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World Community Grid Forums
Category: Completed Research
Forum: The Clean Energy Project Forum
Thread: wattage per square foot |
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Thread Status: Active Total posts in this thread: 4
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
how many watts of electricity can theoretically be gotten out of a surface area of a square foot or meter, and also what is technology allowing us to get currently for that same surface area??
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
That's going to depend on the sunlight available.
Generally, efficiency is quoted as a percentage of light converted to electricity. The most expensive inorganic solar cells can manage up to 40%, according to the FAQ: http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/projects_sh...Cep1Faq.do?shortName=cep1 - but commercially available solar cells have an efficiency ranging from 5 - 17% The researchers are looking for organic compounds that allow an efficiency of 10% or better. |
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
For practical calculations, sunlight gives us about 1000-1200 watts/meter sq.
Obviously, the angle of incidence, cloud cover, pollution, haze, etc. all affect the amount hitting the ground. I do most of my cooking in a SunOven, so I can attest to the power of the sun; my little oven sustains temperatures over 325F, even in the dead of winter ... when the sky is clear and the sun is not on the horizon. |
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
thanks guys, didn't realise some of this was discussed in the faq's
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