Solar

Solar Technologies GreenPowerScience experiments GASynergy page on solar

Of the different forms of solar collection, passive solar design & conservation is easiest/cheapest. After that, solar thermodynamic (heating water/something & using the temp differential to run a generator) is currently better than PhotoVoltaics (however new solar nanoantenna technology may change that @ 80% efficiency & mass-producible thin films). Combining focusing reflectors makes either more effective. My pix is to run water/antifreeze through a glass vacuum tube, in the focus of a parabolic trough reflector. The water/fluid would heat up in the vacuum tube, go through a hose to a sterling engine to convert into electricity, or into a highly insulated storage container storing the energy as heat, to be released later. The vacuum tubes are available commercially

PLAN: Cover most of South face of my garage roof with solar panels, etc. & run power into garage & batteries in garage or house. Inverter to tie into grid. Maybe combine with wind generator on top of house.