Are their solar panels that capture more than 40% of the suns energy?


Question:
From my research, solar panels only capture about 10% of the suns energy. It seems to me that someone out there would be working on improving the technology so that photovoltics or solar panels can become more main stream.

Answer:
Though the most efficient (and very expensive) research solar cells that convert the sun's energy to electricity are currently around 40% in efficiency and more common commercial cells are around 15% in efficiency, this is not true for solar panels that heat water (for pools, or hot water heaters, for example). Solar panels that heat water are typically 80% efficient though can approach 90% efficiency. They are black and absorb most of the sun's energy that is converted to heat and transferred to the liquid (usually water) flowing through the panel.
I dont think so. Even the human body is only about 40% energy efficient. Gasoline isnt that high either. I would find it amazing even to get to 20%.
no.

The most efficient panels so far convert 18% to electricity and the rest goes to heat

These high efficiency panels cost 10 to 20 times as much as the ones that are 10% to 12% efficient, making them only useful to NASA
if there are....you'll never see them....bad for the economy..like electric car,s...kinda make,s you want to go out & vote..doesnt it?
Sorry, but billions have been spent on research and development and about 10% is it for panels that are even close to being affordable.

Don't beleive the media and hollywood. Listen to engineers and scientits. They deal in facts.
maybe if you made them out of superconductor material, but then you would need a government grant to afford even one panel.
More Questions & Answers...
  • What technology came out of solar cells?
  • Performance of a single crystal solar cell under concentrated sunlight?
  • Name the planent that is eliminated from the solar system.?
  • If the planets in our solar system...?
  • What is the main problem with a solar system model of the atom?
  • Who was the first man discovered the solar system?
  • Solar panels for your home?
  • Cant find article from last 2-3 weeks or so, on Yahoo News re: a man that had solar panels who compared cost?
  • The questions and answers post by the user, for information only, AnswersRoom.com does not guarantee the right
    Copyright © 2007 AnswersRoom.com -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

    Hot Topic