| THE SEPTEMBER 2006 ISSUE OF SCIENTIFIC | | | | rocket-science - in fact it's the simplest of the |
| AMERICAN was dedicated to exploring the future | | | | bunch in this edition of a magazine that was |
| of energy beyond the carbon era. The editors | | | | pitched at everyone between novice constructor |
| share a sobering outlook: 'Decades may pass | | | | and electronics professional. |
| before hydrogen-powered trucks and cars | | | | Someone with barely any experience could have |
| relegate gasoline-and diesel-fueled vehicles to | | | | thrown a demonstration version of this circuit |
| antique auto shows.' Until that happens, we'll | | | | together in fifteen minutes flat. And all the parts |
| 'muddle-through' somehow. (Scientific American: 3) | | | | were available from specialist suppliers in London |
| But why does it take so long for some energy | | | | and south-east England. |
| technologies to get from the lab and industrial | | | | The listed supplier for 'assorted selenium and |
| applications to the service of consumers? Take | | | | silicon cells' is International Rectifier. I contacted |
| solar panels, for example. | | | | the company to find out how much a similar |
| A high-street electronics chain in London now sells | | | | solar-cell cost at the time Bollen wrote his feature. |
| educational solar-power kits for around the | | | | A single cell measuring about a centimetre by two |
| £20 mark. Serious, roof-dwelling solar | | | | centimetres cost four dollars, right up to 1966. In |
| panels that will power equipment in your home sell | | | | his feature, Bollen describes various combinations |
| in DIY superstores at around £2,500. | | | | between one cell and four, so the most |
| That's a price-tag for the wealthy or very | | | | expensive part of his circuit cost between four |
| committed, but at least consumers can push their | | | | and 16 dollars, or about $25-100 dollars in today's |
| trolleys past the technology | | | | money. |
| SOLAR PANELS HAVE ONLY RECENTLY | | | | World's first solar-powered car: 1912 |
| APPEARED on the shelves of retail outlets, so | | | | But what came back from International Rectifier |
| you'd forgive them for posing as new technology. | | | | (IR) proved far more interesting than price |
| But they're not. While England was priming itself | | | | information. It turns out that the company had |
| for what was to become its most famous World | | | | demonstrated the world's first solar-powered car |
| Cup, a contributor to the July 1966 edition of | | | | - a 1912 model of the Baker Electric - as early as |
| Wireless World faced a copy deadline for the | | | | 1958. They achieved the stunt by making a |
| magazine. His name was D. Bollen, and he | | | | high-output solar panel - less than two metres |
| provided a circuit for a solar-powered battery | | | | long and just over a metre wide - from a whole |
| charger. | | | | bank of little solar cells. |
| As he put it: 'The ability of solar cells to convert | | | | Commercial, industrial and military customers went |
| sunlight directly into useful electrical energy has | | | | on to buy solar panels from International Rectifier. |
| been well demonstrated in satellite applications. An | | | | SO WHY HAS IT TAKEN ALMOST FIFTY YEARS |
| advantage of the solar battery is that is allows | | | | for solar panels to reach our shops? |
| true, unattended operation in locations remote | | | | Southface, a non-profit, sustainable-living |
| from a power supply and...promises an outstanding | | | | organisation based in the USA, point out that |
| degree of reliability.' (Wireless World: 343) | | | | solar-cell technology has had been uselessly |
| Over four meticulously-illustrated pages, Bollen | | | | competing against the relative fall in price that |
| goes on to provide a blueprint for a circuit that will | | | | occurred in the fossil-fuel market in the nineties. |
| trickle-charge a battery from a solar cell. Bollen | | | | But Southface believe that major orders of |
| shows that you can run something that uses one | | | | consumer solar cell units in countries such as |
| milliamp of current for '2.74 hours' in a 24 hour | | | | Japan may finally signal the start of an era when |
| period. He leaves us guessing what application he | | | | solar cell production will benefit from economies of |
| had in mind for this tiny current, but the rig could | | | | scale. |
| also have powered the bulb of a toy torch for a | | | | I hope so. In the meantime, it's anyone's guess |
| few seconds a day. | | | | how long will it take for the consumer-led |
| Still, the circuit is there and the date is mid-1966. | | | | technology revolution to swat our energy |
| Don't be distracted by Bollen's talk of 'satellite | | | | problems. |
| applications'. His circuit is a million miles from | | | | |