Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Explained
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Our man David Biello explains the science behind solar panels, and the allure of generating electricity directly from the sun's rays.
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The electrification of the Automobile will bring new challenges to the power grid. The in home demand for high current 220 Volt outlets will grow for each Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) and Plugin Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV). To reduce charging time a 480 Volt outlet could become more in demand for commercial use. I suppose you are asking what does this have to do with the current power grid and Photovoltaic solar energy. Think about a community of 100 homes with 100 Air Conditioners, 100 Electric clothes dryers, 100 Electric stoves and 100 BEVs and PHEVs all consuming power at the same time. Will the BEVs and PHEVs be the tipping point for a transformer overload and failure?
A thought is this the time that a dedicated roof mounted panels or shingles becomes an accessory to the vehicle for charging its batteries? This could be a Michigan challenge. Made in Michigan the photovoltaic shingle could be the answer when arrayed amass to make a capacitor storage system to charge the vehicles batteries. This could be a challenge for Scientific American.
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