Solar harvesting
Energy from light, whether it is natural or artificial, can be captured and used as an energy source. Earlier in this chapter, we discussed photodiodes and their relationship to sensing light. The same diode can be used in greater quantities to build a traditional solar array. The capacity of energy generation is a function of the area of the solar array. In practice, indoor solar generation is not as efficient as direct sunlight. Panels are rated by their maximum power output in the form of watts.
Solar harvesting is only as effective as how much the sun shines, which varies seasonally and geographically. A region such as the Southwestern US can reclaim considerable energy from direct photovoltaic sources. The Photovoltaic ...
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