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littleMAS t1_ixwhz5a wrote

It is amazing how 'inefficient' power 'generation' seems to be. Imagine if they were 99% efficient. I guess that would be like imagining I was 26.81% efficient.

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OddGambit t1_ixwnmke wrote

Energy conversion is a tough game.

The upper limit for a single junction silicon cell is around 30% (can't remember the exact number and it depends on your assumptions), so we are already approaching the point of diminishing returns for this specific configuration.

Multijunction cells or TPV cells can go higher though, we just can't do them as cost efficiently yet.

Cool!

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al-in-to t1_ixwt036 wrote

There is a technical limit, about 34%, so we are 80% there. To go beyond that you have to use multi junction cells, which are a lot more expensive. Perovskite does multi cell, but with efficiency level similar to conventional methods

It's generally better to make it cheaper than more efficient, but both is always better.

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hammeredtrout1 t1_ixwi9sf wrote

I think it means there’s lots of room for further efficiency improvements. And solar is already the cheapest way to produce energy…imagine what will happen if efficiency continues to rise

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thefpspower t1_ixwivsr wrote

It's the cheapest because it has become cheap, not because it's more efficient than before. Efficient panels are way more expensive.

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BuzzBadpants t1_ixwzdte wrote

I don’t know why you’re getting downvoted, you’re absolutely correct.

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hammeredtrout1 t1_ixx5fg3 wrote

No they’re not. Energy cost is measured in price per megawatt hour - how much it costs to produce x amount of energy. Increasing efficiency is a major way of reducing cost, and solar has become cheaper than any other source not only because it’s cheaper to produce, but it is more efficient

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BasvanS t1_ixzoa4f wrote

Efficiency is about getting more out of the sand amount of surface. If double the surface gives the same amount of electricity, but is 10 times cheaper, the cost per kWh drops by a factor of five.

The cost of solar has come down, because it’s price follow an observed law where a doubling in installed capacity drops the price by 20% (Swanson’s law)

Efficiency is part of that equation, but the efficiency hasn’t gone up that much. It’s mostly production capacity that accounts for the savings.

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DrXaos t1_ixxkkoa wrote

Photosynthesis in plants is typically 3%. Solar cells are fighting thermodynamics, so almost 27% is extraordinarily good.

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