12-Year Old Oregon Boy May Have Solved The Energy Crisis

**UniToxic**

BEAVERTON, Ore. - A new invention could revolutionize solar energy - and it was made by a 12-year-old in Beaverton.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/28433409.html

**ArchDuke**

That's very interesting, I really hope this will lead somewhere.

More surface area = more absorption of solar energy = more useable energy. Efficiency of solar cells have been a thorn in the technology's side for years. Look at this rendering of the completed ISS (International Space Station):

See how much surface area solar cells must use to power the station? That's huge in relation to the size of actual habitable space. If we can increase effiency at all we're going to be able to shrink the size of solar cells and make solar power a whole lot more practical and affordable.

I just hope this goes somewhere.

**Virrago**

UniToxic wrote:

BEAVERTON, Ore. - A new invention could revolutionize solar energy - and it was made by a 12-year-old in Beaverton.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/28433409.html

Kids today...

That's pretty freaking cool!

**Roukan**

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

TWELVE!

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. God this week is amazing for my laughter.

ReProgrammed

This is one of those areas of technology where scientists just have to go. "Dam why didn't we think of this sooner".

**ShiXinFeng**

Actually, his finished design incorporated research from dozens of different projects already in the works, including the 3D solar cell being built by Georgia Tech. He admitted that he used their design, but made it more (5% or so) efficient.

But, hey, he's twelve. If he can do that at 12, imagine what he'll be able to do at 20.

ReProgrammed

ShiXinFeng wrote:

Actually, his finished design incorporated research from dozens of different projects already in the works, including the 3D solar cell being built by Georgia Tech. He admitted that he used their design, but made it more (5% or so) efficient.
But, hey, he's twelve. If he can do that at 12, imagine what he'll be able to do at 20.

Or he could be a one trick ponny.

**odj**

ShiXinFeng wrote:

But, hey, he's twelve. If he can do that at 12, imagine what he'll be able to do at 20.

Have sex, drink alcohol and drive? SMILEY

**ZippyTheSquirrel**

Nay on the alcohol.

But I'd bet he could make a friggin' awesome lava lamp.

**phi**

Smart kid. Previously the biggest problem with solar power is that there isn't enough surface area on the planet facing the sun to supply our power needs.

**odj**

ZippyTheSquirrel wrote:

Nay on the alcohol.

But I'd bet he could make a friggin' awesome lava lamp.

Pfft he could if he was in the UK!

**ArchDuke**

phi wrote:

Smart kid. Previously the biggest problem with solar power is that there isn't enough surface area on the planet facing the sun to supply our power needs.

This is where having solar cell stations positioned in geosynchronus orbit where they convert the energy into microwaves and beam them down to terrestrial recievers would help out. It wouldn't completely solve the problem but especially with improved solar cell effeciency it'll contribute.

**byond**

*Neo voice" WHoa! thats pretty dam amazing rite der. Hope something comes of it. ONly 12 years old too, Man only thing i was worried about then was pretty much nothing. GL to that kid wish him the best.

**MXOWinterMute**

ArchDuke wrote:

That's very interesting, I really hope this will lead somewhere.

More surface area = more absorption of solar energy = more useable energy. Efficiency of solar cells have been a thorn in the technology's side for years. Look at this rendering of the completed ISS (International Space Station):

See how much surface area solar cells must use to power the station? That's huge in relation to the size of actual habitable space. If we can increase effiency at all we're going to be able to shrink the size of solar cells and make solar power a whole lot more practical and affordable.

I just hope this goes somewhere.

In the '80s I recall seeing the Shuttle deploy a solar collector ridiculously thin--I think it was a few millimeters. So, while size matters, mass shouldn't. The point is to make a giant flat square large enough to create a shadow that will power all our cellphones while blotting out the earth from the sun in a massive eclipse.

Then, the vampires come.

(I may have reached a logical impasse with that last part)