Picking Solar Panels

The Earth receives more energy from the Sun in one hour than the whole World uses in a whole year.  Time to tap into that. Solar power is used to power everything from calculators to Coast Guard buoys to highway signs to the International Space Station.

Photovoltaic Solar panels were invented at Bell Labs in 1953. They have evolved over the years and several different types of solar panels exist, and choosing between then is confusing.  No one vendor will have access to all products, so you will have to do some shopping around.

Monocrystalline or Polycrystalline Panels

Made either from single crystal cells or stringing ribbon of multiple crystals. The classic version of solar panel with good efficiency 12-13%.  Sunpower has a model with 19.3% efficiency. Long lifespan, possibly 30 years?.  Less efficient in hotter climates. Works best in unobstructed sun. Suppliers include: Sharp, Hitachi, Mitsubishi, Kyocera, Schott, SolarWorld, SunTech, Sunpower, bp solar.

Thin Film Panels

Less efficient than the Crystal Panels, but they much thinner and easier to make.  Less efficient, 10-12%. They work better when you have slight shading. Not affected by hot weather as much. Drawback of degradation of performance over time.  Possible lifespans of 10 years. Suppliers include: Nanosolar, Unisolar

Hybrid Panels

Hybrids of single crystalline silicon surrounded by ultra-thin amorphous silicon layers.  Produces 10% or more electricity  (kWh) than conventional crystalline silicon solar panels at the same temperature. Efficiency levels of 16%. Suppliers include: Sanyo

The solar panel that is right for you depends on your budget, location, and power needs.  Some installations may need different types of panels for different locations, especially for areas of no shade and partial shading. Consult a local expert to find what is right for you. Make sure you find one with years of experience, not a new firm that has just jumped into the mix. Also check the warranty. Most offer a 10 year warranty. Some add in a 25 year performance guarantee.

Related posts:

1. No Money Down Solar Panels
2. Eight Cool Things About Solar Power That Just Might Change the World
3. Solar Panel Installation – Site Planning
4. Solar Panel Maintenance and Solar Panel Cleaning
5. Solar Panel System Quote

Posted on May 18th, 2009
If you enjoyed this post, be sure to subscribe to our RSS feed.