Comments on: Promethean Power uses the sun for cooling

A start-up is betting on a clever combination of technologies--solar panels and thermoelectronics--to turn clean electricity into refrigeration in developing countries.

[carlhage]

Seems like a good concept-- If solar battery lamps are cheaper (and safer) than kerosene, why not solar refrigerators? However, I don't see how thermoelectric could compete in a low cost low power market, considering efficiency is 5-10% vs 40-60% for conventional compressor. Note that a solar refrigerator with ice as storage already exists for the developing world for vaccine storage: http://www.sunfrost.com/vaccine_refrigerators.html

[Ormond Otvos]

In 1981 we sold and installed a whole house heat and cool package using mineral oil solar panels running an Arkla ammonia refrigeration unit (remember kerosene refrigerators?). It supplied a refrigerator, small AC, and water heating. It could have supplied house heating, but it was in the Florida Keys (Big Pine). Total additional cost then, $15k. Boats have small ammonia units also, run by propane flame, 12vdc or shore power. Why can't MIT work with hot thermal and such refrigeration units?

[sunreign]

Nothing special. Thermoelectricity is not efficient at al. You'd be a lot smarter to use the electricity form the solar panel to power a regular fridge, stil smarter to power a stirling cooler, still smarter to power a absoption cooliing system. This suggestion is lame.

[benjaminstraight]

Totally awesome- the sun to cool!

[sp00nage]

"These devices will convert electricity from the solar panels into cold air."

Wow - converting energy into mass? Einstein would be proud!

[technewsjunkie]

FANTASTIC!
Gotta love those MIT guys.
I wonder what our future will be like with, potentially, much, much more efficiency built, no, designed into devices, machines. To think that they are thinking about using the "heat from car exhausts" to recycle energy is the kind of complete energy efficiency planning our design engineers are learning is heartening. At least at MIT.

Good luck! And where can I invest?!

[samwhiteboston]

Thanks for your comments on Promethean Power. I am one of the founders. Feel free to contact me for more details at [e-mail]