If solar panels are 100% efficient, how many watts could they theoretically capture per square foot of land?

Question

Assuming a clear day at a Latitude in the northern part of the US on the Summer Equinox at high noon.

Answer 1

In clear space above the Earth, watts per square meter is about 1400. At ground level, due to the atmosphere, this drops down to around 800 W/m^2 on a clear day. Divide by 10.76 to get the value for a square foot, or roughly 74 Watts per square foot. The source listed below states a value of 1020 W/m^2, or 95 watts per square foot, though I've read 800 elsewhere.

Answer 2

First, the units you are looking for are Watt-hours or more commonly kWh, which is what you see on your electric bill.

It's different for every location as solar insolation varies with latitude, seasons and weather patterns. You can look up the available energy over an average year for your location on the National Solar Radiation Database here:
http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/redbook/sum2/state.html The parent site also has hourly data if you really want it.

You can also find approximated values for anywhere in the world here:
http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/sse/

Tracking also makes a big difference regardless of collector efficiency, as the data will show.


Also remember that there are more efficient ways to make electricity from sunlight than photovoltaics, such as concentrating solar thermal and Stirling dish systems

Answer 3

Nothing can capture watts. A watt is a measure of heat energy produced through the use of electricity. Youneed to rethink and refine your question. And you need to do some studying in electricity and/or electronics. However, I assume your wanting to know, theoretically, how much electricity a 100 percent efficient solar energy collector and generator could generate from the most direct and strongest sunlight striking one square foot of its surface. You have asked a very good question and I hope someone else can answer it for you. I can't.

Answer 4

Of course, that is assuming 100% efficiency, which is thermodynamically impossible. Even the very best are only a bit over 30% effective. Of course, I still dont' have a problem with covering the state of Nevada in solar cells :D

Answer 5

1 kilowatt per square meter.

The best solar electric panels only absorb a little over 16 percent. Solar heat does better.

Answer 6

Nominal 12.5 watts consistent with sq. foot. The panels covers approximately 8 sq. feet and this is the completed panel it fairly is rated at one hundred watts. even nonetheless, that's familiar with electricity to in user-friendly terms anticipate eighty% of the rated ability on your designs which suits out to ten watts consistent with sq. foot. what number kilowatt hours relies upon on your region for usable sunshine. then you certainly multiply the kind of usable hours by ability of your power score. subsequently in case you have been in manhattan city the place you are able to anticipate an primary of four.08 hours of usable photograph voltaic consistent with day, you will be able to desire to anticipate a nominal fifty one WH consistent with sq. foot consistent with day, that's 0.05 kwh consistent with sq. foot consistent with day.

Answer 7

1

Answer 8

scientists say cover Death Valley and it will power the whole US.BTU's converted to Watts.