Actually they have an efficiency of 34% (in theory) and
33% (in practical). The idea is that RFC stores not only power but converts heat from the water synthesis.
But - Agreed that they are inferior when it comes to efficiency.
Size doesn't matter - it's the mass that counts. You can use for instance folded tanks, that you unfold on Mars. In the term of mass to weight - Regenerative Fuel Cells are superior.
Besides - they aren't that big. On this photo you can see RFC that holds power for 12 h:
http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/2865/rfcw.jpgThe way I see it - it's a dilemma:
Use normal
Batteries that stores power
for 2 h with 80% efficiency or equal-massed
Regenerative Fuel Cells that stores power
for 12 h but with 33% efficiency.
Which ones better? Hard to say.
In certain situations one is better than the other.
For instance.....we have just started the base and we have no power whatsoever. It's more efficient to use batteries, that will help you live threw the night only becouse they store every bit of it that you produce....but...even when you turn OFF everything and run PG at night, you will always live in fear that you might make a mistake once, and drain all the power out.
On the other hand - if you know that your PV Pannels make lot's of energy, it would be a waste to store all that power in batteries that can only hold it for like 2 hours of full consumption. In that case I would prefer to store the power in RFC. That way I won't have to bother with power on night. But what if a dust-storm comes? PVP won't make enough power at day so that RFC won't charge fully. You would need to use PG to power-up main systems, and using RFC in that moment would be a waste of 77% electric power.
So why not make player (base commander) decide how to store his base power suplies by using the
POWER STORAGE CONTROL PANEL?
It's basicly the same as Power distibution panel.
It might look a little bit like this:
http://www.sintef.no/upload/Energiforskning/Energylab/Fig2.gifhttp://www.zdomain.com/stuff/sandstorm/SM_Trailer_electrical.png http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/9402/rfc2.jpgOn this panel player would have:
-BATTERY 1 PACK
-BATTERY 2 PACK
-BATTERY 3 PACK
-Backup power
-RFC 1
-RFC 2
-RFC 3
-SOME OTHER POWER STORGE METHODE
Backup power would obviously be a power-storage source that would hold power for several hours of use in case of an emergencies only.
Player would have the ability not only to determine where to store the incoming power from different sources (from PG, PVP, Reactor, other) but would also have the ability to transfer power from one storage to another. Imagine the possibilities that that would enable!
Personaly as a base commander - I would designate one RFC (for instance RFC 3) to be fully charged and then, disable charging/discharging of it. That way I would have 12 h of power as I need it. I would also select Battery pack 1 to be charged primary before charging RFC 1.
IDEA: On start the base could be equiped only with 1 battery pack, 1 Backup power and 1 RFC.
As the base evolve the base commander would buy additional Battery packs or RFC and when they are delivered by a shoutle to Mars, he would go get them and place them in proper storing spots - just like putting PG on platform.
You could see how it gives the players the ability to expand and enjoy the game in the proces.
IDEA 2: ...not only that. I also propose that on the start of the base, there would be no PVP outside. Players would find them on start inside the garage, and use Rovers to deliver them in they'r desired place. --->
http://www.archithings.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Mobile-Solar-Power-System-On-Job-Site-588x470.jpgIDEA 3: Thorium reactor in order to start/stop working needs 3-5 days for cooling/heating up. On start of the new base, players would need to start it as soon as possible, and manage somehow to live threw the first 3-5 days without nuclear power. If the reactor would need some sort of maintance - you would need to turn it off and wait for it 3-5 days for it to cool down. That make's you plan more doesn't it? :-)
REAL FACT: Apollo 13 had an explosion becouse they transfered half of the oxygen and hydrogen to other containers. That was infact a proces of redistributing storaged power.
REAL FACT: RFC will be used in the next lunar mission (propably) in 2018.