Improve the efficiency of your solar panels

Solar energy is one of the most sustainable and green forms of energy that is available today. Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels convert sunlight into electricity, making them a key component of solar power systems. But despite their many benefits, solar panels are certainly not 100% efficient. In fact, the average efficiency of solar panels is between 15-20%.

There are a number of factors that can affect the efficiency of your solar panel system, such as the amount of sun exposure, the location of the panels, and the type of panels you have. There are a number of ways to improve the efficiency of solar PV panels. Some of these methods are technical, such as using more efficient solar cells or improving the electrical design of the panel. Others are more operational, such as keeping the panels clean or orienting them towards the sun.

Here are some of the ways that you can improve the efficiency of your solar panels and get the most out of your solar investment.

Maintenance

Solar panels are pretty hardwearing, they have to be if they’re facing the elements 24/7, but this doesn’t mean that they don’t require a little maintenance from time to time. It’s generally a good idea to give your solar panels a gentle wipe down a couple of times a year, to remove any dirt and dust that has accumulated on them. It’s not advised to use anything too rough, that could scratch the panels, as this will have the opposite effect of what you’re trying to achieve.
If your solar panels are situated on a high roof, or you’d just prefer not to do it yourself, you can seek out a professional who deals in solar panel maintenance and cleaning to help with any wear and tear. It is thought that over the course of a year, debris that accumulates on solar panels can cause a 5-20% decline in the efficiency of them, depending on where you live.

Talk to the experts

We know that installing solar panels on your property can be a big investment, but it’s so important that you get properly trained experts to do the job. There are too many articles online about making and installing your own solar panels, when the risks definitely outweigh the benefits. DIY’ing your solar system when you’re not an expert means that you run the risk of not installing them in the right place or angle, and leaves you open and responsible for huge costs if anything goes wrong. The same can be said for poor installation by a dodgy company. Poor installation and a lack of expertise in the industry means that your solar panel system will definitely not be as efficient as it could be, which means you won’t be getting your money’s worth.
A good rule of thumb is to see if the company you are looking to go with is MCS accredited, which will give you peace of mind that they have been installed correctly, and are as efficient as possible.

Stay out of the shade

The peak hours of sunlight for your solar panels are between 9am – 3pm, so when you choose to install them, it’s imperative that you make sure nothing is blocking them. The main offenders when it comes to blocking that all important sunlight are usually neighbouring buildings and trees. Even if one PV cell is in the shade, it has a detrimental effect on the entire efficiency system as it acts as a resistor to the neighbouring cells, affecting their energy output too. Not only this, but you can lose up to half of your solar efficiency per half panel, so it’s incredibly important that you have enough unobstructed space for your panels to live and provide the most efficiency.

Choosing the best panels

When it comes to solar panels, there’s no one size fits all, and they certainly aren’t all made equally. You should consider the types of panels that you want installing, and research them to know the best one for your needs, as what you choose can change the overall efficiency of them. The 3 main types of solar panels that people tend to go for are:
• Monocrystalline: these are made from silicone and are the most efficient solar panels that
you can buy, being about 15-20% efficient. They also take up less space than other forms of
panels, and typically having the longest shelf life, with many manufacturers giving up to a 25
years’ guarantee with them, approximately half of their lifespan.
• Polycrystalline: these solar panels are the mid-tier when looking at efficiency and price.
Overall, they are lighter than their monocrystalline counterparts, and create less waste
during production. The efficiency of these panels stands around 14-16%.
• Thin Film Solar Panels: the cheapest out of the 3, Thin Film Solar Panels are also the least
efficient, being around 7-13%. They take up a lot more room than the other two, but are
also the lightest panels you can get.

The type of solar panels that you choose will be dependent on your house, available space, and what
you’re hoping to achieve with them.

Breakdown

With more and more people installing solar panels, the more we should acknowledge how to keep them as efficient as possible. This is not an exhaustive list of all the things you could do to achieve maximum efficiency, but they are some of the best ways to get the most out of your investment. Make sure when conducting your initial research that you find trusted professionals, and make sure that your house is suitable for a solar system installation.

If you’d like to get in touch with the experts, contact us here!