wormley <swormley1@gmail.com> - 2016-05-06 08:58 -0500
  Re: Photonic crystals keep solar cells cool while still catching light Sergio <invalid@invalid.com> - 2016-05-06 10:52 -0500
    Re: Photonic crystals keep solar cells cool while still catching light Poutnik <poutnik4nntp@gmail.com> - 2016-05-06 20:01 +0200
  Re: Photonic crystals keep solar cells cool while still catching light jimp@specsol.spam.sux.com - 2016-05-06 17:31 +0000

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