PV Gap

Steve Said:

what is the optimal angle and positioning of solar pv cells?

We Answered:

Assuming passive (non-moving) panels, the optimum is to face south, pitched at an angle equal to your latitude.

Alicia Said:

Which is better: PV solar cells or solar troughs?

We Answered:

They have different uses. Solar cells capture light as electricity. Very useful, even on homeowner scale. Solar troughs capture light as heat. On homeowner scale, heat is useful for water heating and space heating, troughs can be used for this but there are better special-purpose devices on the market - like evacuated-tube water heaters. Using heat to make electricity is generally in the province of utility companies, those that do this can afford much more efficient heat capture devices.

Johnnie Said:

How do you make a pv solar cell?

We Answered:

As a home project, you can't. It would require literally millions of dollars worth of equipment to do so; among the machinery required are zone melt refiners, vacuum ion implanters, semiconductor saws, photolithograpic gear, exposure masks, and a considerable pile of toxic chemicals. Not to mention a high grade clean room in which to do all the work. Perhaps this gives you a taste of why the things are as expensive as they are. The going price of photovoltaic cell power plants these days is about $10 a watt; the maximum power obtainable is about 2 kWh per installed watt per year, which at today's prices is worth about 25 cents. Subsidies, which are available in varying degrees, can reduce the net cost to a point where such a facility is marginally profitable.

Gina Said:

Are solar cells (or pv cells) suitable for use in an urban environment?

We Answered:

Depends on the deed restrictions and of course available sunlight.

There have been instances where people have put up solar panels only to be forced to take them down by their homeowners associations.

These panels are exposed to the weather so they can be damaged in storms.

Renee Said:

Where can get information on Plastic sheet like materials that act as PV cells to convert light to energy?

We Answered:

http://www.siliconsolar.com/flexible-sol…

Google is your friend. I don't think it would hold up long in most places.

Bernard Said:

Would it be possible to create a 9V battery out of calculator solar cells?

We Answered:

You will need many solar cells to power anything. I like to take power supply out of obsolete scrap computer and use it. Some of the wires are already 5V.