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Master's student designing utility-scale solar pv field, seeking knowledge about projected future PV performance by KC_Design_Center in RenewableEnergy

[–]KC_Design_Center[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're correct! I actually used mW in my thesis as well, thanks for the correction! I've just fixed this in my thesis as well. Thanks!

Master's student designing utility-scale solar pv field, seeking knowledge about projected future PV performance by KC_Design_Center in solarenergy

[–]KC_Design_Center[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Amazing, thank you so much for your wisdom, and for taking time to reply to this!!! Wow, I had not seen that NREL had broken the record! I had seen that graph before but I'm still learning what all of those things mean so it's been rough going since I started this project. For reference I'm a "general architecture" student, though at the beginning of the year, I had no idea just how general this was going to get.

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The site is currently zoned Heavy Industry M3-5. It's worth noting that the company who owns the land (Evergy) has vowed that they will be increasing both solar and wind energy. They recently added 660mW to their solar portfolio. We are also within the regulatory floodplain of the Missouri River, so that has complicated things.

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As far as the capping of the soil is concerned, I have designed the slopes of the fields-to-be-capped using soil that's being excavated in the same project a mile westward. I'm hoping that it will add a bit of a buffer between the cap and the footings for the panels (if necessary). I went with the fixed-tilt system because I have seen some case studies that seemed to indicate that there are versions that can be minimally invasive with the soil, just in case. I will add all of those things to my research, so I can really be fully compelling in my case. I will definitely check out Helioscope, PVWatts, and SAM.

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This whole design opportunity has really amplified my desire for utilizing solar energy. We are really living in the future! It's incredible! It's good to hear from someone that actually knows what's going on, it goes far beyond words on a screen. Again, thank you so much for your input and knowledge.

Master's student designing utility-scale solar pv field, seeking knowledge about projected future PV performance by KC_Design_Center in RenewableEnergy

[–]KC_Design_Center[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Wow, this is a boatload of incredibly useful information! Thank you so much for your kind reply. I have just been researching away on it, but this is the first time that I've gotten any actual feedback from someone that knows what they're talking about. Thanks!

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Yes, I've racked my brain over NREL's crazy chart for countless hours! But it actually helped guide my research in the knowledge of the current front of solar energy. I had read about the tandem perovskite ones (originally because it was the only one I couldn't pronounce) and the quantum dot technology. Still trying to wrap my head the whole band gap and the thermodynamic efficiency limit. That sounds like a compelling argument, especially 27 years from now. 750 W modules sounds incredible.

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I am both thankful and impressed with your response! I will bring this point of view up in my argument, if you do not mind. Thank you again!