FACTORS AFFECTING THE EFFICIENCY OF SOLAR

If you want to get the best results for your solar investment, there are Energy Efficiency factors that you need to consider in the design of your Solar PV System to get the maximum energy you can get with your investment.

Here are the factors that can affect the efficiency of your solar PV System’s efficiency.

Panel type

Not all Solar Panel Types are created equal. For maximum efficiency, we recommend you use Mono-crystalline Solar Panels as they are built from the highest-purity silicon and thus the most efficient. They are however more expensive than polycrystalline and other solar panel types but, it is worth the investment..

Orientation

The positioning of your Solar Panels also affects its efficiency. Panels should be positioned to maximize sun exposure. To increase sun exposure, you can actually alter the pitch of the roof using racks or you can install solar trackers, so that your solar panels will change orientation and will follow the sun throughout the day.

Shade

Ideally the solar panels should be positioned in such a way that there will never be shadows on them because a shadow on even a small part of it can have a surprisingly big effect on its output. If shading cannot be avoided in some areas, then you may need to avoid wiring the cells up in series.

Durability

Since solar panels are not created equal, you can expect that not all will last as per the warranty as efficiently. Good quality solar panels will surely last longer than low standard ones. Make sure you deal with a Legitimate company with an accredited Solar Installer so that you can be sure that you will get the approved products by the Clean Energy Council which will give you the true value of your investment.

Cable Length and Thickness

The size and the length of the cable to be use in the design and installation of your solar PV system can affect its efficiency. The power drop or power lost in cables depends on the cable length, cable size and current through the cable.

Larger cables have less resistance per foot than smaller ones. The longer it is, the larger the resistance.

Resistance losses in wiring should be minimize as much as possible. A way to limit this loss is to minimize the voltage drop. More than 10% is unacceptable.

Temperature

Solar Panels tend to perform better if they are positioned to receive plenty of natural air flow.

Looking into these factors will make a difference between making this investment a winning or a losing one.

Contact us for a free audit and quote.