Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

How much can a parabolic trough can generate electricity?
OR
How much 20 acres of parabolic trough can generate electricity in a year?

Hi,

Yes, parabolic troughs collect and concentrate energy from the sun so can be used to generate electricity. Here are a couple of websites that include more details:

http://www.solargenix.com/pdf/CSPDOEJUNE2003.pdf

http://www.solarpaces.org/CSP_Technolog ... trough.pdf

http://www.energyeducation.tx.gov/pdf/53cinv.pdf

The amount of electricity generated would depend on the design of the troughs, the alignment with the sun, and the amount of sunshine available. If you were to design and construct a parabolic trough, you would be able to measure the amount of heat or electricity generated on the small model and extrapolate that to a larger scale.


Donna Hardy

if we have a parabolic trough of 195m*2m made up of silver polymer.
how much electricity would be generated if solar irrandiance of the area is 7kwh/metre square per day