Today's panels can only capture around 22% of the energy available to them.
A recent publication claims that this can be doubled.
Follow this link
A recent publication claims that this can be doubled.
Follow this link
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
True. For the time being, it would be simpler to double the number of panels, as long as you have the space.That is a multi-junction solar cell.. EXPENSIVE!!!!!
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
For the time being yes. I live in hope for a breakthrough on multi-junction panels to bring the price down to parity with single-junction ones we use today.True. For the time being, it would be simpler to double the number of panels, as long as you have the space.
One day there may be alternatives, however, just as we may be dispensing with the Lead in our batteries...
I wonder if in 5 billion years nuclear fusion will be 20 years awaySadly, waiting for our sun to go supernova for extra output from your solar panel isn't going to work either. It will just melt I fear - in about five billion years.
http://chandra.harvard.edu/resources/faq/sources/snr/snr-31.html
Another problem is it doesn't use the Silicon PN junction technology that is now so cheap to produce, because of some unique advantages that silicon has.That is a multi-junction solar cell.. EXPENSIVE!!!!!
Another problem is it doesn't use the Silicon PN junction technology that is now so cheap to produce, because of some unique advantages that silicon has.
It's a combination of GaAs (gallium arsenide) and GaSb (gallium antimonide). The GaSb captures the spectral range that the GaAs lets through.
These kinds of semiconductor are commonly used in small devices like LEDs and sensors, and specialist high-speed circuits like military radar and satellites. I don't think they will be cheap enough to use large-scale for many years if at all. But no doubt useful where weight-saving is critical, like satellites, aerospace etc.
But who knows? I remember saying exactly the same thing about 'moving map displays' and 'optical masers'.
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
Thats what I thoughtAnother problem is it doesn't use the Silicon PN junction technology that is now so cheap to produce, because of some unique advantages that silicon has.
It's a combination of GaAs (gallium arsenide) and GaSb (gallium antimonide). The GaSb captures the spectral range that the GaAs lets through.
These kinds of semiconductor are commonly used in small devices like LEDs and sensors, and specialist high-speed circuits like military radar and satellites. I don't think they will be cheap enough to use large-scale for many years if at all. But no doubt useful where weight-saving is critical, like satellites, aerospace etc.
But who knows? I remember saying exactly the same thing about 'moving map displays' and 'optical masers'.
Yeh, I knew that............... honestAnother problem is it doesn't use the Silicon PN junction technology that is now so cheap to produce, because of some unique advantages that silicon has.
It's a combination of GaAs (gallium arsenide) and GaSb (gallium antimonide). The GaSb captures the spectral range that the GaAs lets through.
These kinds of semiconductor are commonly used in small devices like LEDs and sensors, and specialist high-speed circuits like military radar and satellites. I don't think they will be cheap enough to use large-scale for many years if at all. But no doubt useful where weight-saving is critical, like satellites, aerospace etc.
But who knows? I remember saying exactly the same thing about 'moving map displays' and 'optical masers'.
Indeed. It's reassuring to know that when some snake oil salesman is trying to flog you the latest improvement to sliced bread, someone on here will have the in depth knowledge of the latest bread making technology to evaluate whether what you are being told has any basis in fact.Some interesting responses above. They demonstrate the diversity of knowledge, experience and interest that can be found on this forum.
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
I don't think they will be cheap enough to use large-scale for many years if at all.
I have been following CIGS and other types of thin film panels for a while as they are light weight and in theory should be much cheaper to produce. However the efficiencies in the real world last time I looked were below that of mono crystalline but were at around the poly crystaline level. This means you need bigger panels to get the same amount of power. On houses an extra couple of square feet needed for the same power but at a lower cost is not too much of an issue. However for a motorhome where you can fit 1, 2 or possibly only 3 you want to maximise the power you get out. For me the thin film deposition method isn't there yet for us motorhomers due to price and Watts/square meter.The BiPVCo system in Jon's link uses Copper Indium Gallium Selenide, which is more or less what I was talking about. Available now