Re:Africa’s Rural Poor Begin Harnessing the Sun
by jws on Saturday December 25, 2010 @01:52AM
(#2038624)
Solar power is a function of area. If you are comparing a small cell, say one that fits on a flashlight, to a small generator that fits in the same flashlight, then there will not be much solar power available.
If you are expand your solar cell to a square meter then you will make more power than an "in shape" cyclist can sustain for an hour (200 watts).
Rules of thumb:
• 1 square meter in full noontime sun gets about 1000 watts of sunlight.
• Solar panels are about 20% efficient, so 200 watts per square meter at noon.
• Total sun delivered during the day is equivalent to 4 noon hours in the summer, 2 noon hours in the winter.
If you are expand your solar cell to a square meter then you will make more power than an "in shape" cyclist can sustain for an hour (200 watts).
Rules of thumb:
• 1 square meter in full noontime sun gets about 1000 watts of sunlight.
• Solar panels are about 20% efficient, so 200 watts per square meter at noon.
• Total sun delivered during the day is equivalent to 4 noon hours in the summer, 2 noon hours in the winter.