Whenever some thing technical becomes well-liked, junk science appears. Solar energy is 1 of those subjects littered with junk science. Junk science is typically behind the specifications given for solar energy systems, such as the key figure of efficiency. Sales folks are really creative in how they specify the efficiency of the system they are attempting to sell you. They may possibly talk about the conversion efficiency of their solar cells in a photovoltaic (PV) system, or the efficiency of the power inverter that converts the DC output from solar cells or batteries to AC for use in the property, or the optical efficiency of the mirrors in a concentrating solar power system. Those are essential numbers for the system designer, but not for the end user. So ignore all that and look at the fundamental measure of efficiency.
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The fundamental measure of efficiency of any energy conversion system such as solar is merely the output power divided by the input power, a easy ratio that ought to often be much less than 1. Basic. You just need to know those two numbers. Usually the output power is readily available. It’s generally the first spec given by the data sheet for the system or by the salesman. But what about the input power? Despite the fact that the advertising sorts may well make it sound complicated and mysterious, determining the input power is really basic.
The input power is the amount of solar power striking the collection region. There are two numbers you want to know to figure that out, the size of the collection area, and the quantity of solar power per unit region striking the earth’s surface. The size of the collection area is effortless to calculate. It’s the size of the solar panel, that is, length times width (for a rectangular solar panel which is typical). The second number is even less complicated to obtain due to the fact it is a well established number for the amount solar power that strikes the surface of the earth. That number is 1,000 watts per square meter of direct normal solar insulation at sea level. The number varies somewhat depending on your altitude and weather conditions. And depending on the type of collector the solar energy system uses there may possibly be some other contributors to the total energy collected. But this standard number is sufficiently accurate for use in evaluating solar energy systems.
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So how might this knowledge be helpful to you? Here is a real example. At the time of this writing there is a firm demonstrating a solar panel with a claimed output power of three,000 watts. The business claims they have breakthrough technologies that makes it numerous times far more efficient than existing solar panels offered from other organizations. They are seeking investors to aid them create a factory and ramp up production. Sounds like a hot investment, doesn’t it? Let’s look at the basics of their item.
The solar panel being demonstrated measures 3 feet by 5 feet. That is 15 square feet or 1.39 square meters. So the maximum input power available, based on that standard number of 1,000 watts per square meter at the earth’s surface, is 1.39 X 1,000 = 1,390 watts. The claimed output power is 3,000 watts. So the efficiency is 3000/1390 = 2.16 or 216%. That’s impossible. Efficiency can never be higher than 1. You can’t get far more power out than you put into an energy conversion system. I just saved my self from making a very bad investment!
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