Solar Panel Companies
What Solar Panel Efficiency would replace Coal?
A friend sent me an article that a company called Fraunhofer has produced Solar Panels that can achieve 41.1% efficiency.
Now taking into account the fact that solar do sent work during storms or night and greatly reduced during winters, what % do you think would be needed to supply a “majority” of our power needs as a nation?
*Mispelling*
Now taking into account the fact that solar “does not” work during storms or night and greatly reduced during winters, what % do you think would be needed to supply a “majority” of our power needs as a nation?
I’m with g.aidono. The efficiency of the panel is not the issue, it’s the cost.
I believe Photovoltaic Panels are hovering at around 14% efficiency right now – when you see high numbers like 41%, that’s an exotic cell, and not in a sturdy glass and metal frame suitable for domestic use. But even at 14%, if they cost $2 / watt, they would be a cost winner in a majority of US homes. Even at $4 / watt today, they are a winner in some places, such as supplying the last few, very expensive kWh’s on someone’s bill. If panels got to $1 / watt, even without any subsidies, people would be clamoring to connect panels – so many, in fact, that it would threaten the stability of the grid, and new architectures would be necessary.