If we covered the Sahara Desert with the photovoltaic cells, we could cover all the energy requirements of the earth!

Photovoltaic is the technology in which light is converted into electrical energy. It is widely accepted today as a method for generating power by using solar cells packaged in photovoltaic modules. These modules are often connected in multiples as solar photovoltaic arrays which can be used to convert energy from the sun into electricity.

Based on Wikipedia, in the Sahara Desert with less cloud, it is possible to achieve 8.3 kWh/m²/day. The unpopulated area of the Sahara Desert is over 9 million km² (= 9×10¹² m²) which if covered with solar panel would provide:

- (8.3 kWh/m²/day) x (9×10¹² m²) x (3.6×10⁶ j/kWh) = 2.8682×10²⁰ j/day

The earth current energy consumption is 13.5 TW (13.5 x 10¹² W) = 13.5 x 10¹² j/s

- (13.5 x 10¹² j/s) x (60 s/m) x (60 m/h) x (24 h/day) = 1.1664×10¹⁸ j/day

Even considering bad weather conditions which reduce the strength of solar energy conversion by 4, the total energy converted from the Sahara Desert is still:

- (2.8682×10²⁰ j/day) / 4 = 7.1705×10¹⁹ j/day.

That is: 7.1705×10¹⁹ / 1.1664×10¹⁸ j/day = 61.47548 times larger than earth requirement.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaics

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoltaic_array

Filed under: Solar Energy Facts