I wasn't aware of this huge project [1].
This one seems to be only a smal part of it [2]. This really looks awesome and game changing! I'm very excited to see if I can contribute.
I was fortunate enough to meet Marcin a number of years ago at a conference in Vienna. He was even then working on developing his Open Source Ecology ideas & hardware.
Yep, it's part of the Global Village Construction Set (GVCS) [1]. You can read the crash course [2] to get a better idea of our project, then see how you can get involved [3], or read a list of specific project needs [4].
All plans of our current and future machines can be used by anyone without restrictions.
This is interesting, and as for comparison, the construction cost of this is just a bit higher than for nuclear ($1/watt at 25% capacity for this vs $5billion / ~1.2GW at 95% capacity for nuclear), though that doesn't include labor for the solar.
As for comparing operating cost, I have no idea. Obviously this is meant for poorer countries, but I can't imagine how much work would be involved in turning 5billion square foot of mirrors. The nice thing about this is of course the scale; you can just have one guy maintaining a small installation.
Zenith Solar is certainly more advanced. Thanks for pointing it out.
The difference between the two projects though is open source vs proprietary. Zenith looks very impressive but Solar Fire is meant to put solar power cheaply and easily into anyone's hands. They are both worth following IMO
Have any idea how much a ZenithSolar unit costs? Apparently they've given an Israeli community of 1100 people a surplus of electricity with only 16 units.
No, I don't know, but could investigate. It'd be interesting to see a device that was placed in a location over the course of a year and measured different facets of sun and wind for that location and enabled simulation of various technologies.
Each ZenithSolar Z20 unit generates 5 KWh Electricity plus an additional 11 KWh hot water (up to 100 degrees C). 18 units at Kibbutz Yavne are now providing all the hot water needs for 400 people, the electricity is all be sold into the electric grid. ZenithSolar is now installing new fields in Australia and China...paul.linden@zenithsolar.com
What impresses me most is how accessible this is. Even a child could operate this solar panel. I also feel you don't need many specialized skills to build it from scratch once you have the schematics.
We need more ideas like this. [edit]: FrojoS' links show they do have more ideas like this.
It's really promising. I'm a bit surprised they're apparently considering a piston steam engine over a turbine; after all turbines superceded most other steam engines in boats, power plants, etc?
Even Google recognizes its potential. They invested in a solar thermal power company a few months ago: http://venturebeat.com/2008/05/13/brightsource-snags-115m-fo...