Energy and power

A large prize. Usable power from plants and other living matter is worth an industry, though the real thing turned out a modest extra fuel.

Who is paid. Fuel sellers and vehicle fleets buy it, and since the processing is easy to copy those who already own the farmland collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A small prize. A small windmill on a house adds some power but is not promised to run the whole home, unlike the home solar plant.

Who is paid. Households buy it for themselves, and any workshop can make one so no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. Electricity straight from sunlight with no fuel would change what power costs.

Who is paid. Power firms and building owners buy panels, and since many factories can make them no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A small prize. Streets as bright as day after dark are a convenience on top of ordinary street lighting.

Who is paid. City governments pay because nobody can be charged street by street, and any lamp maker can supply them so no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. Plentiful power from a little fuel would change what electricity and heavy transport cost.

Who is paid. Power and transport firms buy it, and because governments let only a few hands hold nuclear fuel, the few permitted makers keep what is left.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. Catching sunlight and holding it for later makes solar power usable at night, which changes what power costs.

Who is paid. Power firms and building owners buy it, and assuming it is a simple tank many can build, no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. The description stresses explosive force, so it is judged as the heart of a weapon, which is worth a great deal to the state that holds it.

Who is paid. A government pays for it as a weapon, which is the difference from the power plants, and the firms that already hold its arms contracts collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Plentiful power from a little fuel would change what electricity and heavy transport cost.

Who is paid. Power and transport firms buy it, and because governments let only a few hands hold nuclear fuel, the few permitted makers keep what is left.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A small prize. Running a small device on stray energy saves a battery, which is a convenience.

Who is paid. People buy it inside small gadgets, and any gadget maker can add it so no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. Sunlight gathered near the sun and sent to cold planets would supply whole settlements that have no other source.

Who is paid. Only governments could fund a work this size for whole settlements, and whoever builds the one station controls a supply nobody else can match.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A small prize. Lamps that match daylight are a nicer light, which is a convenience.

Who is paid. People buy them for homes and shops, and any lamp maker can produce them so no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. Light that wastes almost no power as warmth changes what lighting costs everywhere.

Who is paid. Building owners and lamp fitters buy it, assumed here to be the main buyers, and many factories can make it so no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. Machines that take power through the air would change what it costs to deliver electricity, though the real thing so far only charges small devices.

Who is paid. Firms buy power for their machines, and since the trick is copyable the companies that already own power stations and the delivery network collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. Electricity made in orbit and sent down day and night would change what power costs on the ground.

Who is paid. Power companies buy the output, and the firms that already own rockets and the ground grid collect, assuming the collectors themselves can be copied.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

No prize. A burn that spreads through and devours everything near it is a hazard, not something anyone would pay for.

Who is paid. Nothing is sold, so nobody pays and no seller keeps anything.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A small prize. Making rocket propellant from ice on another world serves only the few expeditions that go there.

Who is paid. A government space programme pays, and the contractors that already build its equipment collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. Judged as if it existed, the element is what makes sunlight panels work, and electricity straight from sunlight would change what power costs.

Who is paid. Panel makers buy it, and because the element is rare, which is the difference from ordinary panels, whoever holds the supply keeps what is left.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Sending power through open space with no cables would change what it costs to deliver electricity.

Who is paid. Firms buy power for their machines, and since the trick is copyable the companies that already own power stations and the delivery network collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. An alloy that turns heat straight into current with no moving parts would change what it costs to make power from any hot source.

Who is paid. Power plant and engine builders buy it, and the inventor of a new material can keep the recipe protected for a time.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A vast prize. Catching the whole output of a star would give a civilisation more energy than it could ever otherwise have.

Who is paid. Only a government could fund it, and whoever builds the one swarm controls a supply nobody else can match.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Collecting the stronger sunlight nearer the sun would supply whole settlements with power.

Who is paid. Only governments could fund a work this size for whole settlements, and whoever builds the one station controls a supply nobody else can match.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. A nuclear generator small enough for a vehicle or portable machine would change what it costs to work far from a grid.

Who is paid. Firms working far from a grid buy it, and because governments let only a few hands hold nuclear fuel, the few permitted makers keep what is left.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. Heat and power that can be carried anywhere would change what it costs to work far from a grid.

