With the world’s emphasis on the use of renewable energy, solar energy has a unique advantage, so that many people choose to use solar energy, but in how to choose solar panels on the problem, which is the efficiency of the solar panels is an important indicator. And what factors affect the efficiency of solar panels? Let’s discuss about the efficiency of solar panels!

What is the efficiency of solar panels?

The efficiency of a solar panel is the ability of the solar panel to convert the absorbed solar energy into electricity. The greater the efficiency of the solar panel, the more energy it can convert. For monocrystalline silicon solar panels the efficiency is between 20% and 25% and for polycrystalline silicon solar panels the efficiency is between 15% and 18%. The efficiency of a solar panel is an important indicator of its performance. Although solar panels are said to have their respective efficiencies before they leave the factory, there are other factors that can affect the efficiency of solar panels.

Factors affecting solar panel efficiency

Solar panel design:

Most people may think that the panel design is only the size of the solar panel, which is wrong. For example, adding a reflective coating to the surface of the solar panel can improve the capture of sunlight and increase the efficiency of the solar panel. In addition, the area of the solar cells of different solar panels will also affect the efficiency of the solar panel. High efficiency solar panels will have the right ratio of the area of the solar cells to the area of the metal electrodes.

Temperature:

Most people would think that the hotter the light intensity, the higher the efficiency of the solar panel. But this is actually not the case, different solar panels will have different optimal operating temperatures. It is at the optimal temperature that solar panels will have the best power generation efficiency. Whether at high or low temperatures, the solar panel efficiency will be lost and even damage the internal structure of the solar panel.

Weather:

In cloudy or rainy weather, the efficiency of solar panels will be limited, mainly because the amount of solar radiation is unstable in cloudy or rainy weather, and the amount of sunlight absorbed by solar panels is affected. The main reason is that in cloudy or rainy weather, the amount of solar radiation is unstable, and the amount of sunlight absorbed by the solar panels is affected. Extreme weather, such as heavy snow, high winds, sandstorms, etc., will not only affect the efficiency of the solar panels, but may also lead to serious damage.

Tilt Angle:

To maximize the efficiency of solar panels, the sunlight must shine directly on the solar panels to maximize the amount of sunlight per unit area of the solar panels. However, the optimal angle for solar panels can vary because of the geographical location. This can be accomplished by

Shadows:

When there are shadows on the solar panel, the current of the solar panel will be reduced and the power output will be reduced. In addition, localized shadows can lead to hot spot effect, and solar panels can be damaged as a result. If the shadows are not removed in time, the hot spot effect can lead to burning of part of the low melting point metal on the module if the hot spot effect is serious.

How to improve the efficiency of solar panels

Optimize the material selection of solar panels:

For solar panel cells, it is recommended that you choose monocrystalline silicon solar panels. In addition to this, the use of high transmittance surface glass can also effectively improve the efficiency of solar panels.

Regular cleaning of solar panels:

Solar panels have light shining on them in order to generate electricity, if there is dust or stains on the surface of the solar panels, the light shining on the solar panels will be much less and the efficiency will decrease. The cleaning of solar panels is simple and can be done by yourself, using a cleaning brush you can clean the solar panels. It is recommended that you clean your solar panels at least four times a year.

Professional Installation of Solar Panels:

A professional installing solar panels will take into consideration the shading, temperature, angle, etc. and try to install your solar panels in the best possible place to generate electricity. When you try to DIY solar panels on your own, there may be connection errors and the power generation efficiency may not be optimal.

Summarize:

Solar panel efficiency is the ability to convert solar energy into electricity. It is closely related to the amount of electricity generated and will also affect the discount on your electricity bill. It is recommended that you choose a high efficiency solar panel carefully.