I recently posted this on Usenet:
ObHarebrainedIdea: Why not use sunlight focussed through huge
magnifying glasses to raise steam for power generation? Or at least help
in raising boiler temperature?
Someone responded with a
BBC article about a solar thermal power plant near Seville, Spain,
which uses mirrors.
To which I said:
Same principle: rather than cover the whole planet in solar cells
(sails?) in an effort to capture more energy, concentrate it in a
smaller region.
If only I could figure out how to harness the temperature difference
betwen outside air and the inside my parked car. I know about Stirling engines, but I need a device that:
a) I can buy at Walmart or equivalent
b) I can plug into an outlet in the house and it will provide power, the
rest being made up by the grid. Or, put it between wall outlet and
consumer device at least.
c) Other end of device can draw power from solar, Stirling engine,
hydroelectric source (rain tank atop roof, e.g.), stationary bicycle,
etc.
Tag: idea