Name: A solar energy system that tracks the sun
Uploaded: 2009-02-02T16:53:00Z
Duration: 19 min 35 s
Description: Bill Gross, the founder of Idealab, talks about his life as an inventor, starting with his high-school company selling solar energy plans and kits. Learn here about a groundbreaking system for solar cells -- and some questions we haven't yet solved.

Bill Gross, the founder of Idealab, talks about his life as an inventor, starting with his high-school company selling solar energy plans and kits. Learn here about a groundbreaking system for solar cells -- and some questions we haven't yet solved.

A solar energy system that tracks the sun

Harnessing advances like microprocessors and genetic algorithms, a new solar energy system revisits and reinvents the classic Stirling engine for modern needs. A prototype uses twelve cheap, sun-tracking petals to concentrate sunlight, generating electricity and even hot water for homes. Unlike traditional solar cells, this system aims to cut costs in half and deliver a payback period of under five years. With the sun providing free energy, the focus shifts to maximizing power per dollar rather than efficiency alone.