💡 Understanding Solar Panel Efficiency: A Comprehensive Guide
Unveiling a stark reality, the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) reported that solar energy has potential to meet 76 percent of the global electricity demand by 2050s. That’s a lot of sunshine-derived power! So if you’re planning to install solar panels, battery energy storage or underpin an entire system, understanding solar panel efficiency should be your top priority.
👓 What is Solar Panel Efficiency?
Solar panel efficiency is a key term that potential solar customers should be familiar with before they start shopping for their solar system. The efficiency of a solar panel refers to its ability to convert sunlight into usable electricity.
💬 “A highly efficient solar panel will produce more electricity over the lifetime of the panel than a less efficient panel, all else being equal.” – Stiebel Eltron.
Efficiency is often presented as a percentage, with high-efficiency panels currently available on the market ranging from 17-22%.
The efficiency of your solar panels impacts how much sunlight they convert to electricity, and therefore, how much money you save on your electricity bills. The higher the solar panel efficiency, the more power you can get from a given amount of sunlight.
⚡ Factors Influencing Solar Panel Efficiency
Solar panel efficiency is influenced by several factors, which encompass:
- ✅ Quality of the Solar Cells: High-quality cells are usually made of high-grade silicon and have an excellent electrical architecture, leading to increased panel efficiency. Quality brands like LG and Tesla often use high-grade materials.
- ✅ Panel Placement: Solar panel efficiency can be determined by how and where they are placed. They should be oriented towards north in the Australia to get maximum exposure to the sun.
- ✅ Temperature: Solar panels are influenced by temperature. According to research journals, an increase in temperature decreases panel voltage and efficiency. Therefore, panels must have an efficient cooling mechanism to remain functional in hot climates.
🏭 Solar Panel Efficiency: Comparing Top Brands
Many reputable manufacturers, such as LG, Sungrow, and Fronius, produce high-quality, high-efficiency solar panels.
LG solar panels, for instance, have an efficiency rating of up to 21.4%, as per the official product specifications. Sungrow, on the other hand, offers panels with an efficiency rating that ranges from 16.8-20.4%. Fronius’s panels have a similar range at 15.7-19.5%.
While choosing a solar panel, users should look at the panel’s efficiency rating in the context of other important factors like price, warranty, and company reputation.
🗣️ “Solar panel efficiency is important, but the most efficient panels aren’t always the best value.” – Clean Energy Council.
Therefore, understanding the efficiency of different solar panels will help users to choose the right solar system according to their energy consumption and budget.
🔧 Need Help With the Right Tech?
Whether you’re comparing inverters, sizing your battery, or choosing between solar brands — Supa Energy Hub has the expertise to guide you every step of the way ⚡
💬 Message us or give us a call to chat with one of our energy experts today!