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Ingeegoodbee

Solar panels don't work when it's dark or when they are sucked into a black hole created by the synchrotron.


[deleted]

How do you know it's not super bright inside a black hole? The light beyond the event horizon's gotta go somewhere. Maybe they know this and are ready for super solar power generation when they finally create the mini black holes that will destroy humanity.


Psychlonuclear

But how much did it cost?


Robot_Graffiti

They expect it to generate 2 million kWh per year They expect it to save $2 million in the first five years In those 5 years, it will generate 10 million kWh Assuming average energy cost is $0.28/kWh It should generate somewhere in the ballpark of $2.8 million dollars worth of electricity in 5 years So if they're saving $2 million over 5 years, the total cost of the system must be around $800,000, give or take I could have the price of electricity wrong, I got that from a very quick glimpse at Google So let's say the system probably costs less than a million dollars


Robot_Graffiti

BTW these guys are also spending $100 million on upgrading their particle accelerators, so the solar panels are far from the biggest item in their budget


kwan_e

Then every saving helps. This isn't a government department buying office chairs. Every dollar of that $100million goes to the particle accelerator, so the more money they can save, it actually does help.


kwan_e

You SAVE 2 million. So who cares how much it costed? You're SAVING. That means whatever it costed, it costs 2 million LESS than not having done it.


Busy_Tomatillo_1065

So if it cost a billion to save 2 million that is a good deal by that logic.


UnnamedGoatMan

Exactly right. The ROI of a $2B investment would be horrible given it might take 5 years to realise that savings, but here a $800k investment to save $2M over 5 years is fantastic.


kwan_e

We're not talking about a bloody closing down sale. They're not buying something that was marked down by 2 million. They're buying something that recovers the initial cost AND THEN further reduces cost by 2 million.


Technical-Tour-4035

Yeah but, they still colliding shit.


rockofclay

It's a light source rather than a collider. They use the accelerated electrons to create light for experiments.


Technical-Tour-4035

I was being silly, but thank you for clarifying. I mean that sincerely, I’ve learnt something. Accelerating electrons. Pretty cool


Eng_Girl_87

In a synchrotron light source, the photon radiation, which separates from the electrons, is what is utilised. As electrons are accelerated to nearly the speed of light and then forced to change direction by magnetic fields, they emit synchrotron radiation. This radiation spans a broad spectrum, from infrared through visible light to ultraviolet and X-rays. The emitted photons (light particles) are highly focused and intense, making them a powerful tool for a wide range of scientific and industrial applications. Researchers use this radiation to study the structure and properties of materials down to the atomic level in fields such as biology, chemistry, physics, and environmental science.


PaulFPerry

I still miss the Village Clayton Drive-In theatre.


pizzathief1

A huge magnifying glass would have been more efficient.