Who is paid. Firms working far from a grid buy it, and because governments let only a few hands hold nuclear fuel, the few permitted makers keep what is left.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. Electricity straight from sunlight with no fuel would change what power costs.

Who is paid. Power firms and building owners buy panels, and since many factories can make them no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. Electricity straight from sunlight with no fuel would change what power costs.

Who is paid. Power firms and building owners buy panels, and since many factories can make them no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. A hub that routes power to settlements on many planets is what makes their whole supply usable.

Who is paid. Only governments could fund a work this size, and whoever builds the one hub controls a link nobody else can match.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A vast prize. A compact solid store that can run anything would change how nearly everything is powered and moved.

Who is paid. Firms of every kind buy it, assumed here to be the largest buyers, and it is assumed that something this far beyond present skill is very hard to copy.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. A vehicle that runs on the sunlight falling on it would need no fuel, which changes what driving costs.

Who is paid. Here drivers buy a vehicle and not a bare panel, which is the difference from other panels, so the firms that already build and sell vehicles collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A small prize. Judged as if it worked, a field that stops a runaway reaction is a safety device for the few sites that run nuclear plants.

Who is paid. Plant owners buy it, assuming it guards power plants and is not a defence against bombs, and a method this strange would be very hard for others to copy.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. A plant near the sun sending power to distant worlds would supply whole settlements that have no other source.

Who is paid. Only governments could fund a work this size for whole settlements, and whoever builds the one station controls a supply nobody else can match.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Sunlight collected in orbit and sent down day and night would change what power costs on the ground.

Who is paid. Power companies buy the output, and the firms that already own rockets and the ground grid collect, assuming the collectors themselves can be copied.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Judged as if it existed, a mined rock that holds raw energy would be a fuel worth an industry of its own.

Who is paid. Fuel users buy it, assumed here to be firms, and whoever holds the few asteroid deposits controls a supply others cannot get.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Plentiful electricity from a little fuel would change what power costs, though the real thing turned out dearer than promised.

Who is paid. Power companies buy the plants, and because governments let only a few hands hold nuclear fuel, the few permitted makers keep what is left.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. The craft of making power from atoms is worth what its plants are worth, and plentiful power from a little fuel would change what electricity costs.

Who is paid. Power companies buy the plants this craft leads to, assumed here to be what is sold, and because governments let only a few hands hold nuclear fuel, the few permitted makers keep what is left.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Judged as a fuel that can be held safely, nothing would pack more energy into less weight, which is worth an industry of its own.

Who is paid. A substance this dangerous is assumed to be bought only by governments, and whoever can make and hold it controls something others cannot get.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Power sent across space from a hot world would supply whole settlements that have no other source.

Who is paid. Only governments could fund a work this size for whole settlements, and whoever builds the one station controls a supply nobody else can match.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Receivers that take power sent through the air would change what it costs to deliver electricity.

Who is paid. Firms buy power for their machines, and since the trick is copyable the companies that already own power stations and the delivery network collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. A direct draw on the sun's energy would change what power costs wherever it reaches.

Who is paid. Power users buy it, assumed here to be firms, and a method this strange would be very hard for others to copy.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A small prize. A spacecraft skin that stores sunlight serves only the few who build spacecraft.

Who is paid. Spacecraft operators pay for it, and the firms that already build the craft collect because the part is useless without them.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Assuming the beams deliver power and are not a weapon, joining beams from several worlds would supply a place with no other source.

Who is paid. Only governments could fund a work this size for whole settlements, and whoever builds the one station controls a supply nobody else can match.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Turning rubbish into fuel oil is worth an industry because it solves waste and fuel together.

Who is paid. Fuel sellers buy the oil, and since the vats are easy to copy those who already own the rubbish collection and the land collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A small prize. A torch that never needs new batteries is a convenience, and being only a torch it is worth less than the other small atomic sources.

Who is paid. People buy it as they would any torch, and assuming the tiny source is sold as freely as the gadget, any workshop could make it, so no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. A home that makes all its own power changes what electricity costs the people living there.

Who is paid. Here the household buys it for itself, which is the difference from other panels, and many makers can supply it so no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. A complete atomic power source held between two fingers would change what it costs to power machines anywhere.

Who is paid. Firms working far from a grid buy it, and because governments let only a few hands hold nuclear fuel, the few permitted makers keep what is left.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Judged as if it worked, power drawn from background noise would need no fuel at all, which would change what electricity costs.

