I remember butane being mentioned in the article. I was more or less spitballing an idea on how future technology would make more sense. I don't think sun free PVs or solid state batteries are where they need to be yet to make this work, but you know more about it then me, maybe it will never be feasible.

Speaking of which, are you familiar with this work?:

http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-cetera/8-grams-of-thorium-... - it was another

Hacker News submission, so you may have seen it.

Have you approached him about using sun-free PVs instead of mini steam turbines? Or wouldn't the Thorium generate the heat quality you need?