Solar Questions ( Contract all | Expand all )
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Isn't PV only efficient in hot countries?
No. PV works anywhere there is light. There is a common, and not unnatural, view that solar energy cannot really work in cooler climates. In fact a photovoltaic system does not need bright sunlight in order to operate. It can also generate electricity on cloudy days, and in fact, due to the reflection of sunlight, days with slight cloud can even result in higher energy yields than days with a completely cloudless sky. Moreover, the lower ambient temperatures found at northern latitudes actually allow modules to work more efficiently.
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Don't PV systems generate less energy than was used for their production?
No. This is a myth. After approximately 1.5 to 3 years, a PV system will have generated as much energy as was needed to produce and install all its components. Over a PV system's lifetime of more than 30 years, it will produce far more energy than was used to create it.
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Is it possible to recycle photovoltaic modules?
Yes, all components in a solar module can be recycled. The most valuable parts are the solar cells themselves, which can be recycled into new wafers as the basis for new solar cells. The aluminium frames, glass and cables can also be recycled.
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