Who is paid. Power firms buy it, assuming it yields power at the scale of a plant and not a trickle, and a method this strange would be very hard for others to copy.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Electricity from joining light atoms would change what power costs, with fuel that is easy to find.

Who is paid. Power companies buy the plants, and they are so hard to build that the first firm to make one work can hold off copiers for a long time.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. A pigment that catches sunlight far better than plants would cut what solar power and grown fuel cost.

Who is paid. Panel makers and growers buy it, and the inventor of a new material can keep the recipe protected for a time.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A small prize. A tall chimney that makes power from rising warm air is one more way to make electricity, and the real thing turned out small.

Who is paid. Power companies buy the plant, and the design is ordinary building work that many can copy so no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A small prize. Judged as if it worked, a lamp that floats where it is wanted is a nicer light, which is a convenience.

Who is paid. People buy them for homes, and in the story they are everyday goods that many makers supply, so no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A small prize. A sun-like lamp for one spinning space habitat is a niche, however vital to those inside.

Who is paid. Whoever funds the habitat pays, assumed here to be a government, and the firms that already build such plants collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A small prize. Boots that power small gear from walking save carrying batteries, which is a convenience.

Who is paid. People buy them to wear, and any boot maker can add the part so no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. A store that fills almost at once would remove the main drawback of electric vehicles and tools.

Who is paid. Vehicle and device makers buy it, and since storage recipes tend to be copied the firms that already own the big factories collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A vast prize. A cheap compact cell holding an enormous store of energy would change how nearly everything is powered and moved.

Who is paid. Firms of every kind buy it, assumed here to be the largest buyers, and in the story the maker keeps the method secret so nobody can copy it.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A small prize. A canopy that shades people and makes a little power is a convenience.

Who is paid. People buy it for gardens and outings, and any maker can produce it so no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A small prize. Warming one chosen patch of ground from orbit helps only the few people on that patch.

Who is paid. A government pays because the warmth cannot be charged for one by one, and whoever built the satellites controls them.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. A crop oil that vehicles can burn is worth an industry, though the real thing turned out a modest extra fuel.

Who is paid. Fuel sellers and vehicle fleets buy it, and since the processing is easy to copy those who already own the farmland collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A large prize. A sprayed coating that turns any surface into a solar generator would change what power costs.

Who is paid. Builders and owners of roofs and walls buy it, and the inventor of a new material can keep the recipe protected for a time.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Mirrors that warm and light a whole planet would make it fit to settle.

Who is paid. Only a government could fund it because nobody can be charged for sunlight one by one, and whoever builds the mirrors controls them.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Judged as if it worked, a new way to make electricity from light would change what power costs.

Who is paid. Power companies buy the plants, and a method this strange would be very hard for others to copy.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A small prize. Power from warm and cold sea water is one more way to make electricity in a few warm coastal places.

Who is paid. Power companies buy the plant, and the design is ordinary engineering that many builders can copy so no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A small prize. Clothes that make a little electricity can charge small things, which is a convenience.

Who is paid. People buy them to wear, and any cloth maker can learn to weave them so no seller keeps much.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.

A small prize. Where engines and fuel exist a better working animal is a niche, though in the story's fuel-starved world it would matter far more.

Who is paid. Farms and hauliers buy the animals, and since living stock multiplies once any of it is sold, no originator can hold it, so the stock breeders and dealers that already supply working animals collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. A spring that stores energy with almost no loss would change what it costs to store and carry power.

Who is paid. Vehicle and machine makers buy it, and since storage designs tend to be copied the firms that already own the big factories collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A small prize. Where engines and fuel exist a better working animal is a niche, though in the story's fuel-starved world it would matter far more.

Who is paid. Workshops and mills buy the beasts, and since living stock multiplies once any of it is sold, no originator can hold it, so the stock breeders and dealers that already supply working animals collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is not very sure of this one.

A large prize. Crops grown for burning or refining are worth an industry, though the real thing turned out a modest extra fuel.

Who is paid. Fuel sellers and vehicle fleets buy it, and since the processing is easy to copy those who already own the farmland collect.

A model's judgement, not a reading, of the idea as if it worked the way its story promises. The model is fairly sure of this one.