3.2 COP means that for every 1 watt that goes in, 3.2 watts comes out. For years, there was a lot of skepticism about Rossi's device since he was very secretive about it. Even his "tests" were under scrutiny since Rossi was there while the tests were being conducted. This test was done for a whole year by independent 3rd party scientists without Rossi's involvement. LENR could be the technology that changes the way energy is delivered in the future. Lithium, Paladium, and Nickel are plentiful. And unlike conventional nuclear energy, LENR doesn't leave behind toxic waste. Rossi believes that with further development, higher COP rates are possible. And unlike fossil fuels, Rossi believes that LENR can eventually be done in your own home, freeing you from the grid. No more dependence on power lines.
If that ever happens in my lifetime...then I have to get rid of: Crank it up and blow away the neighborhood...
Solar can already free you from the grid though. Hell, depending on your area you can sell the electricity back to the city. And if Musk gets his way, your next car will have a solar panel on it with a battery that has enough power to charge your house when you get home and plug your house into your car.
Solar is expensive, since a lot of power goes into creating the solar panels to begin with. The ovens required to melt silicon have to be 3000 degrees fahrenheit. Solar tech is improving, but it's nowhere close to 3.2 COP. http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2013-04/solar-panels-now-make-more-electricity-they-use Nickel, Paladium and Lithium are plentiful and don't require massive amounts of energy to mine. And you don't need to pay somebody to install panels on your roof. Also, if you live in a community with an HOA, it can be a hassle getting a solar panel approved. A home-based LENR unit in the backyard or garage would be more convenient.
