Factors that Affect the Solar Panels’ Energy Efficiency
As the use of solar panels at home has been recognized as an effective way to utilize the solar power from the sun, more and more people began to take advantage of it and its benefits. It is considered to be an investment. Though you may initially spend quite a hefty amount, you may be able to save money in the long run if you continuously use solar panels. They reduce your electricity costs, decreasing your monthly expenses too. However, if not maintained properly and have started to hinder the efficiency of the solar panel’s energy, you will not be able to fully maximize its power and capability.
The efficiency of solar power is based on the energy from the sunlight being converted into electricity. Their efficiency ratings show the amount of electricity that can be transformed from the solar energy that it is exposed to. Technological and engineering advancements are still in the process of improving a solar panel system to its maximum efficiency. But it can still be widely utilized by going through the factors affecting their capabilities.
It is important to know that the solar panel equipment is just a part of what determines the overall efficiency. Factors such as the panel design and construction, panel orientation, angle, and positioning, the shading, and the temperature, can widely affect how efficient the solar system will work in providing power. This article will discuss these factors further. So if you want to know why solar panels are at their minimum or maximum efficiency, continue reading.
Panel Orientation, Angle, and Positioning
An efficient solar panel can generate electricity while occupying less space. Though this is the case, the few major things that we have to consider upon solar panel installation is choosing the right orientation, the perfect angle, and great position. This is an integral decision that you must highly consider. It greatly affects how much energy your solar panels are going to generate for your home.
Proper installation of solar panels is important to ensure that your solar panels will capture the maximum amount of sunlight. The solar panel orientation, position, and angle is just as important as which type of solar panel you are going to choose. This is to ensure maximum energy efficiency. The usual advice is to position solar panels to be south-facing. However, the angle should be actively adjusted in accordance with the season changes, latitude and longitude, and sunshine hours.
Ensuring that the panels face the correct direction and have the proper angle will guarantee producing a great amount of energy. It is because they are exposed to the highest intensity of sunlight for a long period of time while being hit at a perpendicular angle. This is known to be producing the most energy.
Shading
Solar panels obtain the maximum efficiency when they are fully exposed to sunlight. And one thing to ensure upon installing them is to remove anything that blocks and can potentially block the system. This is because even a small area on solar panels is blocked or shaded, it can greatly reduce their overall energy production. It also lessens the amount of energy that they can absorb.
Panels are often wired together in a system. So if one cell from it is shaded by trees, buildings, terrains, or any other environmental hindrances, the rest of the unshaded cells contribute the energy they produce to the shaded one. This might be dangerous for your solar panels and can potentially damage them if it continuously happens. Given this reason, it is really ideal to install panels in a way that it will not be shaded. Also, no shadows must block the panels themselves. This is why the location, orientation, and angles are really crucial when it comes to the actual installation.
Temperature
Aside from the factors mentioned above, the temperature can also greatly affect the overall output of a cell. The efficiency of solar panels increases when the temperature drops, and decreases if they are high. A high temperature impacts the solar panel performance negatively. It can lower the energy efficiency because of the heat build-up in solar panels. It reduces the power output by 10% to 25%. The immensity of heat increases the transmission of semiconductors of photovoltaic cells.
There are some solar panels designed for warmer climates where it remains efficient as temperatures climb. So when choosing the solar panel for your home, you have to ensure that you choose the right one. Choose the best suited to the climate your country has. With this, you are guaranteed to enjoy a better return on investment from your panels.
Key Takeaway
Before purchasing solar panels, it is essential to know how you will be able to utilize them up to their maximum efficiency. It is a fact that even the best solar panels can significantly be impacted by certain factors. These factors include the solar panel’s placement — the orientation, angle, and positioning, the shading, and the temperature. Having to understand how these hugely affect the solar panel’s energy-efficiency will enlighten you about the things that you need to know before getting to purchase a solar panel of your choice.
