• skillissuer@discuss.tchncs.de
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    8 months ago

    it’s both, but i’m not sure if these large solar concentrators (ivanpah or these things in spain) are more efficient than current pv panels

    • AggressivelyPassive@feddit.de
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      8 months ago

      I mean, if they’re dramatically cheaper, they don’t have to be efficient.

      That being said, solar cells get around 20% efficiency, steam generators maybe 50% on a good day, subtract the reflection, collection and storage inefficiencies and you might get roughly in the same ballpark as solar cells.

      • FiniteBanjo@lemmy.today
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        8 months ago

        Non-tracking solar panels are closer to 12% actual efficiency, 20% would be a theoretical efficiency. I only mention this because you used an actual efficiency estimate for the steam generator but not the solar panel.