We are all reborn, who wants to be the richest man?

What did Walsteiner bring? Twenty years later, you can buy it on Taobao for a few dozen yuan, but now it is a priceless treasure.

This is a photovoltaic outdoor generator, very simple but very sci-fi.

In 1954, Bell Labs produced the first single-crystal silicon photovoltaic cell. Since then, photovoltaics has finally transformed from a physical concept into a technological product.

However, photovoltaics at this time is still just a luxury energy source, and it is impossible to use it on a large scale.

It cannot be said that it is impossible, but the United States has given up on itself.

In 1979, U.S. President Carter gave a speech in front of the newly installed solar energy system in the White House. At that time, the world was experiencing an oil crisis. He used an impassioned speech to tell the world that solar energy was the future.

Despite thunderous applause from the audience and all the media publicity and reprinting, it was more like a show.

A performance show that made the Middle East compromise. As a result, everyone knows that industrial production cannot be separated from oil. The oil crisis in the Middle East has made the entire Western corporate economy suffer.

Solar energy is the most equitable energy source so far. If it can be promoted, oil will naturally be affected.

Because no one will be strangled by energy anymore, Carter wants to tell the big dogs that either you compromise quickly, or I will join forces with my allies to develop new energy.

The press conference was very successful and caused a sensation, with the entire Western media attending.

But no media will tell you that this solar system costs $28, and the heat it provides is only enough to boil a pot of water.

Such performance not only failed to deter the enemy, but even the country's big capitalists felt that this was a technology without a future, and no one was willing to provide funding for its research and development for commercial use.

But there is one exception, that is Bell Labs. As the first institution in the world to make photovoltaics a reality, it is impossible for them to give up this research and development.

It's not because of commercialization to make money, but because they are scholars.

This is also the reason why AT&T is unwilling to pay Bell Labs a large amount of research and development funds, because these people will not listen to you at all, and they will do their own ideas as long as they have them.

But the Telephone and Telegraph Company looked down on it, but Luo Nianzhong was very interested in it.

If I remember correctly, the World Solar Summit will be held in Zimbabwe next year. It was this conference that brought photovoltaics into Rabbit's vision.

At this time, there are still nearly 100 million people without electricity in the country. These people are distributed in the western region, far away from the power grid, with small load and wide dispersion.

Especially in plateau areas, due to geographical reasons, the number of users without electricity is as high as 75%.

If we solve this problem by extending the power grid, not to mention the cost, the work would take at least 20 years.

This is a big market, and it is also the reason why Rabbit Photovoltaic can overtake its competitors.

"What progress has Bell Labs made in photovoltaic research now? I mean the photovoltaic conversion efficiency."

Different from traditional product logic, although material cost, labor cost, etc. are also important, the core logic of photovoltaics is technology, that is, conversion benefits.

The energy source of photovoltaics is sunlight, which is theoretically unlimited in supply. The product produced is electricity, which can be consumed and used instantly.

These two special effects determine that in the photovoltaic industry chain, the most core indicator is not size, scale, or output, but the efficiency of converting sunlight into electricity.

It can be said that whoever grasps the core of efficiency will grasp the entire photovoltaic industry.

Warsteiner did not expect Luo Nianzhong to be so interested in this technology, but this was a good thing, as it showed that Bell Labs had something that could attract this tycoon.

Therefore, Warsteiner responded to Luo Nianzhong's cultural inquiries without reservation.

“Professor Winston has been researching the photovoltaic field for 10 years. Unfortunately, the current photovoltaic conversion efficiency is only about %, and compared with traditional energy, the price is still too expensive.

But there is no other way. Professor Winston has been worried about funding for years and has been looking for investment everywhere, but no one is optimistic about this technology."

Huasteiner looked regretful, while Luo Nian's heart was indeed in turmoil.

Does a 10% conversion efficiency sound low? Here is a piece of data to tell you how amazing this data is. In 08, the conversion efficiency of the technology of the photovoltaic giants listed on the stock market was only 10% to 14%.

It is now 1995, a gap of 13 years. If we had invested in research and development, the consequences would have been terrible.

It is worthy of being the greatest laboratory. This is its foundation and this is its strength.

"What about AT&T? They don't know about this technology, so they won't pay for it?"

It would have been fine if AT&T was not mentioned, but when it was mentioned, there was even a hint of sarcasm on Steiner's face.

"AT&T? Those people only know about telephone and telegraph services and don't even bother to look at other technologies."

Yes, transistors, communication satellites, photovoltaics, Unix systems, C language, charge-coupled devices, etc., these inventions that have changed humanity tremendously, how many of them were truly led and developed by AT&T?

It started off badly, but things got worse and worse. AT&T can be said to be playing the role of the strongest villain, which is used to help people upgrade and fight monsters.

"Is Bell Labs still developing single crystal silicon?"

Hua Steiner looked at Luo Nianzhong with some surprise. The fact that he could ask such a question showed that he understood the technology.

It has been widely rumored that Far East Group is the best choice for technology talents, if for no other reason than that its boss Luo Nianzhong is the most technologically knowledgeable among all the bosses of technology companies.

Now it seems that it is indeed true.

"It has always been monocrystalline silicon. Polycrystalline silicon is too inefficient. Why is there any need for research and development?"

Very good, this is very beautiful.

There are two main technical routes for photovoltaics: thin film and crystalline silicon.

Because of market and efficiency issues, thin films are not even considered.

There are two routes for crystalline silicon: polycrystalline silicon and single crystal silicon currently being developed by Bell Labs.

The characteristics of the two routes are also very intuitive. Polycrystalline silicon has low cost and low efficiency, while monocrystalline silicon has high cost and high efficiency. To put it bluntly, you get what you pay for.

Highly efficient monocrystalline silicon is the future, but efficiency is something that is difficult to break through.

When Luo Nianzhong came here, photovoltaics had already become a very mature industry, and the highest conversion efficiency was only 24%, less than a quarter.

For now, cost is the most important factor, and the low efficiency of polysilicon can be ignored.

It’s a pity that Bell Labs has not yet developed polysilicon. I was thinking too much.

But it doesn't matter, polycrystalline silicon and monocrystalline silicon are the same in material, only the technology is different. With the technology accumulation of monocrystalline silicon, the development of polycrystalline silicon is easy.

“Tell Professor Winston that I’m interested in his photovoltaic project.

Let him prepare well. Once AT&T agrees to sell Bell Labs to Far East Group, I don't mind giving him a crazy amount of R&D funding."

Huasteiner was very happy with Luo Nianzhong's words, but there was also a hint of pain in his happiness.

Giving Winston a large amount of research and development funds is not only a matter of project, but also means that Luo Nianzhong attaches great importance to Bell Labs. It would be best if he is not raised by a stepmother after he comes here.

But the meaning of this statement is very simple, which is to let Warsteiner take the lead in forcing the emperor to abdicate.

It would be fine if AT&T sold Bell Labs, but if they asked for an exorbitant price and refused to give in, they would have stepped in.

Luo Nianzhong did have this intention, but Luo Nianzhong just wanted to add insurance and basically had no use for them.

He believed that the other party was willing to sell Bell Labs to the Far East Group because it was now controlled by Wall Street.

Luo Nianzhong can bring them greater benefits. It’s not that he has to give them a bargain, but this matter cannot succeed without them.