Related Articles
Which Solar Panels Are The Most Efficient – If you’re shopping for solar panels, you’ll likely come across the term “solar panel efficiency.” Almost in bold font on the solar manufacturer’s website: “19% efficiency!” Or “Ultimate Efficiency Solar Panel!”
But what does solar panel efficiency even mean? Is it the most important thing to look for in a solar panel? How does it affect how a solar panel works in the real world?
Which Solar Panels Are The Most Efficient
A solar panel’s efficiency rating indicates how much sunlight hitting the solar panel is converted into usable electricity. The higher the efficiency, the more electricity that panel can convert.
How To Take Care Of Your Solar Panels Through Harsh Winter Weather
So, if a solar panel has an efficiency rating of 15%, it means that 15% of the solar energy in the sunlight hitting the solar panel will be converted into electricity.
You can get a more in-depth explanation of solar panel efficiency from founder Andy Sandy:
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), most solar panels installed today have an efficiency rating between 16% and 22%, with an average efficiency of 19.2%.
Solar panels with an efficiency rating above 20% are considered premium efficiency panels and come with a higher price tag. Some well-known premium efficiency panel brands include Sunpower, LG Solar and REC Group.
New Research Shows Farms Are The Best Land For Solar Panels
As far as numbers go, we’ve really come a long way when it comes to the efficiency of solar panels. When silicon solar panels were first invented in 1954, a single solar panel was only 6% efficient. Just 10 years ago, the average solar panel efficiency was 13.4%. We are now up to 19.2%! With exciting new developments like perovskite solar cells, we can even reach 50% efficiency!
* Some commercial solar panels have higher efficiencies than listed; This list is intended to represent high performance solar panels.
**Other Sunpower A series models such as the 400 W, 410 W and 415 W models have higher efficiencies than the other models listed, but we wanted to represent the widest range of premium efficiency panels on the market.
Before incentives, you can spend anywhere between 27,000,000 and 30,000,000 for an 8 kilowatt solar system using premium efficiency solar panels. By comparison, a solar power system of the same size using standard efficiency panels would cost between $20,000,000 and $26,000,000 before incentives.
Types Of Solar Panels
There’s no denying it: high efficiency panels will cost more to install than standard efficiency panels. However, more and more solar panel manufacturers, especially Chinese manufacturers, are coming out with panels with efficiencies above 20% at more competitive prices.
Brands such as Trina Solar and LONGi currently offer high-quality panels with efficiency rates above 20%, but they
Low prices from companies like Sunpower. They are still slightly more expensive than standard efficiency panels, but if this trend continues, the prices of high efficiency Chinese solar panels could be as low as the cost of standard panels.
Solar panels are manufactured like a layer cake – with a front sheet of glass, an encapsulant layer, solar cells, more encapsulant, a back panel and an aluminum frame.
What Are The Best Types Of Solar Panels For Your Home?
The materials used to make these layers (especially the solar cells and the back) play a major role in how well a solar panel converts sunlight into electricity, and they include:
One of the biggest determinants of solar panel efficiency is the type of solar cell used. Solar cells are the part of a solar panel that captures sunlight and converts it into electricity. There are three main types of silicon solar cells: polycrystalline, thin film, and monocrystalline.
All you need to know about monocrystalline panels is that they are used in construction every day, and every high-performance solar panel on the market today uses some form of monocrystalline solar cell technology. Among the most common high efficiency monocrystalline silicon cell types are:
The way solar cells are wired together can also affect how well they can produce electricity. If you look at the surface of a solar panel, you will see a series of fine lines. These are copper or aluminum wires that carry electricity from the solar cell to the solar inverter.
A Brief History Of Solar Panels
Some days manufacturers have switched to multi-bus technology, which uses many ultra-thin buses as opposed to fewer, thicker buses. Thinner buses reduce the amount of shading on the solar cell and allow more sunlight to be absorbed, thus increasing efficiency.
