That's why solar panels are so large for the output they give; the actual solar energy level is 1000+ watts per square metre, but square metre of panels only gives a few hundred watts at best.
A typical commercial solar panel is roughly 18% efficient. Laboratory ones are as high as 42% and higher efficiencies are planned. To put this in perspective, gasoline is chemically stored energy captured by photosynthesis millions of years ago. The efficiencies of photosynthesis in modern plants are typically less than 1% and not all of the plants are buried by geologic forces to become fossil fuels.
The energy that does not become electricity are either reflected or absorbed as heat.
Solar panels ... Solar water heater s, also called solar domestic hot water systems, can be a cost-effective way to generate hot water for a ...
may be.
So they say that solar panels are not effective... only absorbing utilizing 14% of the total energy falling on it.
So where does the rest of the 86% energy go??? is it converted to heat energy or something like that?
