PV Gap

Mildred Said:

Solar Panels Energy Theory?? ENERGY?

We Answered:

No. That lie is put out there by people who would lose out if solar panels ever became widely used. It does take about as much power to produce them as the panels make in 2 years in a good location, but considering their useful lifetime is at least 20-30 years, that isn't much. Wind power produces as much power as is used to create the windmill in 7-9 months in a decent location. Neither will ever produce as much power as they required to be made if placed in the wrong location, like in the shade or a non- windy area. No coal plant would ever make as much energy as it took to build it if no coal were provided either.

Lloyd Said:

Why are solar panels Flat? Wouldn't a round panel be better suited to their task?

We Answered:

what you want, is the most surface area, exposed to the most sun, possible.
the way to do that, in the northern hemisphere, is to have a flat panel, tilted south, sort of toward the equator.
but not all the way south.
around here, the energy is calculated over a year, so you want to optimize the generation in the summer, when more energy is available.

it's not a good idea to make an accordion.
the materials to make the solar panels are expensive, so folding them wastes material.

panels don't care much whether electricity strikes them vertically, or at an angle, other than, vertically concentrates the available energy more, and generates more electricity.