This article covers photovoltaic panels, a relatively new form of power generation which uses materials which can transform sunlight directly into electricity. Though convenient and easy to set up, panels themselves are very difficult to produce, often requiring highly refined silicon and expensive electronics. In addition, they are limited not only by how much sunlight they can actually capture based off the technology but how much energy sunlight actually delivers to a given area. Thus, the maximum amount of energy a solar panel that is a square meter in size could actually produce is 1300 watts at 100% solar cell efficiency. Currently, even in laboratory settings the maximum efficiency is around 50%, with the facilities and capital necessary to produce such cells at a commercial level being well outside the boundaries of affordability. Commercially produced panels typically have an efficiency of 10-20%.
This is by far the easiest method of power generation I have designed. I could make it radically more complex and have it run checks for all kinds of things non-stop but that would only increase the lag it causes while offering the player very little.
DETAILS
I.photovoltaics employ only one block which can come in different qualities or be paired with motors and electronics to track the sun
A.basic solar panel block
1.when placed checks for access to the sun
2.if sun cannot be found the block produces no power
-blocks can be forced to check for the sun by providing them with a redstone signal
3.if the sun is found the panel produces 150 watts for 20 minutes, at which point the block will check for the sun again
B.tracking [solar panel] block
1.when paired with a small motor, an [any material] casing, and a mechanism or electronics, a panel can produce 50 more watts
IDEAS
-add more solar panel blocks in accordance with various technologies (silicon, flat panel, etc)
-have panels work better in sunnier biomes
-have panel output fluctuate to simulate cloud effects, etc
INTRO
This article covers photovoltaic panels, a relatively new form of power generation which uses materials which can transform sunlight directly into electricity. Though convenient and easy to set up, panels themselves are very difficult to produce, often requiring highly refined silicon and expensive electronics. In addition, they are limited not only by how much sunlight they can actually capture based off the technology but how much energy sunlight actually delivers to a given area. Thus, the maximum amount of energy a solar panel that is a square meter in size could actually produce is 1300 watts at 100% solar cell efficiency. Currently, even in laboratory settings the maximum efficiency is around 50%, with the facilities and capital necessary to produce such cells at a commercial level being well outside the boundaries of affordability. Commercially produced panels typically have an efficiency of 10-20%.
This is by far the easiest method of power generation I have designed. I could make it radically more complex and have it run checks for all kinds of things non-stop but that would only increase the lag it causes while offering the player very little.
DETAILS
I.photovoltaics employ only one block which can come in different qualities or be paired with motors and electronics to track the sun
A.basic solar panel block 1.when placed checks for access to the sun 2.if sun cannot be found the block produces no power -blocks can be forced to check for the sun by providing them with a redstone signal 3.if the sun is found the panel produces 150 watts for 20 minutes, at which point the block will check for the sun again
B.tracking [solar panel] block 1.when paired with a small motor, an [any material] casing, and a mechanism or electronics, a panel can produce 50 more watts
IDEAS
-add more solar panel blocks in accordance with various technologies (silicon, flat panel, etc) -have panels work better in sunnier biomes -have panel output fluctuate to simulate cloud effects, etc