Elie: Elie moved page Concentrator photovoltaics to Archive:000/Concentrator photovoltaics without leaving a redirect: Huge_refactor

2024-10-26T20:29:28Z

Elie moved page Concentrator photovoltaics to Archive:000/Concentrator photovoltaics without leaving a redirect: Huge_refactor

← Older revision	Revision as of 16:29, 26 October 2024
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Elie: /* Adapting to sun angle */

2023-05-16T17:26:25Z

Adapting to sun angle

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:26, 16 May 2023
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	==Adapting to sun angle==		==Adapting to sun angle==
	{{sum\|Likely problem}}		{{sum\|Likely problem}}
	As the sun angle changes throughout the day, the lens focuses the sunlight onto a different point. There needs to be some sort of active motor system to correct for this, to keep the photovoltaic component in the focal point. Who knows the environmental footprint of such a system? ~~{{qn}}~~ It might (or might not) outweigh all the benefits of the solar power. {{rn}}		As the sun angle changes throughout the day, the lens focuses the sunlight onto a different point. There needs to be some sort of active motor system to correct for this, to keep the photovoltaic component in the focal point. Who knows the environmental footprint of such a system? It might (or might not) outweigh all the benefits of the solar power. {{rn}} {{qn}}

	==Scarce minerals==		==Scarce minerals==

Elie: Created page with "Could this be a scalable solution for solar power? * Verdict ''so far'': Probably not. '''Concentrator photovoltaics''' are based on the following idea: Instead of making a full photovoltaic solar panel, make a much smaller one, make it heat-resistant, and give it a huge lens to focus more sun on it. {{minor|Note: This page mostly about designs where the sunlight is highly concentrated - let's say, 8x or more. Weaker magnifications aren't that h..."

2023-05-16T16:52:30Z

Created page with "Could this be a scalable solution for solar power? * <small>Verdict ''so far'': Probably not.</small> '''Concentrator photovoltaics''' are based on the following idea: Instead of making a full photovoltaic solar panel, make a much smaller one, make it heat-resistant, and give it a huge lens to focus more sun on it. {{minor|Note: This page mostly about designs where the sunlight is highly concentrated - let's say, 8x or more. Weaker magnifications aren't that h..."

New page

Could this be a scalable solution for [[solar]] power?
* <small>Verdict ''so far'': Probably not.</small>

'''Concentrator photovoltaics''' are based on the following idea: Instead of making a full photovoltaic [[solar panel]], make a much smaller one, make it heat-resistant, and give it a huge lens to focus more sun on it.

{{minor|Note: This page mostly about designs where the sunlight is highly concentrated - let's say, 8x or more. Weaker magnifications aren't that helpful in overcoming the challenges of conventional [[photovoltaics]] anyway.}}

{{considerations}} __NOTOC__

==Cloudy days==
{{sum|Problem}}
Unlike conventional [[photovoltaics]], concentrator photovoltaics don't work on overcast days. There may be lots of diffuse light in the sky, but the lens can't focus it.

Extra [[energy storage]] could help somewhat, but only in places where there are just a few overcast days in a row. It won't help in places where there's little direct sunlight for weeks or months at a time.

==Adapting to sun angle==
{{sum|Likely problem}}
As the sun angle changes throughout the day, the lens focuses the sunlight onto a different point. There needs to be some sort of active motor system to correct for this, to keep the photovoltaic component in the focal point. Who knows the environmental footprint of such a system? {{qn}} It might (or might not) outweigh all the benefits of the solar power. {{rn}}

==Scarce minerals==
{{sum|Maybe reasonable}}
The rare mineral content is proportionally less [[solar panel minerals|than conventional solar panels]], because the photovoltaic unit is much smaller. But it still might not be low enough. {{rn}} {{qn}}

==Energy in production==
{{sum|Unknown}}
[//wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresnel_lens Fresnel lenses] are lightweight and cheap. Think of the sort of flexible plastic magnifying glass you can buy at a dollar store (thin and the size of a piece of paper). Concentrator photovoltaic panels use large arrays of these; each with a small photovoltaic unit behind it.

However, if the "adapting to sun angle" problem can't be ''also'' solved cheaply, then the whole system would likely take a lot of [[energy]] to make. Thus, the [[EROI]] is still unknown.

[[Category:Energy sources]]

Archive:000/Concentrator photovoltaics - Revision history

Elie: Elie moved page Concentrator photovoltaics to Archive:000/Concentrator photovoltaics without leaving a redirect: Huge_refactor

Elie: /* Adapting to sun angle */