3D solar tower increases capacity factor 50%, triples solar surface area

5 comments

1. I’m confused. It his just two panels nailed together in the middle? Doesn’t strike me as a stunning breakthrough.

   Does it track the sun and move maybe? There’s about zero explanation in the article.

2. So it adds a ton of cost and complexity to gain surface area but lose efficiency? Doesn’t seem like a great idea.

3. The surface area thing doesn’t really make much sense. You cast extra shade if you increase the surface area, so you miss the chance of putting panels somewhere else. The capacity factor is also not relevant if in the end the LCOE is barely the same (or higher) than a simpler installation.

   The only interesting thing is the output curves they show. That is becoming more and more important as supply during noon gets saturated. E definitely need a lot more batteries, but also solar installations that maximise output during the morning and the late afternoon.

4. Not sure why they are calling them towers or surpise that they get gains from moving the panels – but this over all isnt great or new or anything in the middle. At best, these are design to draw in as much power as possible in a small area. They can be good, If there is space/land then these dont work out as well as you are wasting the surface area with more shade and added cost. Where they might be good is in like cities where you have a strip of land you can place them on or maybe even around a city/town house that has a small yard and needs to get as much power as possible in a small window of sun light.

5. I saw these solar trees that open like a flower in the AM and tracks the sun. I amne er doing rooftop solar.

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