Assume that due to dwindling supplies of crude oil and natural gas,the US embarks on a plan to implement the "hydrogen economy" forwhich hydrogen will be generated by electrolysis of water. Thesource of electricity is from photovoltaic (PV) conversion ofsunlight in the southwestern US.
(a) Assume that a flat plate PVsystem is used, with a solar conversion efficiency of 25 percentand a hydrogen
production efficiency of 60 percent. Assume the average annualinsolation in the southwest is 270 watts per square meter.Calculate the annual electrical energy produced in kJ/sq. meter.Calculate the weight of hydrogen (kg/sq. meter) produced per year.
(b) The US consumed 48 EJ of petroleum in 2000. How many square meters of PV collectors would be needed to supply the equivalent amount of energy in hydrogen?