• dom@lemmy.ca
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      1 year ago

      People think the cost of the panel is the most expensive, but it’s actually the 151 million km copper cable

      • FZDC@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        Why can’t we just wirelessly transmit the power, maybe have it hit a collection device that can harness about 4 kwh/m^2/day

        • dom@lemmy.ca
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          1 year ago

          Hey that’s not a bad idea. We could install these receivers on people’s roofs or in big parking lots

      • jarfil@beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        Copper wouldn’t cut it, too much resistance. You need a superconductor… only problem is how to keep it cold enough at below 1000C.

        • redcalcium@lemmy.institute
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          1 year ago

          Easy, just cool it with some sort of space refrigerator. Solar powered of course.

          Net electricity arrived on earth after cooling cost: 1kwh/day

  • redcalcium@lemmy.institute
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    1 year ago

    Is it true that you can get 4kwh per day per square meter? My average electricity consumption is ~15kwh/day, so if I can potentially offset most of my grid usage with just 4 square meters of solar panel, that seems very attractive. I live in a tropical country btw.

    • Cenzorrll@beehaw.org
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      1 year ago

      No, 4kwh is about the daily amount of sun hitting 1 square meter. Solar panels can capture about 20% of that

    • ukcreation@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      Each of my panels has a theoretical capacity of 390 Watts per hour. So 4kwh in a day seems very feasible. My panels are certainly not the cutting edge of technology!

      • MxM111@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        Your 390W is if the sun is in the zenith and hitting your panel at right angle. Also, are you sure your panel is 1m^2?

  • glue_snorter@lemmy.sdfeu.org
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    1 year ago

    And if you follow, there may be a tomorrow

    But if the offer’s shunned, you might as well be installing solar panels on the sun