Re-Doing the Math 40’s style.
Rating: 26 user(s) have rated this article Average rating: 5.0
Posted by: admin, on 8/26/2007, in category "Solar energy articles"
Views: this article has been read 429 times
Location: Los Angeles, CA, United States
Abstract: A deterrent to both cost and feasibility of installation has been the amount of solar panels needed to provide a useable amount of electricity for the home; with the advent of solar technology breaking the 40% efficiency mark that has all changed.

The average American household uses about 10,500 kWh of energy per year. If you are scouting for a solar solution that will provide the majority of a households energy needs a system of about 5,700 to 7,000 Watts or more.

With a typical 200 Watt solar panel that would be 36 panels decorating your roof. And since those panels are over $1,000 each you are looking at a chunk of change. If you want to do a little more (say charge your Plug-In car) you are going to require a roof full of solar panels. But a panel with double (40 %) the efficiency would produce 400 Watts allowing a 18 panel system to generate 7200 Watts and take up just over 250 square feet of rooftop. An average south facing roof of a 2 car garage (20X10) should do the job just fine. The technology is available and can be practically implemented on a National scale. Now what needs to be done is for our government to help make it financially beneficial for the average American.

Please check the article "The cost of “Doing Solar” for more information on that.

How would you rate this article?

User Feedback

Post your comment
Name:
E-mail:
Comment:
Insert Cancel
Headline News 
1 Jan 2009 :: Solar's Poor Showing in 2007
Despite all the talk and all the hype solar had a poor sales showing in 2007."
15 Nov 2008 :: Californian’s Reject prop 7
Prop 7 goes down in a landside defeat in California.
28 Mar 2007 :: The SOLAR Act
The "Solar Opportunity and Local Access Rights Act" (SOLAR) "The legislation would require utilities to credit their customers at retail electric rates for supplying excess solar power to the grid."
15 Feb 2007 :: "Securing America's Energy Independence Act"
Smith, Salazar introduce "Securing America's Energy Independence Act" to extend popular federal solar energy tax credits
20 Aug 2007 :: Solar Panels exceed 40% Efficiency
Consortium led by the University of Delaware builds Solar panel with 42% efficiency in July 2007.
20 Aug 2007 :: Solar Powered Hydrogen Home Fueling
Honda has Hydrogen concept car that is refueled at home using solar power.