DODGY: TIPA: The World's Most Efficient Consumer Solar Panel - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 04, 2023, 12:08:42 am
content: Up to 6 times more efficient than regular solar panels per area!They assume that any photons that hit the panel and aren't converted into electricity are then reflected back out to then be absorbed by another solar cell!Apparently loss as heat absorption isn't a thing in their world. In reality reflection is well under 10%https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/tipa/tipa-total-internal-photonic-absorptionhttps://www.tipa-tech.io/about-tipa

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 04, 2023, 12:37:31 am
content: It's on Indiegogo too!https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/tipa-the-world-s-most-efficient-solar-panel#/

author: Kim Christensen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2023, 01:09:32 am
content: Did they really get a £560,000 UK government grant for this POS?

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 04, 2023, 01:55:24 am
content: Quote from: Kim Christensen on October 04, 2023, 01:09:32 amYep:https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=105277

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 04, 2023, 02:00:09 am
content: This isn't their only thing:https://yellowstud.io/about-us

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 04, 2023, 02:11:08 am
content: Other Kickstarters:https://www.kickstarter.com/profile/yellowstudio/created

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 04, 2023, 02:11:52 am
content: Oh boy...https://yellowstud.io/research

author: Kim Christensen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2023, 02:44:34 am
content: I think I figured out what TIPA really stands for:TotalInvestmentPissedAway

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2023, 02:54:55 am
content: Cryogenic cooled solar panel, that sounds energy efficient

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2023, 01:09:21 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on October 04, 2023, 01:55:24 amWow, that money cames easily and went fast, it seems.Good news, however. More money is on the way, so more xxx, xxx and Rock&Roll. (Not sure about Rock&Roll though...)

author: Kim Christensen
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2023, 03:17:43 pm
content: Looks like the Nigerians got in on this scam too...

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 05, 2023, 08:22:42 am
content: While being "in Nigeria", that seems to be a 100% legit, non-BS, company.Not sure how they got entangled in this solar scam.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2023, 08:58:35 pm
content: The idea itself seemed unique, until you read that:Quotehttps://shopsolarkits.com/blogs/learning-center/do-solar-panels-reflect-lightSo, it would only be beneficial on inefficient thin film panels.Otherwise look at the surface area and how many solar panels are inside that box. You'd definitely get more surface area than the top section if you just took them out and rolled them flat.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2023, 10:38:40 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on October 04, 2023, 01:55:24 amThis thing is a goldmine!

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 06, 2023, 11:19:36 pm
content: QuoteAnd they'd all be exposed at once (or, alternatively, not exposed).But... if they were all rolled out they wouldn't fit in the same area. So I think the crux is whether a bunch of these fitting in the same area that a flat panel takes up gives any higher output. And/or whether they are less prone to drop-off as the angle of incidence increases.Couldn't find any data on that, and one would expect that if they did perform better they'd shout about it somewhere.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2023, 06:57:53 am
content: So this project made it to the YouTubes (in German) - and was absolutely destroyed:

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2023, 01:27:23 pm
content: Quote from: PlainName on October 06, 2023, 11:19:36 pmSolar panels (at least the crystalline ones) get better efficientcy at high light intensity. So spreading them out to get something like 1/4 the intensity each is counter-productive. Even if the absorb a little more light, the ouput may still be lower. Things to reduce the reflection is a thing in modern solar cells. There are designs with an intentionally rough surface to capture a little more light still only a small effect.Chanes are there plastic top is already reflecing more light than normal PV panels do.It is a bad sign that got a government fund for such a BS scheme.

author: Haenk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2023, 04:53:25 pm
content: You should really watch that video.There is some knowledge to be found in thereIn short: All panels are coated, to reduce reflection. "Re-usable" reflection is only 2% or so. So the TIPA concept will be less effective than simply covering the same area with plain panels.However there are other cells under development made from "not Si", which can make use of other wavelengths than Si-based cells. One could create multi-layered cells, that could drive them up to 50%. (Nobody asked about the price of these though - not commercially viable right now, I guess...)Second is a "solar concentrator" - large array of lenses to concentrate the light on little little cells; running them at 100x the normal intensity of sunlight (or even more) will be more efficient. I didn't know that. Heat is an isse, though. Of course this is a way more komplex construction, and likely more expensive than plain panels.Well, the "upcoming" technologies have nothing to do with TIPA, which is still BS.

author: Kleinstein
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2023, 05:08:24 pm
content: Some 20 year ago the concentrator type panels were a real alterntive in some areas. The idea is using concentration and small high grade cells with multiple layers. However by now the price for the normal panels went down quite a bit and they also got better. Concentration only work well with also following the sun and if there are no clouds / mist. Following the sun usually also means using less area to also work in off peak hours and less efficient use of the area. By now, the fixed panels are matured and so cheap they are hard to beat.

author: electr_peter
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 08, 2023, 09:37:08 pm
content: It will not the first questionable solar project with lenses and prisms, that's for sure.There was a TV program on space probe sent to the sun direction. Engineers mentioned that they needed very large solar panels for power (counterintuitive as it is going to the sun) because of extreme heat issue and limited cooling. The solution was to have massive solar panels angled not directly at the sun.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2023, 09:37:50 pm
content: QuoteI wonder who these global solar leaders are that they are referring too.So I see they are just putting solar panels in sun traps with reflective material behind it to try and generate even more energy but I thought that already happens inside the solar panel with reflective backing.Bullshit buzzwords: "SleekDesign", "SmartTechnology"", "UnparalleledSolar Innovation", "Solar marvel".It could have been done already sowhy they do have to call it "a technology".It'd be interesting to see how this one turns out.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2023, 02:59:30 am
content: There's an elegantly efficient use of solar energy, that's called photosynthesis.

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 31, 2023, 09:29:19 am
content: Must be legit, look at the 22 companies that guy is/has been a director of :TIPA TECH LIMITEDTOVENVOR TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDSSCCO2T TECH LIMITEDI AM GENIUS BUSINESS LTDENGEN TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDSMAP TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDI AM GENIUS LTDQUANTUM COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES LTDCARBONYTE LIMITEDSYMBIO ELECTRICITY LTDSYMBIO GAS LTDGAS DIRECT SHIPPER LTDENERGY X TECH LIMITEDSYMBIO INNOVATIONS LIMITEDDO NO EVIL LTDEQUITABLE SOCIAL HOUSING LIMITEDEQUITABLE SUSTAINABLE HOUSING LIMITEDYELLOW STUDIO LIMITEDSTUDIO UP LIMITEDSENTINEL CYBER SECURITY LTDGEOELECTRIC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITEDSYMBIO ENERGY LIMITEDhttps://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/koV1FIQV3bcKEHlZu4H5_6vAEDE/appointments

author: EEVblog
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 01, 2023, 01:59:51 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on October 31, 2023, 09:29:19 amWe are all underacheivers.

author: SiliconWizard
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 01, 2023, 10:10:36 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on October 31, 2023, 09:29:19 amYes, that the hallmark ofprofessional scammersserial entrepreneurs.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: December 04, 2023, 02:30:21 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on October 31, 2023, 09:29:19 amI think SentinelOne would have issue with this one, that's assuming of course the bloke isn't full of crap and actually achieves something with his many "companies".

author: fmashockie
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: December 04, 2023, 05:20:00 pm
content: Quote from: EEVblog on November 01, 2023, 01:59:51 amDidn't you say always have a side-hustle??