Solar Panels

by Apoorv Kaushal

Submitted : Fall 2013

The goal of this project is to reduce carbon emissions through the utilization of solar energy. I utilized calculus in order to find the total surface area of solar panels required to power the house self-sufficiently. As the suns intensity is different at every time of day, we have to create an equation for the total amount of sun hours, taking into account latitudes on earth and the cyclic nature of light intensity due to the angle of sun on the panel. This was able to be found in one equation, and once we used this equation and the data acquired from the resident, I was able to calculate the total kilowatt-hours per year and then divide that into the watt-hours that the household utilizes.

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