Photovoltaic flat panel systems generate electricity, people buy them, they install them, and they convert sunlight to electricity, clean and free ( minus initial cost of course, and manufacturing issues, which have all been comming down, getting solved slowly ). Anywhere from 10-30% of the sunlight hitting the roof, that would normally convert to heat, is converted to electricity. But, we still have 70-90% of the sun being converted to heat. How can we use that ?

Solar chimneys are large, transparent glass structures that heat air below a glass cover, and channel it upwards towards a chimney, where wind turbines convert the convection currents to power. Clean, renewable, non polluting ( again, manufacturing aside ) power.

Wind turbines and windmills, suggested locations for home use, if not on a large, ugly ( according to some people ) tower, are at the ridge line or peak of the roof, here, natural wind currents ramp up and there is a magnifying effect, allowing one to extract concentrated wind power at the location where it exists, above the turbulence, collected by the slope of the roof.

My idea, is to combine all these technologies, into 1 system. Flat PV planels installed on the roof, in channels, open at the drip edge, covered with glass, that vent to the peak of the roof, and out through small 2' or 3' (foot) turbines. The turbines would possibly have dual blades, on a dual shaft generator, so wind currents from the back or front of the house could blow through them ( natural wind currents ). The light striking the panels would generate electricity, and heat, which would vent through the peak of the roof, and out the turbines, thereby enhancing their speed and output. The continuous flow of cool air from the drip edge to the peak across the pv panels would help keep them cool.

What do you think ?