Paper-Thin Solar Makes Any Surface Photovoltaic
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Paper-Thin Solar Makes Any Surface Photovoltaic
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Re: Paper-Thin Solar Makes Any Surface Photovoltaic
#2If weight is the issue, well fine. But they deliver (back of the envelope) 37W per square meter. While conventional panels deliver ~200.
So any application that's space-limited, these are not a win. And isn't that, every home installation?
Re: Paper-Thin Solar Makes Any Surface Photovoltaic
#3If weight is the issue, well fine. But they deliver (back of the envelope) 37W per square meter. While conventional panels deliver ~200. So any application that's space-limited, these are not a win. And isn't that, every home installation?
As they mention in the article though, there are lots of applications that aren't space-limited but are structurally-limited (warehouses) in that they can't support the weight of solar panels without more engineering.
I did think it was strange that they obfuscated the W/m^2 statistic by only presenting W/kg and kg/m^2. I suppose focusing on watts per kilogram better aligns with a breakthrough in installations with poor structural support for heavy panels.
Re: Paper-Thin Solar Makes Any Surface Photovoltaic
#4Quite exciting - really hope this can boost the efficiency of conventional solar plants, too.
Re: Paper-Thin Solar Makes Any Surface Photovoltaic
#5If weight is the issue, well fine. But they deliver (back of the envelope) 37W per square meter. While conventional panels deliver ~200. So any application that's space-limited, these are not a win. And isn't that, every home installation?
In Germany (and I think in the EU) you have a max. weight for cars of about 3.5T (~7716 pounds). You can drive cars that weight more than that but then your speed is limited to (I think 80-100km/h), you have to pay (more) toll and more importantly you have to get a special drivers license in most cases (cost + time).
Camper vans usually get very close to that limit. Even if the van has only 2 sleeping spots. Weight is definitely an issue there and most camper vans sold these days come with a solar installation on the roof.
With 100W of solar you can expect some additional autonomy as a camper. 200W is considered more than average solar for small camper vans in the EU.
A typical 200W solar panel weights in at around 10-13 kg + maybe 1-3 kg for the additional bracket.
11-16kg is something you would think about.
Thats also the reason why flexible panels are already used for some camper vans. They also have the advantage than you can put them on un-even surfaces.
The VW Grand California for example can be ordered with a flexible panel at the front side:
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/VW_California#/media/Datei:VW_...
Re: Paper-Thin Solar Makes Any Surface Photovoltaic
#6If weight is the issue, well fine. But they deliver (back of the envelope) 37W per square meter. While conventional panels deliver ~200. So any application that's space-limited, these are not a win. And isn't that, every home installation?
As they mention in the article though, there are lots of applications that aren't space-limited but are structurally-limited (warehouses) in that they can't support the weight of solar panels without more engineering. I did think it was strange that they obfuscated the W/m^2 statistic by only presenting W/kg and kg/m^2. I suppose focusing on watts per kilogram better aligns with a breakthrough in installations with p…
In that case I suggest installing efficient panels in some large installation somewhere else. Like, a power company solar farm miles from your warehouse.
It's such a strange magpie impulse folks have to want solar on their house. Look at my stuff! I'm doing things!
From a societal point of view the efficient installation is in bulk, serviceable, unobstructed. A rooftop is comically not these things.
Re: Paper-Thin Solar Makes Any Surface Photovoltaic
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
As they mention in the article though, there are lots of applications that aren't space-limited but are structurally-limited (warehouses) in that they can't support the weight of solar panels without more engineering. I did think it was strange that they obfuscated the W/m^2 statistic by only presenting W/kg and kg/m^2. I suppose focusing on watts per kilogram better aligns with a breakthrough in installations with p…
In that case I suggest installing efficient panels in some large installation somewhere else. Like, a power company solar farm miles from your warehouse. It's such a strange magpie impulse folks have to want solar on their house. Look at my stuff! I'm doing things! From a societal point of view the efficient installation is in bulk, serviceable, unobstructed. A rooftop is comically not these things.
Sure, cut down a forest or buy ready land. Level the land, prepare drainage, and install racks to hold the films. Why do that when a warehouse roof is ready for solar to be deployed?
Re: Paper-Thin Solar Makes Any Surface Photovoltaic
#8This is a similar, commercially available technology:
https://www.sunflarearray.com/
If Tesla Roof hadn't strung us along, we might have gone with Sun Flare. (We ended up with conventional panels instead.)
Any, the difference between Sunflare isn't really explained at the beginning of the article.
It sounds like the prototype is more like a stetchy piece of fabric than a roll of paper.
Re: Paper-Thin Solar Makes Any Surface Photovoltaic
#9Earlier quoted context omitted.
As they mention in the article though, there are lots of applications that aren't space-limited but are structurally-limited (warehouses) in that they can't support the weight of solar panels without more engineering. I did think it was strange that they obfuscated the W/m^2 statistic by only presenting W/kg and kg/m^2. I suppose focusing on watts per kilogram better aligns with a breakthrough in installations with p…
In that case I suggest installing efficient panels in some large installation somewhere else. Like, a power company solar farm miles from your warehouse. It's such a strange magpie impulse folks have to want solar on their house. Look at my stuff! I'm doing things! From a societal point of view the efficient installation is in bulk, serviceable, unobstructed. A rooftop is comically not these things.
The advantage of solar on roofs is that solar doesn't need to be serviced often, and the solar panels actually protect the roof under it and will lower electricity use in the summer by keeping sun off the roof.
Re: Paper-Thin Solar Makes Any Surface Photovoltaic
#10If weight is the issue, well fine. But they deliver (back of the envelope) 37W per square meter. While conventional panels deliver ~200. So any application that's space-limited, these are not a win. And isn't that, every home installation?
In Germany (and I think in the EU) you have a max. weight for cars of about 3.5T (~7716 pounds). You can drive cars that weight more than that but then your speed is limited to (I think 80-100km/h), you have to pay (more) toll and more importantly you have to get a special drivers license in most cases (cost + time). Camper vans usually get very close to that limit. Even if the van has only 2 sleeping spots. Weight i…
16 kg on 3500 kg is nothing and you definitely need 200W and not 40W