Scientists? About Solar Energy (Electricity)?

Question

How is solar energy stored and converted electrically? And what time of year is solar energy the greatest and least?

Answer 1

Photovoltaics - converted by solid state physics.

Stanley engine - mechanical motion that uses temperature differentials that work on heat pump prinicples.

Thermal - heats water or other liquid.

To make electricity thermal design heats water to steam. Steam drives a turbine.

Electricity is stored in batteries or momentum wheel.

Heat energy can be stored in water or other liquid reservoir.

Solar energy is greatest in June and least in December. The earth is in an elliptical orbit that passes closest to the sun in June.

Answer 2

In North America, the sun delivers approximately 1,300 watts per square metre at noon.  Photovoltaic cells convert 15-20% of this power into electricity by a reaction in semiconductor materials where incoming photons knock electrons loose.

Regardless of the time of year or location, the greatest energy is available during the summer months because of the longer days and higher angle of the sun.  The distance between the earth and the sun is not a factor because the difference is only about 1%; earth is slightly closer to the sun in December than in June.

Answer 3

Solar cells convert 10-20% of the sunlight they receive into electricity.  This can be stored either "permanently" in a battery or temporarily in a capacitor bank depending on the setup and usage.

The time of year that the energy is greatest depends on where you live.  Usually it would be what most would consider the spring and summer months.

Answer 4

its hard to exsplan so it just dose