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[-] OrganicMustard@lemmy.world 152 points 1 week ago

Some solar is also boiling water

[-] psud@aussie.zone 2 points 5 days ago

My local solar steam generator was shut down years ago as it was no longer worth testing direct reflector material anymore — even if they had gotten perfect reflectivity they couldn't compete with photovoltaics anymore

that's why IMHO it's more important to classify the core coupling mechanism (e.g. photoelectric effect, electromagnetic effect) instead of classifying the total energy in -> energy out types.

[-] voracitude@lemmy.world 56 points 1 week ago

And some of it is boiling salt!

Which then boils water, of course.

But some of it is electrons from photonic impact, no water involved! In the process of energy generation anyway. Statistically and perhaps somewhat ironically, the electrons from that photonic impact may well be used to boil water regardless... Humans just fucking love boiling water.

[-] blazeknave@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago

Isn't salt like the main bees knees these days?

[-] 24_at_the_withers@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

I don't know, but the Ivanpah solar power station near Primm NV, which is a set of three molten salt towers is reportedly getting decommissioned, removed, and replaced with PV panels. Word is PV technology had improved in efficiency and stopped in cost enough that the whole molten salt thing is no longer economically viable, at least in comparison.

[-] voracitude@lemmy.world 10 points 1 week ago

Oh, absolutely. It's very cool technology! Molten salt is corrosive as fuck, but that just kinda makes molten salt solar towers even more awesome.

[-] BandanaBug@piefed.social 4 points 1 week ago

I'm assuming ceramics to the rescue?

[-] brbposting@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago

:D

Something all the way down something

[-] stormeuh@lemmy.world 13 points 1 week ago
[-] fartographer@lemmy.world 4 points 1 week ago

They did fix that pretty quickly, but what a classic mad scientist blunder that would turn a well meaning researcher into a villain in any action hero film.

[-] Redjard@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 1 week ago

And some fusion is direct to current in coils. The z-pinch style approaches mainly.

this post was submitted on 30 Nov 2025
1509 points (99.0% liked)

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