View Single Post
  #1  
Old January 24th 04, 02:39 PM
Alex Terrell
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Maximum capacity of solar panels

Any one know ....

How many W/m2 can solar panels produce, assuming concentrated or laser
light?

The application I was thinking of was for a Solar Power station at
Earth - Moon L1, beaming laser power to vehicles on the moon's
surface.

I think a mechanical digger or large dump truck might need about 100
KW. Alternatively, could the laser be converted directly into heat to
drive a closed cycle engine?

For these slow moving vehicles, tracking should not be a problem.

The other application is reducing solar cell area by preconcentrating
light on it, since mirrors are lighter and cheaper than solar cells.

Alex