How Is Solar Panel Efficiency Calculated?

AI Thread Summary
Solar panel efficiency is calculated by dividing the output power of the panel by the input power from sunlight, typically measured in watts per square meter. The user initially calculated efficiency by dividing the panel's wattage by its area in square meters, resulting in an incorrect value. The correct method involves using the maximum solar irradiance, approximately 1000 watts per square meter, to determine efficiency as a percentage. By using this standard, the efficiency is calculated as approximately 20.05%. This highlights the importance of understanding both the area and the solar input when calculating solar panel efficiency.
Miike012
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Sorry I was unsure where to submit this thread.
I am doing a school project on designing a solar system for my home and I was wondering how the efficiency of a cell is calculated.

The way I calculated it, which i read of a website is...
1. calculate area of cell (in meters)
2. divide watt of cell by area = efficiency.

Area: 61.39*41.18in2 = 2 528.0402 in2 = 2 528.0402*(0.0254)2 meters2 = 1.63099042 m2.

Total watt: 327

Efficiency = 327 / 1.63099042 = 200.491674.

What I am doing wrong?

The efficiency of my panel is 20-21 %

HERE ARE THE DIM OF MY PANEL
 

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Actually because efficiency = energy out as electricity / energy in as light

would the correct calculation be 200.491674w-m^2/1000w-m^2 =0.200491674

where 1000w-m^2 is the most amount of power a panel can intake
 

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