Renewable Energy problem Please evaluate the energy gain fro

Renewable Energy problem

Please evaluate the energy gain from solar panels in an area of 1.0 square kilometers in 300 sunny days with average time of 7 hours one sunny day in one year (assuming 65 cloudy days). With commercial grade products, the solar panel efficiency is about 8%. If the same area is used to grow corn for biofuel (ethanol plus biomass) harvesting two times a year, how much energy may be obtained (look up the yield of biomass and corn online).

Solution

Area = 1 sq km;      No of hours available for solar power in a year: 300x7 =2100 hours       Efficeency of 8%

Solar energy received per sq meter is 1 KW    Hence solar energy generated per year =1000sq M x1KW x 8/100x 2100 hrs =168000 KWhr From on line data 10 MW plant will require 12, 350 acres for biomass 1acre = 4046.86 sq m

hence area of 1000 sq M will produce =(10000KW/(12,350 x4046.86))x1000=0.2 KW     Two crops per year =0.4 KW/1000 KM    Assuming 300 days of generation total KWH produced =0.4x300days x24hr=2880 Kwhr