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Someone did a calculation for Singapore: https://medium.com/sausheong/estimate-the-solar-output-of-your-rooftop-with-google-maps-725e4f636f14 https://medium.com

by Gys 7y ago

Someone did a calculation for Singapore: https://medium.com/sausheong/estimate-the-solar-output-of-your-rooftop-with-google-maps-725e4f636f14 https://medium.com/sausheong/estimate-the-solar-output-of-yo... His conclusion: 'This is about 7.3 TWh or 11.5% of the 63.4 TWh of expected Singapore’s electricity consumption in 2030' He also made an interesting tool to calc easily the output of solar panels on your rooftop: https://sausheong.github.io/solarest/ https://sausheong.github.io/solarest/ The only thing missing there is an easy way to get the average sunpower for some place in the world. I made a small app to calc that from the nasa website but unfortunately did not yet have time to put it online

folli 7y ago
Do any of these tools factor in average cloud cover etc.?
- Mirioron 7y ago
  Do solar panels wear down in extreme weather? Eg if it regularly drops below -30C in winter, will that have a negative impact on the solar panel's lifespan? Because if it does then that's another factor to consider.
  - timClicks 7y ago
    Panels are typically extremely hardy and are rated for decades (although I don't know about icy conditions). The rest of the electrical components are typically the weakest link.
    - Mirioron 7y ago
      I understand that solar panels are hardy, but these kinds of icy conditions even impact things such as asphalt - literal rock. I find it somewhat difficult believe that there's no wear and treat associated with icy weather, but I can't find any information on it. It's all promotional material that assuages all worries.
      - e12e 7y ago
        Well, they do work in space. Not sure how warm it gets when in sun light, but it's pretty cold over-all? [ed: isn't the panels basically a slab of glass? With some wires inside? Mayby blunt trauma (hail storms, strong winds with debris is a problem? ]
      - elric 7y ago
        > asphalt - literal rock. Asphalt is bitumen, a liquid, it is about as far removed from literal rock as possible. The reason asphalt roads break down in very cold weather is water which gets into tiny cracks, and which then expands when it freezes. Solar panels are encased in a fairly thick layer of glass. Just like the windows in your house, they don't break from a bit of frost. If there are cracks where water can enter, they can break for the same reasons as asphalt.
- Gys 7y ago
  Yes, this gives the actual energy reaching the surface: https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/v1/ https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/v1/
lttlrck 7y ago
See also Project Sunroof: https://www.google.com/get/sunroof https://www.google.com/get/sunroof
- Gys 7y ago
  Too bad this is US only. Looks interesting

by Gys 7y ago

folli 7y ago

Do any of these tools factor in average cloud cover etc.?

Mirioron 7y ago
Do solar panels wear down in extreme weather? Eg if it regularly drops below -30C in winter, will that have a negative impact on the solar panel's lifespan? Because if it does then that's another factor to consider.
- timClicks 7y ago
  Panels are typically extremely hardy and are rated for decades (although I don't know about icy conditions). The rest of the electrical components are typically the weakest link.
  - Mirioron 7y ago
    I understand that solar panels are hardy, but these kinds of icy conditions even impact things such as asphalt - literal rock. I find it somewhat difficult believe that there's no wear and treat associated with icy weather, but I can't find any information on it. It's all promotional material that assuages all worries.
    - e12e 7y ago
      Well, they do work in space. Not sure how warm it gets when in sun light, but it's pretty cold over-all? [ed: isn't the panels basically a slab of glass? With some wires inside? Mayby blunt trauma (hail storms, strong winds with debris is a problem? ]
    - elric 7y ago
      > asphalt - literal rock. Asphalt is bitumen, a liquid, it is about as far removed from literal rock as possible. The reason asphalt roads break down in very cold weather is water which gets into tiny cracks, and which then expands when it freezes. Solar panels are encased in a fairly thick layer of glass. Just like the windows in your house, they don't break from a bit of frost. If there are cracks where water can enter, they can break for the same reasons as asphalt.
Gys 7y ago
Yes, this gives the actual energy reaching the surface: https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/v1/ https://power.larc.nasa.gov/docs/v1/

lttlrck 7y ago

See also Project Sunroof: https://www.google.com/get/sunroof https://www.google.com/get/sunroof

Gys 7y ago
Too bad this is US only. Looks interesting