We Solve for X: Bill Gross on solar cheaper than natural gas

Problem: The price of solar electricity is still higher than electricity from coal or natural gas. Price parity or perhaps making solar cheaper than fossil fuel is required for widespread adoption of solar.
Solution: Bill outlines several ideas that could reduce the material, labor and maintainance costs of solar thermal electricity.
Technology that might make it possible: Energy storage using rocks, higher efficiency (~30%) sterling engine, low-weight mirror structures including a retractable wind covers, wire drive mirrior actuation and automated construction and installation of the mirrors.
More at we.SolveforX.com!

[@zizzlestick42]

Wow, this video was an eye-opener! There are aspects of the cost of solar power I'd never thought of before: strong parts to keep the panels from blowing over in the wind; cooling towers. Anyone interested in solar power technology should check this out.

[@Dgfrmxon]

This is the best X, TED, or whatever talk I've seen in a long time. This guy has got it down. He is actually addressing a central challenge with technical merit, without wishful thinking, and a firm experience base in the field. The "thinking" he is offering is very intuitive to the viewer, and I know it makes me think very seriously. This is a good talk. I'm still sketchy on the wires and gears. I think pneumatics and fine valve control would be better. Use squishy robotics!

[@sjvader]

"Win on price" absolutely! How low could it go? - mirror could be aluminized mylar film held tight with fiberglass rods, high wind could collapse them like leaves on a tree - Each mirror has it's own cheap independent controller on a stick. A modern farm tractor pulling a special trailer plants them in the ground. - Put up a cash prize to the maker community for the lowest cost 1 meter square design.

[@lorenzoresentera4790]

On a national scale combining the different energy sources with a “smart grid” makes economic sense, and can also be used to curb CO2 emissions. On a local scale I was just thinking of small wind turbines used to open and close the wind barrier of the solar panels. When wind increases the wind turbines generate enough power to move the covers and protect the solar panels. You can also use the power generated by the wind to make the panels turn. Just an idea to build on.

[@anteeko]

Brillant, and very important no need for water!!!

[@davidkhoo953]

You can get an approximation from the the time it takes for the solar panel to pay back the total cost of installation. When you buy a solar panel you are paying for the cost of manufacturing, shipping and marketing. The manufacturing cost includes the cost of the energy, materials and labour. The cost of energy is not the same everywhere, but if your solar install pays back the cost of itself, it will have made more energy than the energy that it took to create it.

[@SCIFIaction]

"Rock Storage" I love this

[@ShahabVaziri]

agreed. but they will usually be deployed separately based on the most convenient location for optimal exposure to the source. a source that's optimal for both systems are rare, i presume

[@zizzlestick42]

It's particularly interesting how he points out that 95% of the cost of a solar plant over 20 years is the installation cost

[@trevorkemp9720]

Where will these be installed? Land isn't free... I know there's a lot of desert out in the southwest, but 100 gigawatts of installation per month sounds like a lot of real estate. What about transmission lines out to the desert? Effects on the environment?

[@pebre79]

I'm all for renewable energy. My question is: how long does it take to run current PVs to make up for the energy it took to manufacture them?

[@cthorm]

Good ideas (especially hot rock storage)...but it's still extremely diffuse energy generation. Wouldn't it be better, and more compatible with existing infrastructure, to have very dense power generation?

[@ebach1]

when did this lecture take place ?

[@JeffPelton]

Thanks Bill!

[@BosonCollider]

Or, you can just actuate the mirrors using the inflatable robots from the other talk. No more fragile strings and need to cover the mirrors. The inflatable robots are incredibly strong too so they would hold against the wind easily.

[@waeljandali2718]

Thanks Mr Bill , I agree with you " Sometimes ideas that have bean discarded in the past can be practical now if we apply some new technology "

[@SteveBlom]

Hey Bill, what about the guy that invented the giant battery at MIT?

[@pebre79]

Agreed

[@waldertt]

e-solar have a most smart CSP engine in the world! Preocupou-se não só com o dispositivo, como, também em reduzir os custos em cada um dos componentes. O CSP da e-solar precisa de um sistema para funcionar à noite. Sugiro um sistema que use parte da energia gerada para produzir H2, e queimar o Hidrogênio produzido à noite. Teria 24h de funcionamento.

[@lorenzoresentera4790]

Instead of thinking of solar, wind, etc. as separate entities why not consider an integrated “energy farm” composed of both wind and solar?

[@MrAdamson07]

Well because then you need to find a specific site with not only 1 feasible resource regime but two...

[@walterbunn280]

Mmm....... So solar is going to win, but, given the time frame of this lecture, this wasn't the way to go. Thermal Solar has the problem of being controlled from the top, and being supported from the bottom. IE: it's a top down system that can be presented in a disparaging way. Direct photovoltaics are better because they do not require that sort of top down control. As far as the cost of a pv arrays goes, it's cost is dependent on the supply and demand. As the cost of manufacturing the solar panel goes down, the cost of the initial setup goes down too, which is why china is putting billions of dollars into scaling up manufacture of solar panels.

[@rollo0470]

Inspiring stuff. It's often the simple ideas that work the best. I hope someone with deep pockets (Bill Gates?) funds this.

[@miamizsun]

thorium specifically LFTR

[@evgenmozolevski281]

I found a detailed and accurate project on the Avasva website.

[@2013tomaz]

simple, make cheap Stirling engine, photovoltic has 12% and Stirling power plants 30% efficiency, the only problem is in expencive Stirling engines today

[@robroberts1473]

price parity or perhaps making solar cheaper than fossil fuels......... ya think! lol

[@Brandon_letsgo]

This makes no sense at all! Stop burning money and time and let's develop molten salt reactors and gas turbines.