Technology
SunPower
References for Environmental Analysis
Air Emissions for each State: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/how-clean.html
Calculations and References: http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/refs.html
System Size 253 kW at a 10-degree tilt South (Click for Larger Size)
The Environmental offsets are somewhat different than the previous description of these benefits. The reason for the large increase in number of ‘Trees Planted’ and ‘Carbon Neutral Vehicles’ stems from a new source with more credibility than the sources cited initially. The EPA is more credible than American Foressts.org and using the EPA calculation for carbon neutral vehicles is more robust and exact than the calculation I was using before, which was effectively an inference from fueleconomy.gov (run by the EPA).
Solar Shade Structures
Solar Shade Structures with Charging Stations (Click for Larger Image)
Solar Shade Structures (Click for a Larger Image)
Photovoltaics
SunPower 230 Watt Module
“Photovoltaics are best known as a method for generating electric power by using solar cells to convert energy from the sun into electricity. The photovoltaic effect refers to photons of light knocking electrons into a higher state of energy to create electricity. The term photovoltaic denotes the unbiased operating mode of a photodiode in which current through the device is entirely due to the transduced light energy. Virtually all photovoltaic devices are some type of photodiode.”…
Thin Film
“The solar cells made from these materials tend to have lower energy conversion efficiency than bulk silicon (also called crystalline or wafer silicon), but are also less expensive to produce. The quantum efficiency of thin-film solar cells is also lower due to reduced number of collected charge carriers per incident photon.” (Read More at Wikipedia.org)
Solar Thermal
“As the temperature increases, different forms of conversion become practical. Up to 600°C, steam turbines, standard technology, have an efficiency up to 41%. Above this, gas turbines can be more efficient. Higher temperatures are problematic because different materials and techniques are needed. One proposal for very high temperatures is to use liquid fluoride salts operating between 700°C to 800°C, using multi-stage turbine systems to achieve 50% or more thermal efficiencies.”… (Read More at Wikipedia.org)
Projects
