As you research commercial solar power options, you may come across the term "solar panels efficiency." But what does that phrase mean, and how much does it matter? What other characteristics of commercial solar panels should you be aware of when evaluating your choices?

Solar Panel Efficiency and Why it Matters

To get the most out of solar power, it's important to learn as much as you can about solar panels. Solar panel efficiency is how efficiently your panels convert sunlight into electricity. For example, a solar panel with 15% efficiency would produce an amount of power equal to 15% of its input when used in ideal laboratory conditions. It is important! Higher efficiency means that you need less space for the same output. This will save you space and money! The higher the efficiency, the better panels can convert the sun's energy into usable electricity. Four key questions for evaluating and comparing commercial solar panel efficiency:

• What's the efficiency rating of the solar panels?
• What's the size of the panels?
• How easy will it be to add panels to your installation in the future?
• How many and what square footage of panels would be required to generate the energy your business requires?

Durability & Degradation Rate: Finding Panels You Can Count On For The Long Term

Durability is an important factor to consider when purchasing commercial-grade solar panels. When you're dealing with a large investment such as commercial solar, it's essential to know that your panels will provide the performance you are expecting for the amount of time you need and in the case where it's exposed to certain elements like humidity or humidity snow for example. Not all solar panels are created equal. Therefore it's vital to make sure which ones will withstand the test of time so that your business can be as self-sufficient as possible.

The degradation rate of your solar panels goes hand in hand with durability. Over time, the performance of all solar panels degrades. The trick is determining whether the money you'd save upfront on less-costly panels outweighs the costs of more rapid degradation over time. The reduction in Energy Generation over time due to Degradation (EGOD) can be calculated and needs to be taken into account when choosing a solar panel brand. When buying new equipment, you want to keep in mind that one-tenth of a percentage point difference in annual degradation rate can significantly impact how much energy your system produces during its lifetime, as has been depicted above. Therefore, choosing less-expensive panels can help you achieve your financial goals more quickly!

Performance: Getting The Most Energy From Your Panels

As we know, the efficiency of a solar panel is measured under ideal, lab-like circumstances and may not do as well in extreme conditions. Therefore, we want to share the performance of solar panels, which is a much better representation of how much energy you're likely to get from your installation. In addition, providers and installers should be able to give you an idea based on weather history in your area, the position of your panels, and how much sunlight your panels will typically receive throughout the year.

Warranty: Knowing Exactly What's Covered, Who Pays For What, and For How Long

When evaluating solar panels, it's important to consider each component of the panels to evaluate efficiently and effectively the overall value of your purchase. There are a couple of things outside of looking at the functions of the actual product itself that you should be thinking about, such as 1) power warranty/product warranty - including how long these periods last; 2) downtime for replacements - this is also known as "cleaning" which is removing older solar panels from rooftops or ground locations so that new ones can take their place; 3 ) location - whether indoor or outdoor depending on weather conditions. This will help determine whether you need different warranties for home use and commercial use. 

Source URL:  https://ahlecsolar.com.au/commercial-solar/