Any advice?

[Sam Shimmin]

Hello all.

Has anyone heard of a system that generates electricity from the vibration of a marine engine?

I am told such systems exist but cant find any info.

Also, does anyone know anything about flexible solar panels or windows that double as solar panels? is this technology out there?

Thanks,

Sam

[Guest625101138]

Sam
There certainly are flexible and semi-flexible panels.

Most solar panel retailers offer some sort of flexible or roll up:
http://www.energymatters.com.au/flex...volt-p-65.html
http://www.solaronline.com.au/cgi/in..._id=1107358707
They typically do not offer the efficiency of rigid ones and are more expensive per watt.

I was advised that SunCat do semi-flexible encapsulation of high efficiency cells:
http://www.engr.wisc.edu/studentorgs...rs/suncat.html
They do not have a web site but you can find an email for them.

I have been told that Gocherman are top of the line for power to weight. They provide panels for the solar racers but are very expensive.

Rick W

[Sam Shimmin]

Rick,

Thanks for the links, i'll have a look.

I am told there is a system which applies a thin film to glass (a cabin window for example) which disperses light intensity to the edge of the window which is surrounded by solar cells.

I cant find any hard evidence to back this up but it seems interesting none the less.

Sam

[kerosene]

I heave read about this too - it seemed more of a prototype so far - and for office buildings etc. efficiency probably sucks and needs huge areas of glass. Likely not worth it in a boat where glass surface is limited anyways