March 1, 2010
New Google Technology Could Halve Cost of Solar Thermal
Google has a prototype mirror technology that could cut the cost of building a solar thermal plant in half, reports Reuters.
The technology may be ready for market in one to three years, said Bill Weihl, Google’s energy czar.
The new mirror is the result of Google exploring the use of “unusual” materials for the reflective surface and substrate.
Weihl said that there was a “decent chance” that the technology could help produce a two-fold cost savings for solar thermal.
Google has invested in two solar thermal firms, eSolar and BrightSource, and may test the technology with one or both of them.
In 2008, Google put $10 million each into the two companies, reports Fast Company.
BrightSource just received $1.37 billion in loan guarantees from the federal government, reports Israel 21.
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Reader Comments
US Patent #7453-176(Nov 2008)discloses a new low speed/high torque electric motor/generator technology which facilitates steerable solar/rader mirrors/arrays and windmills without a conventional gearbox resulting in greater:reliability,lower cost,impact/gust resistance among many other green technology applications.
Ernie Davison | March 1st, 2010