PV Gap

Don Said:

What would be the cost of the solar cells needed for a 750MW plant in a region where the intensity of the sunl?

We Answered:

900W / m^2 not per square mile.

here's a thing, if someone DID decide to slap together a power plant like that, the cost of those cells would surely drop.

Elmer Said:

Where do I get solar cells in Chennai?

We Answered:

i think u r a good user of internet
so instead of searching chennai u could just buy from internet

Hilda Said:

What is the cost of solar cells compared to the cost of fossil fuels?

We Answered:

The cost of a solar cell by itself over time is very cost effective, now comes the big but. you also need to add into the cost comparison all the other equipment needed to bring the energy produced by the cell(s) to the utility. The cell itself is only one of several parts, you need batteries and an inverter to supply usable power. The batteries and inverter are not long life devices and will need service and replacement. These items add to the cost of a solar power system. When the costing is done over time even going out 10 yrs other energy sources are way cheaper.

Robert Said:

What is the simplest way of making a solar cell?

We Answered:

The simplest way to make a solar cell is to layer chemicals onto a glass or plastic substrate. The chemicals would be layered by drying concentrated solutions onto the substrate. Masks or etches would be used to place the chemical solutions correctly and make any necessary traces.

If you have the correct knowledge, this is even something you can do at home, except that sometimes the chemicals involved are rather toxic.

Of course, these types of cells can be produced and purchased commercially for far less than the costs of a home project. The commercial cells are a lot more efficient, and a lot safer to make. Many of the new commercial cells don't use a single chemical, but many in multiple layers. Each chemical absorbs different wavelengths of light, so by layering them the entire spectrum can be captured.


If you go searching for homemade solar cells, beware of any places selling instructions. The link below shows how to build a cuprous oxide cell as a demonstration. Of course, Cu2O has a 2 eV gap, so it misses out on most sunlight, and will produce a weak voltage. Cuprous oxide may also be layered through electro-chemical plating.

Iron oxide is another material that can be used for UV solar cells.

As a general rule, if you combine a metal with something in the nitrogen or oxygen columns you will make a semi-conductor. The lower down the columns, the smaller the energy gap. Of course, not all semiconductors are good for photovoltaics, and many of those lower elements are toxic.

Reginald Said:

Is solar panels bought from china actual cheaper than buying in the USA ?

We Answered:

While they might be cheaper in China, you have to also look at quality, delivery cost, and how long it take for delivery.

this is a local link.

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpisearc…

Pauline Said:

What portion of production costs for solar cells comes from silicon?

We Answered:

The amount and type of silicon used in the production of solar cells appears to be directly related to the type of cell produced. There would be a different figure for each production method and type of cell. The various thin-film technologies currently being developed reduce the amount (or mass) of light absorbing material required in creating a solar cell. This can lead to reduced processing costs from that of bulk materials (in the case of silicon thin films) but also tends to reduce energy conversion efficiency, although many multi-layer thin films have efficiencies above those of bulk silicon wafers.

One way of reducing the cost is to develop cheaper methods of obtaining silicon that is sufficiently pure. Silicon is a very common element, but is normally bound in silica, or silica sand. Processing silica (SiO2) to produce silicon is a very high energy process - at current efficiencies, it takes over two years for a conventional solar cell to generate as much energy as was used to make the silicon it contains.

Panels that harvest energy with CIGS (copper indium gallium selenide) cost far less to make and install, say backers. The material can be sprayed onto foil, plastic or glass or incorporated into cement and other building materials. Conceivably, the entire exterior of a house or building could become a solar generator.

CIGS also doesn't degrade in sunlight like other thin-film technologies. The smartest investors are going short on silicon and long on thin film, especially CIGS.

Juan Said:

cost of the solar cells to rum a ceiling fan?

We Answered:

That would be like buying a Hummer to pull a child's wagon. Ceiling fans are pretty cheap to run compaired to a lot of electrical appliances in the home.