As a first approach, I would say it is negligible... The albedo of moon is relatively low (about 0.1-0.2) i.e. 80 to 90% of solar energy is absorbed by the Moon surface.
You could calculate this energy by means of classical optics law taking into account the solar spectrum, the Moon albedo, the distance Moon -Earth and the relative 'moon zenith angle' taking your photo-voltaic cells as surface of reference.
Sir, Didier Gillotary
Thank you for your right approach and deduction.
Thanks & regards R.S.Muduli.
Solar power reflection from the moon!!! I agree with Gillotay. It is negligible. I have no idea about attempt to measure the moon light incident on a surface on the earth. Why don't you try two identical PV cells. Cover one by opaque material and let the second exposed to the moon light. Measure both simultaneously and let see.
Prof. Hussain
It's an interesting question. I think the energy generation is negligible. I too agree with Mr Gillotay.
i agree with Aaron. the energy availability from moon light is very low and it can not be captured with current materials of solar cell.
Thank you, Mr.Asim for your practical more pragmatic view of the energy in solar form available from moon light in a clear skies on PV cells for solar power generation.
Moonlight would be sufficient for a device with extremely low power requirements. For example a wristwatch requires only about 10^-3 mW. Assuming 10% effecient photovoltaic (PV) cells a collector of about 0.005 square meters could power a wristwatch in full moonlight. This is based on the visible light intensity of about 2mW/m^2 of full moonlight. The full Moon reflects only about 7% of incident sunlight; it reradiates the remaining 93% as infrared (IR). Thus the total (visible + IR) power flux of full moonlight is about 30 mW/m^2. But most PV cells can utilize only visible light, not IR. Also, the intensity of visible moonlight decreases rapidly with phase. The half Moon is only about 1/9 as bright in visible light as the full Moon. This is due partly to shading by lunar mountains, which increases with increasing solar zenith angle on the Moon, and partly due to enhanced reflection at a 180 degree angle that enhances the brightness of the full Moon in visible light.
Also I agree
Photo voltaic cells absorb solar radiation in the rang of ultraviolet and minimum part of infrared electromagnetic waves. As the moon is a lower temperature body than the sun like the earth, the most of reflected radiation will be infrared waves. So the portion of absorbed moon radiation will be very small.
moon light are reflected light from sun, if the intensity of reflected light is known , then can say power absorption of PV cell.
Standard solar panels will in general not generate electricity with moon light, because moon light is just the sun's light energy reflected from the moon's surface and does not contain a significant number of photons.
The light intensity of moonlight at full moon is on average between 0.25 and 1 lux. On the other hand direct sunlight has about 32 000 to 10 000 lux.
But here is some interesting reading for full moon test results in space:
Off-Nominal Performance of the International Space Station Solar Array Wings Under Orbital Eclipse Lighting Scenarios
http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20050239010.pdf
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