Reply #10: The laws of Physics tell us some fundamental limits to solar

[PamW]

Who knows what materials and processes will be developed that could make solar even less costly to manufacturer with even greater energy conversion efficiencies in another 30 years?
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The laws of Physics tell us some fundamental limits to solar. Look up the "quantum efficiency" limit,
and "charge carrier recombination" limits. These are fundamental limits that the Laws of Physics impose
that we will NEVER get around.

It's like the limits that the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics put on heat engines. We've had practical steam engines
for over 2 centuries now. James Watt the "inventor" of the practical steam engine lived 1736 - 1819:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Watt

However, Nicolas Carnot (1796 - 1832 ) used to 2nd Law of Thermodynamics to derive the "Carnot efficiency limit":

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_L%C3%A9onard_Sadi_Carnot

We've known for almost 200 years what the ultimate efficiency of steam engines and turbines would be.
Carnot's limit has not been surpassed inspite of all our technology. It hasn't held a mere 30 years
like you proffer for solar; but has held almost 200 years.

That's because it is a basic Law of Physics; like the limits on solar.

So it doesn't matter what materials or processes we have in the future; the Laws of Physics won't
let us do better than a limiting efficiency.

PamW