your questions about solar energy colorado
Your Questions About Solar Energy Colorado
Sandra asks…
How do you think the united states should gain energy independence?
I am looking for how people think we should gain energy independence here in the united states and not have to rely on foreign countries for our energy sources.
admin answers:
There is no realistic possibility of it happening in the foreseeable future. Hydrocarbon fuels are essential for transportation, and alternatives to petroleum are simply too expensive to be practical. In future, if nuclear power catches on big, there may be enough nuclear energy available to split water and make hydrogen, which could be combined with coal to make hydrocarbons — but the process is very expensive in terms of energy and won’t be economical any time this century. Oil shales, present in vast quantity in Colorado, will be a cheaper source for decades, although they are not cost effective now. Solar and wind will continue to be bit players, as they are simply too expensive — as well as intermittent.
Nancy asks…
How to calculate the amount of electricity produced by a solar cell ?
How to calculate the amount of electricity produced by a solar cell when the efficiency and the area of the solar panel is given? In my case, the efficiency is 18 % and area is 333 466 122 400 sq.centimeters. Please help quickly!!!!!!!!
admin answers:
Http://ecee.colorado.edu/~bart/book/book/chapter4/pdf/ch4_8.pdf gives the equations.
Http://www.wholesolarpower.com/solar-panels-2/worldwide-pv-panel-efficiency/ gives panel ratings.
The cm^2 per ft^2 is 929 to 1. Your array is 3,602,263 ft^2. For an average of 12W/ft^2 energy density, the best guess is 43,227KW
Peak amount occurs only at the point when the sunlight angle is at exactly normal to the panel. Anything different will be much less, falls off as the cosine of the angle of incidence.
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Your Questions About Solar Energy Colorado
Paul asks…
Why is oil shale not used as a natural resource?
There is more oil shale in Colorado than all the oil in the middle east. If we use solar energy to refine it wouldn’t that make up for the energy loss? I think oil shale can be converted into a type of jet fuel. Correct me if I am wrong please.
oh well nice though
admin answers:
Be patient as oil shale will be developed in the future. Oil shale extraction has been around in Colorado since the early 1980’s and was once subsidized by the US Government in order to try to determine if it could be made economical. However, oil price collapses during the late 1980’s caused those projects to be canceled. At the present time it is just too expensive to compete with conventional oil & natural gas resources. However, there are several Federal Government permitted oil shale projects in smaller scale field trials underway. It will take about 10 years per project just to determine if they can be reasonably expanded to larger scale trials. The interest in oil shale was great in 2008 when oil prices peaked at $150 per barrel but some of that interest has decreased now that oil is around $70 to $80 per barrel.
See the link below on oil shale extraction methods in general.
Chris asks…
Is there a way to tell how much solar energy will be produced based on location?
For instance, in Colorado, more Wattage can be produced in a Solar cell than in Ohio. Is there way to tell the difference?
admin answers:
Insolation maps can be found here: http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/old_data/nsrdb/redbook/atlas/
These are based on actual measured historical data, so take into account local clouds and weather conditions.
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Your Questions About Solar Energy Colorado
David asks…
What type of home construction in best suited for the climate of Denver?
What climate factors need to be considered when building a home in Denver?
How well should the house be insulated?
What is the number of heating degree days?(mean below 65 degrees F)
What is the number of cooling degree days?(mean above 85 degrees F)
Is solar energy an option?
Should I worry about water conservation?
This is not a homework question! I am looking to move there and have herd lots of bad things and am looking to build a home and need help figuring it all out because my husband is an idiot!
admin answers:
To get really accurate answers you will need to ask a home construction person, but I will give you some rough ideas.
>> What climate factors need to be considered when building a home in Denver?
Denver gets cold. It can get below zero and stay there. In summer it can stay over 90 for weeks. The heat and cold are dry so it rarely gets really hot or really bone-chilling cold. I consider Houston really hot. I consider the east coast really cold. I have never been that miserable in Denver. A well constructed, well insulated, passive-solar designed, south-facing house is a big plus.
>> How well should the house be insulated? I would suggest R30 or above
>> What is the number of heating degree days?(mean below 65 degrees F)
At night temps gets below 65 a good deal of the time. A well build house will retain heat so there is no need to turn a furnace on until it gets a lot colder than 65. I have friends who turn off their furnace from May to September.
Http://www.go-colorado.com/Denver/Weather/
>> What is the number of cooling degree days?(mean above 85 degrees F)
I was born in Colorado, and have never used air conditioning in a house. You get a few well places fans and there is no need for air conditioning. Again, dry heat.
>> Is solar energy an option?
Absolutely! With over 300 days that are at least party sunny, solar is an excellent option. Passive solar is one of the best options around. See the link to CRES last time I answered your question
>> Should I worry about water conservation?
Absolutely! Colorado is high desert. We have serious water shortage problems that are only partially being addressed. Consider xeriscaping your yard and use water wisely.
Ruth asks…
How much energy does Colorado use a year?
hello could you please tell me how many MW of energy Colorado uses a year? and also what percent of that is made up of solar and wind energy? What is the most common source of energy? Were there any solar and wind plants 10 years ago? If not, could you please tell me when they first arrived?
admin answers:
Http://www.statemaster.com/state/CO-colorado/ene-energy
http://www.colorado.edu/libraries/govpubs/energy.htm
http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/states/energy_statistics.cfm/state=CO
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