A "compact optical device" would still have to work with the sun's energy at 1000W/square.meter, and even if they could get 20% conversion efficiency (highly unlikely), it would still need to cover an area of more than 5 sq.meters per kW output.
Not very "compact' Brian Teitelbaum AEE Solar. From: re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Antony Tersol Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 4:27 PM To: RE-wrenches; RE Marketing for home scale RE industry Subject: [RE-wrenches] Subterranean solar panels Not sure if this should be in markets or wrenches. I'm guessing they don't have a physicist on staff. My first impression is that this is a hoax. Does Photon do any due diligence? >From today's Photon electronic newsletter: Subterranean solar panels EarthSure Continues National Expansion with Subterranean Solar Panel System 10.09.2009: EarthSure, a renewable energy company and innovator in alternative energy sources announced today the company's latest patent-pending renewable energy invention. Subterranean Solar, or SubSolar(tm), is a unique and innovative system of utilizing 'subterranean solar panels" to gather solar power. No unsightly above ground solar panels need to be used anymore. This is an enhancement not only in economics and in the green movement, but a great technological improvement in the area of design and construction as well. Currently, solar panels are secured on rooftops or other open spaces. Depending upon the size of the solar module system, this can require large areas of space, and more times than not, this intrudes upon space that can be utilized more efficiently and effectively. In addition, many homeowner associations throughout the United States have banned roof top installations. In light of this, SubSolar panels are installed underneath the ground, virtually invisible to the naked eye. ... Source: EarthSure http://www.earth-sure.com<http://www.earth-sure.com/> and from the website: How Does It Work? A compact optical device is installed upon a rooftop or other sunlight-catching environment. This optical device captures and magnifies the sun's rays and transfers the sunlight from its linear or cylindrical lenses though fiber-optic lines leading down into an underground storage of solar panel modules. The subterranean solar panels are buried approx 3-4 feet underground and are encased in cylindrical tubes or in a semi-hermetically sealed box (or boxes made out of PVC that are in a vacuum chamber atmosphere) which will utilize the ultimate light absorption in the box light vacuum chamber that encapsulates the solar panel modules. Other than the compact optical device, the solar system is practically invisible. This system keeps unsightly panels and fixtures from effecting the aesthetics of homes and commercial or industrial buildings. Always out of sight, but never out of free energy potential! Another benefit of utilizing SubSolar(tm) underground solar panels is that it keeps the equipment out of the elements, elements which can damage the panels and decrease the life span of the equipment. Underground chambers will always stay clean and pristine to aid in better electrical output and eradicate poor performance associated with contaminated modules, making them virtually maintenance free. Also, being under the earth's surface, the solar modules naturally remain cooler, which in turn makes them more productive, preventing overheating for more consistent electrical output. <http://www.earth-sure.com/>
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