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chaotic neutral observer:
This type of generator is interesting at a theoretical level, but I don't see it being very practical.
The researchers currently report 25 mW/m2, and think they can improve to 0.5 W/m2.  In comparison, a solar panel can give you 200 W/m2.

And, as with solar panels, this technology requires a clear sky. If it is overcast, the sky temperature will be higher, and reduce the available temperature difference. This approach requires the ground to be warmer than the sky to work.

Brother Mythos:
True, the power generation is not impressive. But, I do find the technology interesting.

This article caught my eye because I remember well the big industrial search, of years ago, for energy to be harvested from waste heat.

Faust:
Solar Panels require some rare materials. If this is just simple LED diode it could have applications in power scavenging or when doing it over long empty distances like empty highway regions

chaotic neutral observer:

--- Quote from: Faust on September 13, 2019, 02:42:36 pm ---Solar Panels require some rare materials. If this is just simple LED diode it could have applications in power scavenging or when doing it over long empty distances like empty highway regions

--- End quote ---
Today, you can get a 25 mW (rated) solar cell that measures under 2 cm2 for $2.57 (in quantity).
500 mW brings that up to ~$10.

Even if you consider that the actual power out of these solar cells is likely to be below the rating, I would say the cold sky thermoelectric approach is optimistically a couple of orders of magnitude behind the point where it would be competitive.

RTG's are only viable because there is a huge temperature difference involved.

altered:
This is ridiculous. I have no idea how it can possibly work. I fucking love it.

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