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Xithras

(16,191 posts)

26. Solar power has a maximum potential output of just about 1Kw per square meter, on average.

Sun Mar 2, 2014, 11:18 PM

Mar 2014

It's about 1.4 Kw per square meter in space. Once you calculate in reflection and absorption from the surface and atmosphere, that number drops to right around 1 Kw per square meter at high noon on a cloudless day when averaged over the Earth's surface.

Of course, latitude and weather play a big part in "real world" output. In the southwestern deserts, the maximum daily potential output of a one square meter solar panel is just over 6KwH per day. In Boston during the summer that number is about 3.6 KwH daily. In wintertime Seattle, that number is about 0.7KwH. And ALL of those assume a solar panel with 100% efficiency, which our technology is nowhere near achieving.

Anyone claiming to invent a solar panel with output levels higher than these needs to review the First Law of Thermodynamics. You cannot collect more energy than the Sun provides. You cannot create energy.

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Solar Collector Magnifies Sun By 2000X � Could Provide Power To The Entire Planet (edited) [View all] TalkingDog Mar 2014 OP

Where's the money in THAT? You buy it once and use it forever? arcane1 Mar 2014 #1

You Mean Fred Gilmore Mar 2014 #2

Prototype GeorgeGist Mar 2014 #3

"concentrating the power of 2,000 suns" IDemo Mar 2014 #4

Kind of what I thought when I read it... ElboRuum Mar 2014 #21

Dear Mr. Tillerson, I think we have a solution to your fracking problem. Jack Rabbit Mar 2014 #5

How long until these are installed everywhere in the country? Vashta Nerada Mar 2014 #6

So, this is on banoosh.com? NewJeffCT Mar 2014 #7

The stuff on the right side bar is enough to convince me this is probably woo. RC Mar 2014 #8

If I understand it- packman Mar 2014 #14

I think the brief video at the bottom explains Stevepol Mar 2014 #23

After perusing some of the other articles madokie Mar 2014 #9

It is true, but needs some more time to become reality .... everywhere MindMover Mar 2014 #12

Completely misleading headline, and the article isn't much better gristy Mar 2014 #10

Here's a story about it on a more legit source: Warren DeMontague Mar 2014 #11

I am missing the link to the more legit source itsrobert Mar 2014 #15

Ok, smart guy. Warren DeMontague Mar 2014 #16

Very misleading caraher Mar 2014 #13

It does seem to have a promise for doing it cheaper quakerboy Mar 2014 #27

There's already quite a few concentrated solar power plants... Blanks Mar 2014 #17

The solar array in AZ has gone live. nt obxhead Mar 2014 #18

The Arizona plant went online in October. former9thward Mar 2014 #19

The Nevada solar plant off the I-15 near the State line with California just went live itsrobert Mar 2014 #22

Link to the IBM site about this: IDemo Mar 2014 #20

IBM solar energy tech claims to harness power of 2,000 suns BBR Esq Mar 2014 #24

Alright, that's totally not a Bond villain thing at all. NuclearDem Mar 2014 #25

Solar power has a maximum potential output of just about 1Kw per square meter, on average. Xithras Mar 2014 #26