Solar power uses Interdigitated Back Contact or IBC cells, where all the buses and wires are located on the back of the solar cell. This frees up the entire surface area of the cell to absorb electricity without shading issues. However, manufacturing IBC cells is complex and expensive.
If you’ve ever looked at a typical solar panel, you’ve probably seen black solar cells surrounded by white space. That white space is the back of the panel. You may have also seen some solar panels that are black; these panels may have a black backing.
The black backing is popular with homeowners because it blends seamlessly with the color of the solar cells, giving the panels a smooth, uniform look. However, black colored panels are slightly less effective than white colored panels because the sun heats up the panels more. The hotter the solar panel is, the more it can produce.
Types Of Solar Panels: Pros And Cons
Everything we’ve talked about so far talks specifically about solar panel efficiency. Efficiency ratings are calculated using a standard set of laboratory test conditions, and unfortunately, solar panels on your roof may not achieve these ideal settings.
When purchasing solar panels, the efficiency rating will be listed on the panel’s data sheet. But how exactly is it calculated? There is a really easy formula to calculate solar panel efficiency:
When solar panels are tested in a laboratory under standard test conditions (STC), they are expected to receive a solar radiation level of 1,000 watts per square meter. Knowing this, calculate the efficiency for the following:
We’ll be completely honest with you, looking at panel efficiency isn’t the most important thing.
Breakthrough: World’s Most Efficient Solar Panel
What you really want to focus on is the power level of the panel. The power rating tells you how much electricity a solar panel can produce. It also gives a better picture of what a solar panel can do by considering the efficiency of the panel.
For example, let’s say you choose between two panels: Panel A has an efficiency rating of 19%, Panel B has an efficiency rating of 17%, and both panels have a power rating of 350 watts. It doesn’t matter if Panel A has a higher efficiency rating than Panel B, because both have a maximum power output of 350 watts. Instead of just choosing the panel with the highest efficiency, consider how much the panel costs and whether the costs are worth the value the panel will provide.
Typically, the only scenario where high-efficiency solar panels matter is if you have limited roof space and need each solar panel to produce as much energy as possible.
As we’ve said before, premium efficiency panels aren’t necessary for most homeowners. It’s more expensive than standard efficiency panels without giving you any added benefits.
Types Of Solar Panels: Choose The Best One For You
So if you have limited roof space or your roof is not ideal for the sun, you may want to consider high efficiency panels as they can increase your electricity consumption quite a bit. Or if money isn’t your concern and you just want the most high-tech solar panel system you can get, stay tuned – go for those premium efficiency panels!
But for others, consider solar modules as the best value for money. You want a solar panel that’s reliable, high-quality and meets your energy needs without breaking the bank. LONGi, LG Solar and Q. CELLS offers a variety of solar panels, including premium efficiency panels that are sure to power your home without spending an arm and a leg, and are among our top 10 best sellers. Solar panels in 2022.
Check out our solar panel calculator to get a better idea of how much solar panels can save you. From there, you can contact local, trusted solar installers who can help you choose the best brand of solar panels for your roof to start your home running on affordable, clean energy.
Kathryn is the content manager for the book. He has been researching and writing about the lifestyle industry for four years. His work has appeared in Solar Today Magazine and Solar Builder Magazine, and has been cited by publications such as Forbes and Bloomberg.
A Guide For Where To Place Your Solar Panels
Cost: Installed Living Systems Average Solar Panel Cost The State’s Best Today’s Deals Calculate solar cost for your home
Solar Compensation How many solar panels should be saved? How much to do
What are the most efficient solar panels, how efficient are solar panels, most efficient solar panels in the world, who makes the most efficient solar panels, who has the most efficient solar panels, most efficient home solar panels, best most efficient solar panels, the most efficient solar panels, most efficient residential solar panels, most efficient portable solar panels, most efficient solar panels, most efficient solar panels on the market
