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Photovoltaics: Difference between revisions
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(Created page with "thumb|Photovoltaic solar panels Category:Energy sources Photovoltaics are any '''solar panels''' that produce electricity. <small>Not to be confused with solar thermal panels (non-electric) which just heat air or water in the sun.</small> <!-- ''If done right,'' this could be a main energy source for the world. --> ==Considerations== {|class="wikitable" |#Intermittency |Needs energy storage |- |#Rare metals |Major prob...") |
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===Rare metals=== | ===Rare metals=== | ||
''Thin-film photovoltaics'' are the most common types of solar panels used today. They are relatively efficient, but '''depend heavily''' on rare minerals. There's simply no way they could be scaled up enough to replace fossil fuels. | ''Thin-film photovoltaics'' are the most common types of solar panels used today. They are relatively efficient, but '''depend heavily''' on rare minerals. There's simply no way they could be scaled up enough to replace fossil fuels. <br />{{more|Solar panel minerals}} | ||
'''Solution:''' Find some other photovoltaic tech based on more abundant minerals. Sacrificing some efficiency is okay, for the sake of making cheaper, more scalable solar panels. | '''Solution:''' Find some other photovoltaic tech based on more abundant minerals. Sacrificing some efficiency is okay, for the sake of making cheaper, more scalable solar panels. <br />{{more|solar/challenge 1}} | ||
===Need for land=== | ===Need for land=== | ||
[[Solar rooftops]] have enough surface area to power most of the world. Very dense cities are an exception, if they aren't surrounded by enough suburbs. Houses, if the rooftop is fully covered in solar panels, can generally produce ''surplus'' power which could power inner cities. | [[Solar rooftops]] have enough surface area to power most of the world. Very dense cities are an exception, if they aren't surrounded by enough suburbs. Houses, if the rooftop is fully covered in solar panels, can generally produce ''surplus'' power which could power inner cities. <br />{{more|Rooftop solar}} | ||
[[Solar farms]] would be needed in cases where solar rooftops aren't enough. Some amount of [[land]] would be needed{{qn}}, but far less than what is used for agriculture. Solar panels would best be placed in areas with no fertile soil. They don't play well with agriculture, because (unlike [[wind]] power) solar panels block the sun that plants need to grow. {{x|There are some crops that like shade, but they could have just as well been grown in the shade of full sun crops. See: [[polyculture]] }} | [[Solar farms]] would be needed in cases where solar rooftops aren't enough. Some amount of [[land]] would be needed{{qn}}, but far less than what is used for agriculture. Solar panels would best be placed in areas with no fertile soil. They don't play well with agriculture, because (unlike [[wind]] power) solar panels block the sun that plants need to grow. {{x|There are some crops that like shade, but they could have just as well been grown in the shade of full sun crops. See: [[polyculture]] }} | ||