Basic Factors That Effect Solar Panel Efficiency

The amount of energy that can be produced by a solar panel is determined by the quality of the panel, the materials and technology used, as well as the age and positioning of the solar panel. These are the basic factors that will determine solar panel efficiency.

There is a huge amount of interest in solar energy these days, with the main focus of the manufacturers being to increase the efficiency to meet the demands of the consumer.

Solar panel are about converting the sun’s light to electricity. This is generally measured in terms of what percentage of sunlight striking the panel ends up as usable electricity. So a panel with 20 percent efficiency would change one-fifth of the light that hits the solar panel to electrical energy. Currently, some of the most efficient solar panels have an efficiency rating of about 18.

There are essentially three different kinds of solar panels in production today. They are known as amorphous, mono crystalline and polycrystalline. All of these panels are basically sets of silicon cells arranged in matrix formations that produce electric power when exposed to sunlight. Among the three types, mono crystalline solar panels are the most efficient. Mono crystalline is made from a single, large crystal and is the most expensive to produce.

Polycrystalline panels are composed of blocks of silicon that contain many crystals and are the most commonly used of the three. They are less costly but are also less efficient than a mono crystalline panel. Amorphous panels incorporate a thin layer of silicon spread onto a surface such as stainless steel. The amorphous panels are the least expensive to produce, but due to the larger size of the panel, they are the least efficient of the three.

Amorphous solar panels are by far the cheapest, but require a much larger surface area in order to produce the same amount of electricity. Single crystalline panels, like the mono crystalline, are more expensive to manufacture, but can produce a significantly larger amount of electricity in the same amount of space.

In other words, the higher up front costs could possibly be offset by the greater energy production over the lifetime of the system. At the same time, the lower initial installation costs of an amorphous panel could make it more practical in some applications.

An average mono crystalline solar panel might have an 18 percent efficiency rating, while the polycrystalline solar panel could rate at around 15 percent, with the amorphous panels at the low end with a 10 percent efficiency rating. This would mean that, a system using amorphous panels would require an area nearly twice the size of a mono crystalline unit, in order to produce the same amount of energy.

Age will also result in a reduction of any solar panel’s efficiency. Proper care should be taken during installation to avoid any inappropriate buildup of heat that would shorten the unit’s life. Overheating and physical wear are the major causes of reduction in the operational efficiency of the solar power system.

Naturally, solar panels will function the best when placed in direct sunlight and away from obstructions that might cast any shade. Solar panel efficiency can be greatly enhanced by using dynamic mountings that follow the position of the sun in the sky and rotate the panel in order to get the maximum amount of direct sun exposure as possible.

By understanding a few basic principles, it is easy to optimize solar panel efficiency.