This is what seems most plausible to me. Somebody had a number about the laser power (fraction of a second pulse, but still), and somebody else put that out as the energy source's power.

This is the thing: why isn't he making this directly into a small generator system before making it portable? Scale it up to the point that the turbine problem is a non-issue, and sell THAT. That would prove that the energy source itself is viable (economically too) and not a pipe dream.

Basically, that he hasn't already done so makes me skeptical that there isn't "something else" wrong here. Doesn't pass the smell test IMO.

Now having said that, I hope I'm wrong. I love this idea. But still, I'd like to know why this part hasn't been done already. This smells like trying to get investor dollars on something that MIGHT work instead of selling something that DOES work.

Speaking of 45C... you'll never EVER see a temperature in Egypt officially reported as 45.0 degrees C or higher. The reason is that there's a law on the books that says that if it's that high, it's "too hot to work" and thus people need to, by law, given the day off while it's that hot if working w/o A/C. So the "solution" for the government is to never report higher than 44.9C.

Really. My wife and I were in Egypt last year (an awesome tour), and a thermometer somebody had showed 58C (this was near Farafra in the western desert), but the digital road sign said the temperature was 44.9. We asked about it, and the locals told us what I just said above.

So up to 45 in Cairo? Sure, but probably even higher.