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Thursday, April 19, 2007
Measuring solar efficiency
Apr 19 2007 10:38AM | Permalink | Email this | Comments (7) |
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For solar power to really take off, it must, of course, be cost-effective. Tied to that is the efficiency of the cells and its always interesting to see where different suppliers stand.
This week, Cypress Semiconductor’s majority-owned solar cell/panel subsidiary SunPower Corp. announced that Sandia National Laboratories measured its 96-cell SPR-315 solar panel and has rated it the most efficient, commercially-available, mass-produced solar panel, with actual power output of the SunPower 315-watt solar panel at 321.65 watts, giving the panel an efficiency of 19.7 percent.
Not only is this something for SunPower to brag about, this is great for moving the technology to a place of reality.
Also, you might want to check out PHOTON Magazine for all things solar.
What would be really interesting is a measurement of the amount of energy required to make a solar cell, compared to its output over its useful life. Please chime in with comments!-Ann Steffora Mutschler, Senior EditorReader Comments
at 4/19/2007 3:41:28 PM, Jeff said:
But the real thing solar needs to take off is measurements of value and utility such as $ per watt and watts per square foot. Since most people (not the power industry or corporate consumers) have to deal with limited square footage and the aesthetics of how solar 'looks', these are the measures that will enable solar to take off, NOT efficiency.
at 4/20/2007 11:16:19 AM, Armando said:
Jeff comment looks quite solid, but the $ per watt will also depend from the energy amount needed to produce the cells. Unless a solar panel can supply over its lifetime at least 1000 times the energy needed to produce it from the scrap materials, the price will be too high. Another point might need to be considered: how badly wpould the diret from polluted air reduce a cell efficiency of=ver time, and how much energy would be needed to keep the panel surface clean enough? With the American population concentrating more and more in urban areaS, THE AIR POLLUTION IS GETTING EVER WORSE: HOW LONG DOES IT NEED TO MAKE A WHITE CAR NEED A WASH?
at 4/20/2007 3:33:05 PM, A desperate nonbuyer in New Orleans said:
Solar power will sell when the entire battery/controll box is about the same size, weight and efficiency as a common washing machine that does not excedd $5,000.00 including the solar arrays.
at 4/24/2007 5:39:26 PM, Ron said:
Armando: The dirt on solar panels is in the noise when it comes to reducing output. I have cleaned my own array and under identical conditions the output difference is not noticable. This after accumulation of two years worth of crude, repeated twice to date. Well documented are the rebuttals concerning how much energy it takes to create the PV panel versus what it puts out over its lifetime. I believe you factor of 1000 is a ''shot from your hips''.
at 5/13/2007 7:45:48 AM, Sunny said:
Will Kyocera Technology prevent it from being overtaken by Suntech of China? Will the PV technology be accessible to people like us, for home? Thanks Sunny
at 9/27/2008 6:17:14 AM, isa34 said:
bra
at 9/27/2008 6:18:18 AM, isa34 said:
s h i t m o t h e r f u c k
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