Discovery Solar
Projects
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Solar technology projects
The Transition Project is starting with research to discover and evaluate new structures and materials for solar energy conversion and storage. Our current major focus is to discover concepts for Integrated Solar Generation and Energy Storage (ISGES) in a single device with greater conversion efficiency than current commercial devices. ISGES has the potential to achieve much greater energy output and storage per unit of material in a solar generation and energy storage installation. This could improve the economics of solar and reduce the environmental footprint of manufacturing solar generation and storage capacity. It is important to consider the environmental effects of obtaining materials for any particular solar technology and manufacturing it. Success with ISGES could accelerate the transition to cleaner technology worldwide.
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We are also recruiting other projects to join the New Economy community. To ensure success in efforts to contribute to a transition to energy systems with lower greenhouse gas emissions, and enable technology to support the development of better economic systems, a variety of projects at various stages and also competing ideas are desirable.
Solar technology plays a key role in developing the Discovery Solar Transition supplemental currency system and so is a cornerstone of our effort to build a new economy. Ultimately, the system is envisioned to consist of a network of local clusters of participants spread over a large geographic area. Each cluster may consist of grocery stores with solar installations, other local-serving businesses and firms and a major producer that could produce products for nationwide distribution. In one or more clusters, this would be the solar panel factory that builds the panels for the grocery stores and other installations, and a variety of other businesses. More information is in a separate document.
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The Discovery Solar Transition Project would locate manufacturing to reduce the need for transportation, including commuting, when feasible and is dedicated to adopting policies that would redirect some of the savings from reduced commuting to community-improving nonprofit work. A large number of small investors along with experienced high-level investors concerned with the nonprofit objectives could support the launch of manufacturing with the required policies.
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Some reasons for solar technology manufacturing
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Solar technology is not only relatively environmentally friendly and is a cornerstone of the effort to build a new economy because of its potential for supporting a supplemental currency system.
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Efficient and safe route-based delivery
In addition to boosting manufacturing and research and development of environmentally friendly technologies over the course of a few years, short-term projects to boost economic functioning and reduce coronavirus transmission are also being considered in view of recent developments relating to reopening of some business operations and lifting of other restrictions e.g. restaurants. These projects could be helped by community currency but would probably require the cooperation of at least one large company and county health departments and possibly state governments that set unemployment compensation rules. The possibilities are in an evaluation and creation stage.
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During the coronavirus outbreak, people have been asked to stay home except for trips for essentials such as groceries. Further, even without a pandemic, many people would prefer fewer trips to stores and trips to stores cost money, use energy and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. But deliveries from stores to home on an individual on-demand basis can be expensive and also use energy and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. The New Economy platform will support route-based delivery projects, which will reduce the cost of delivery, and so enable people to save money and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. In some cases, the monetary savings may be used to help very low income people who cannot afford the full cost even of route-based delivery. To make route-based delivery substantially more efficient than on-demand delivery, enough people in a neighborhood must sign-up for the service.
Projects such as route-based delivery help reduce coronavirus transmission by helping people make fewer trips and boost economic functioning. These are of near-term importance in view of recent developments relating to reopening of some business operations and lifting of other restrictions e.g. restaurants. These projects could be helped by community currency but do not need it and would probably require the cooperation of at least one large grocery store company and county health departments and state governments that set unemployment compensation rules. The projects could turn out to be especially useful if the reopening of restaurants and other lifting of restrictions, and activities that entail large gatherings, including large-scale protests along with inadequate compliance with rules by some individuals, results in a resurgence of the coronavirus. (Spikes in hospitalizations appear to be already starting as of May 29, 2020.) The prevalence of the coronavirus may encourage some people to sign up for the service. It can also put the unemployed back to work: if prohibition on restaurants serving customers have to be continued or reinstated, or if some restaurants just fail, former restaurant workers on unemployment and some business owners could work part-time or full-time in the delivery service. A high-tech version could involve automated or partially automated delivery. Delivery work could be made safer than restaurant work and help people stay at home more, so as to help bring the crisis to a close or at least to a more manageable state.
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Route-based Delivery projects
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Stay tuned: we are seeking route based delivery projects
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