Solar panel technology has greatly improved over the past few years, but in 2010

Question

Solar panel technology has greatly improved over the past few years, but in 2010 they were only about 15% efficient in converting sunlight to electricity. A typical home will use about 40. kWh of electricity per day. Assuming 8.0 hours of useful sunlight per day, and knowing that the usn supplies energy at a rate of 1.0 kWh per sq meter of surface, calculate the minimum solar panel area necessary to provide all of the typical home's electricity.

40 KWh of electricity per day. Assuming k0 hours of useful sunlight per day, and knowing that the sun supplies energy of a ratc of L.O kW per squaremeter of surface, caloulate the minimum

Explanation / Answer

We need 40 kWh of electricity per day = 40000 Watts

Efficiency = 15%

Energy supply of sun = 1kWh / m2 = 1000 Watts

Total Power Output=Total Area x Solar Irradiance x Conversion Efficiency

40000 watts = Total Area * 1000 * 8 *0.15

Total Area = 33.33 m^2

Minimum solar panel area necessary to provide all of the typical home's electricity = 33.33 m^2

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