this post was submitted on 09 Apr 2024
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Science Memes

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Hooooooooooooooooooot (files.catbox.moe)
submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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[–] [email protected] 3 points 7 months ago (1 children)

it's both, but i'm not sure if these large solar concentrators (ivanpah or these things in spain) are more efficient than current pv panels

[–] [email protected] 4 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I mean, if they're dramatically cheaper, they don't have to be efficient.

That being said, solar cells get around 20% efficiency, steam generators maybe 50% on a good day, subtract the reflection, collection and storage inefficiencies and you might get roughly in the same ballpark as solar cells.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Non-tracking solar panels are closer to 12% actual efficiency, 20% would be a theoretical efficiency. I only mention this because you used an actual efficiency estimate for the steam generator but not the solar panel.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 7 months ago

That's because I'm so smart I completely ignored that the sun moves around during the day.