AcidElement
Member
Hey , I just wanted to know how efficient solar power really is. In terms of sq footage and output in volts , amps? I'm sure there is many systems but i'm assuming the "most efficient" system.. just curious... thanks 
Who knows about solar power?
- Thread starter AcidElement
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AcidElement
Member
i see.... ok so i must change tactics .... who knows about ganja hahahahah ... 
Kant
Well-Known Member
Most efficient is a kind of hard thing to determine. I think at the moment silicon wafer solar panels are the most efficient commercially available ones (although I could be wrong). however you have to consider the cost of the solar panel versus the power output so a lower cost/lower power out put might be more cost effective but if you have a limited space then a more expensive but higher out put might be a better solution. this all depending on your situation.
tnrtinr
Well-Known Member
I hear solar with current technology is a joke. It cannot generate enough juice without huge arrays. Then you have the whole problem that it is dark 1/2 of the time. My grandma has one that heats her pool.
I want to get one of those massive wind turbines and sell back to the electric company.
I want to get one of those massive wind turbines and sell back to the electric company.
atavistic
Well-Known Member
They get expensive - its not just the arrays, you'll spend as much on the install as the arrays, and probably about that much again on other supporting hardware and batteries. SW US is most efficient place for solar, even FL not that great. Depending on your location and needs, $40K - $100K to go off system, especially if running a small grow room. Turbines high too - but efficient in Rockies and most of the Midwest. Tens of thousands.
You can always start small to offset a small portion of your use. And some States help, but nowhere near price parity with regular old elecricity.
You can always start small to offset a small portion of your use. And some States help, but nowhere near price parity with regular old elecricity.
Kant
Well-Known Member
the answer is yes and no. for small scale they can be greatly useful but when they are used on a commercial scale they become kind of useless.
The problem is that most of the stuff today can only convert about 15% of light to energy. But there's a couple of different kinds of solar sheeting that's in developement that claims upwards of 40% which would be extremely useful both on a commercial scale and small scale. it's called Metamorphic Multijunction Solar Cell
then there's this company called nanosolar that has this stuff that is basically like an ink that can be printed. It's only achieves about 15% efficiency but at a fraction of the cost of today's solar panels.
most of this technology is probably about 10 years alway from being commercially available to you and me but solar power is really come into it's own lately.
AcidElement
Member
thats wat i was lookin for .. these meamorphhic multijunction solar cells........... thankkkkkkkkkkkk youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
bigtomatofarmer
Well-Known Member
unfortunately the technology isnt there yet.
I looked into going solar and I had two options.
option #1 $8,000 Convert the entire 2,000 square feet house into solar power
option #2 $5,000 Convert everything electric into solar. Leaving the heater, stove, oven, water heater on natural gas.
I decided to wait a while until I found a better deal.
The solar panels are also pretty large and can be an eye sore on the roof.
I looked into going solar and I had two options.
option #1 $8,000 Convert the entire 2,000 square feet house into solar power
option #2 $5,000 Convert everything electric into solar. Leaving the heater, stove, oven, water heater on natural gas.
I decided to wait a while until I found a better deal.
The solar panels are also pretty large and can be an eye sore on the roof.