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Micheal Savage

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Portable solar blanket

My idea is to design a water proof thin flexible material that can be folded into a manageable size, that can for instance easily be packed into a hiking pack. It can come in multiple sizes and be hung up like a tarp. Each sheet would simply have a plug cord about 8' long and have a standard strait plug. Along with it would be a power supply capable of storing a substantial amount of power. Of course there can be a range of different power supplies that can power something as small as a laptop to a power supply that can power a large RV, or a small camp. This material could even replace a RV canopy, or even be integrated into family sized camping tents. I think a good size range for the solar tarp could be any where from 3' / 5' to 30' / 60'. Also a good idea for the power supply would to enable it to accept multiple inputs. So multiple solar tarps could power one device. It should also have a energy gauge on it to know how full the energy bank is. It should also have multiple output sockets so electronic devises or extension cords could be plugged in. This invention would replace the need for motor powered generators. You could have free power no matter where you are.

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  • Fakhriddin Abdullayev 10+

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    Associate
    May 28 2012: Dear Micheal,
    I think this is a great idea. It would be very useful and easy to use.
    How did you came up with this idea? Just thinking?
    Thanks!
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    Marcel Venema

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    May 25 2012: According to a pubilcation of the 9th of may from the FOM-fucusgroup, at Zernike Institute for Advanced Materials RUG (Rijks Universiteit Groningen), who work in contact with reasearchers at the university of Denver, plastic solar cels could (based on theoretical models) produce promising rendements.

    Classic solar cells made of silicium have 15-20% rendement, nowadays plastic solar cells have a rendement of less then 10%, based on the theoretical models plastic cells could match the output of those made of silicium.

    As for the tarp idea, the item that I red mentioned the possibility to use the cells in a jacket or a backpack.source: http://www.elektor.nl/nieuws/doorbraak-voor-plastic-zonnecellen.2164988.lynkx
    By the way, if your thinking to go "renewable" you'd better throw out the laptop and collect energy for cooking.

    However something I never observe being mentioned is the fact that solar cells don't let any light pass them(which make them less then 100% "clean"), leaves on the other hand allow a big portion of the light to pass through.

    Saying we can convert to 100% clean renewable energy does not make it reality.For the US one has to produce te equivalent to 4 cubic miles of oil annually (Amory Lovins A 40-year plan for energy(who sugests to use less energy and to switch over to a..new fire)) imagine the ammount of oil needed to produce enough "clean" energy devices not to mention the transport of the parts and what about the maintenance. Imagine the amount of mountains that will have to be blasted, dug up, transported, crushed, sieved, molten and purified to get to the "clean" status, and all this whilst the world is demanding it's usual increased dose of food, transport, stuff and energy.
    We need energy, without or less is no option, try feeding the world on horse ploughed fields for starters.
    Furthermore a transition has to be paid, it can't be stolen, two decades is way too optimistic. When a country every year spends it's butget, it can't buy a country
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    Micheal Savage

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    May 23 2012: I think that now in the 21st century we are at a pinnacle point in our technological era where we have come so far and learned so much about science and how to use it to our benefit. Its power can also have great repercussions as well. With our knowledge one wrong move could cause our entire civilization to collapse. It would be smart to rid our need of fossil fuels completely within our lifetime. An oil crisis is immanent but we still have enough resources to convert now to 100% clean renewable energy. Right now oil is the very blood line of our world economy. If we eliminate our need for oil then the overall cost of living should drastically drop for everyone around the world enabling a brand new golden age. Living conditions would increase across the board. In order to fully convert we will need to take advantage of every source of natural abundant energy.
    I believe that this goal can be accomplished within two decades. Easy!
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