We all know that the world is slowly but steadily moving towards the day when the oil reserves will be over and our civilization will be in need of energy sources that can sustain the human kind. Talking about renewable energy sources the first thing that strikes our mind is the Sun. According to a research the sun showers enough energy on our planet in an hour that if harnessed can provide power to the entire human race for more than a year. Still we cannot simply put solar panels on every square inch of the surface of Earth, so the best option is to develop highly efficient solar cells that can make the most out of the sun.
Cool Earth Solar is one such company that knows the value of solar energy and is continuously working to develop cells that can yield the most out of the sun. The California-based company has now raised at least $21 million to further develop a solar generator which will make use of a technique called concentrated solar photovoltaics. The idea is to magnify the light onto solar cells in an effort to increase the electricity output.
The company is planning to manufacture plastic balloons that will be suspended on metal and wire structures. These balloons reflect light onto a solar cell. The design makes use of relatively cheap components which reduces the cost of electricity generation. Without using any expensive component the company has still succeeded in making these balloons robust enough to withstand 100 mile per hour wind. So next time you see a transparent balloon structure in the sky, don’t mistake it for a UFO, just be happy enough that someone is trying to bring clean electricity to your home!
Via: Smart Planet
