Ok, different contexts. Most people talking up solar power come from a green energy replacement perspective.
Kurzweil tends to speak about the potentials. Solar power has uses, but will never be a suitable replacement on any large scale. Until the conversion of energy hitting a panel is converted around 80% that we could start having some serious solar production at grid scales.
More likely we will start seeing the development of things like ambient temperature superconducting technology. That alone would decrease load on the grid by average 20-40% where implemented.
The other interesting one was nano-diamond batteries, essentially depleted uranium encased with tiny diamonds that allow electrons out. Except the charge lasts for thousands of years.
Ok, different contexts. Most people talking up solar power come from a green energy replacement perspective.
Kurzweil tends to speak about the potentials. Solar power has uses, but will never be a suitable replacement on any large scale. Until the conversion of energy hitting a panel is converted around 80% that we could start having some serious solar production at grid scales.
More likely we will start seeing the development of things like ambient temperature superconducting technology. That alone would decrease load on the grid by average 20-40% where implemented.
The other interesting one was nano-diamond batteries, essentially depleted uranium encased with tiny diamonds that allow electrons out. Except the charge lasts for thousands of years.