https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NREL_PV_Cell_Record_...
This graphic of photovoltaic cell efficiency (non-thermo) is super interesting: it shows the progression from 1976 and current capabilities (and not necessarily commercially viable or available). The panels you'll get for your home are probably around 20% efficient in ideal conditions.
I don't get why they go for storage with this. Storing a block of carbon or tungsten at 2000°C for hours or days does not sound like something that will ever be economical. A battery leaking energy this quickly (and it will leak₎ will need to be incredibly cheap to ever make sense.
I wonder if you could use this with parabolic mirrors, though. Build a large mirror array, focus sunlight onto a big carbon sphere (maybe coat it with one of those new materials that are transparent for visible light but pretty reflective for IR), cover the top of the sphere in those new panels. They are more efficient than practically all solar cells and get much more power out the same area than solar cells. This should beat a photovoltaic parabolic mirror setup, right?
Could this be used to create a nuclear power generator without moving parts? Some radioactive material in the center, some coating to absorb the radiation, and a shell of these cells to generate electricity.
So what are the trade offs between these and peltier devices?
They're much more efficient, I assume much more expensive?
Linked article is from January. Latest coverage: https://www.fastcompany.com/90951247/these-giant-glowing-car...
They launched a pilot in the summer.
A possible application of this would be backup power for fuel based heating, so that as long as you have fuel, you can get enough power to run the fans and controls.
For an energy storage system, though, 40% makes little sense.
I was new to this idea, and found this explanation useful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gn7pfYKB7DA
So does this function as a cooler?
In other words - does it remove heat from something at high temperature?
I know there are situations where you can't get rid of heat - would this help by removing it electrically?
Stupid question: could this be used underground in volcanic areas like Iceland?
So is this essentially using waste heat?
This just becomes interesting if electricity can be produced from reflected photons by the moon such as at night energy production is possible. Other than that I believe in fusion although the giant fusion reactor does help during the day. Instead of making photovoltaic more efficient they should do this with batteries
> This cell achieved an efficiency of 41.1% operating at a power density of 2.39 W cm–2 and an emitter temperature of 2,400 C.
At those temperatures, this is not very impressive.
> emitter temperature of 2,400 C
GE's combined cycle turbines can get system level efficiency of around 63% from these sorts of temperatures.
(For those not familiar with them: They're basically aircraft jet engines followed by steam turbines using the hot exhaust. They are in widespread use to generate electricity from gas, but they can also run off any other liquid fuel, or simply off anything that gets very hot.)