PV Gap

Herman Said:

Maximum Power genaration capacity of Single Solar cell?

We Answered:

Alot depends on the theoretical design to convert solar to electricity, the size of the cell and the composition of the semiconductor substrates.

You can actually do a simple search on the internet and pull up studies, papers, lab kits that give you the specifics.

Gwendolyn Said:

How much more would you pay for green power?

We Answered:

Not a single cent more because the total cost of building and running a power station (for example 50 years) makes the total costed factor per kilowatt of power the same whether it be generated by coal, gas, nuclear, solar, wind, hydrogen, tidal or geothermal generation. It's the warm fuzzy feeling one gets from the latter generating methods that makes us feel good about reducing global warming (for which I am all for) and about not paying more for the same generated electricity.

Donald Said:

What is the peak usage in kilowatts of a typical house?

We Answered:

Well if you want this, then peak is not important, it is the mean (average).

Peak may be very high if you have an electric shower (9kw) on at the same time as an electric oven (3Kw), electric hob (6Kw) and a few heaters (8kw), lighting (1Kw) and sundry (kettle, toaster, hairdryer, vacuum cleaner - 5Kw). The answer is in fact so high it would blow the main fuse in most houses.

Peak usage is never usually anywehr near maximum possible.

Now, what IS useful is knowing what the average is - and yet that DOES come down to KWH - because you can then use a battery bank and an inverter to provide the peaks of power needed - which then top back up when demand is lower.

Solar - VERY expensive, unlikly to get money back before cells need replacing. Wind - excellent - can repay themselves every year or two. Hydrogen? You jesting? Until we have LARGE tanks able to withstand 20,000 psi safely, hydrogen for home power is a LONG way off unless you live next door to the hydrogen outlet! A pig to store efficiently.

More info if you can tell us WHAT the main electricity demand in your house would be - heating / cooking / shower etc?