Solar Panels Boost Sunlight-To-Energy Conversion for Home Solar System Efficiency

The goal of a home solar system is to capture sunlight and convert it into electricity. House and rooftop solar systems are solar panels that transact solar energy into operational electricity. The panels are efficient if they are able to convert sunlight into electricity. The average solar panels have a photovoltaic conversion efficiency of 18-20%. That is they capture 18-20% of sunlight and convert it into electricity. Premium solar panels can capture sunlight and convert it into electricity at a conversion rate of 22-24%. It is a significant jump. It is reported that a roof exposed to sunlight can get 1,000 kWh of sunlight in a month. An 18% efficient solar panel and 24% efficient solar panel will produce 180 kWh and 240 kWh, respectively. That is a difference of 60 kWh enough to power an AC for an entire week during hotter summer months. In a single year, that is a savings of 720 kWh. The energy savings directly translate to money that is not spent on a utility. The home solar system conversion rate is a utility step. If solar panels are purchased, there is a guarantee of more energy produced, lower utility bills, and a short span of time to gain back the original investment.Solar Panels Increase Efficiency of Home Solar Systems by Minimizing Energy Loss.

When you use a phone charger, ever wonder how it gets warm? That is energy loss and so does your home solar system. The worst part? Solar panels, if low-grade, will sustain way too much energy loss - it is like a bucket with a hole in it. High-grade solar panels alleviate this loss with smart engineering. For instance, some use anti-reflective glass panels: normal glass reflects 5-10% of sunlight while anti-reflective glass reflects almost none. Others have also improved wiring in the panel: cheap wiring creates “resistance” similar to a narrow pipe which “resist” the flow of water, slowing it down and wasting it as heat. A homeowner that I worked with, had old panels that lost 15% of their energy before it even left the panel, and after upgrading to high-grade panels, that loss was reduced to 5% which meant, their system was producing 10% more electricity with no change in parameters. For your home solar system, less energy loss means more usable energy. It is not about capturing more sunlight, it is about retaining the energy you have already captured.

To Achieve Optimum Efficiency of a Home Solar System with Storage Solar Panels Work Seamlessly with Energy Storage Systems

Home solar systems configured without a storage system can be compared with a rain barrel that overfills, capturing sunlight, but losing it once full. Solar panels capture this by integrating home energy storage. Solar panels during the day are functioning with more electricity than needed. Rather than sending the excess energy back to the grid for a negligible credit received from the utility, solar panels store energy from the grid during low demand periods. It can be utilized during the day and on cloudy days when the solar grid cannot be relied on, instead of purchasing grid electricity. With that being said, not all solar panels work seamlessly with energy storage systems. Low quality solar panels, like a dripping and spraying faucet, are slow and have inconsistent power output that can damage storage systems or reduce their overall effectiveness. Solar panels that are considered high quality provide steady power, resulting in more energy being saved and more stored energy being utilized. One of the families in my case study that I worked with utilized grid electricity before purchasing solar panels. After? That number has since dropped to 5%. Solar panels don’t only produce electricity, they more importantly, ensure that every single bit of it is utilized.

Solar Panels Hold Up To Weather To Protect Solar System Efficiency

Your home solar system stays outdoors through rain, snow, heatwaves, and even hail! If the solar panels could not withstand the outdoors, their efficiency would decline dramatically. Imagine a jacket, the thin ones work better on mild days, while the thick ones are suitable for snowstorms. High-quality solar panels last through even the most extreme conditions. For instance, the solar panel's frame is made from materials such as aluminum, which does not rust or bend even in extreme winds. Furthermore, the glass is tempered, which means it is not prone to shattering if a tree branch happens to collide with it. Most importantly, high-quality panels are made to withstand temperature swings. It is the case that standard panels lose efficiency over 85°F (30°C) and are expected to drop to 70%? of their capacity. High-quality panels have “temperature coefficients” that slow this loss, which means instead of 85%, they only drop to 85% capacity on a hot day. There was a homeowner in Arizona with standard panels, and their system’s efficiency during the summer would drop by 20%. Ever since switching to weather-resistant panels, that drop is only 5%. For your home solar system, weather-resistant solar panels means no more 'seasonal slumps' as your system continues to work optimally all year round as temperature fluctuations will no longer be an issue.

The Solar Panels Have Lived Longevity Due To Preserving Effectiveness Over Time Keeping the Efficiency of the Home Solar System.

The warning label on this investment reads “Do Not Open for 25–30 years”. Therefore, it is safe to say that having panels that ‘burn out’ in 5 years is unacceptable. Every solar panel will experience some form of ‘degradation’, or loss of efficiency. Some solar panels may degrade between 0.7 to 1 percent each year; therefore, in a 10 year span, these panels will have lost between 7-10 percent of their initial value, and will only be 90-93% as ‘effective’ as a new solar panel. High-quality solar panels degrade much less, with an efficiency rating of 0.5% less per year—meaning that they will maintain 95% effectiveness in a decade. To illustrate this, let’s consider these panels being 20 percent efficient. The standard panel ten years from now will be 18.6 percent efficient, while the high-quality panel will be 19 percent. In isolation, these may seem like small differences, but they have a massive impact when considered in a 25 year span. 87.5% efficiency of the standard panel comes from 77.5% efficiency of the high-quality one. The difference is shocking. For a home solar system, that is translates to thousands of extra kWh throughout the years. Case and point, one of my clients purchased the system with low quality panels in the year 2010. By 2020, their system’s efficiency dropped 20 percent. However, a neighbor did purchase high quality panels during the same year, and only experienced a 5 percent drop. Even in the year of 2020, these solar panels being purchased have shown proven effectiveness. The panel needs to be functional for many years to come, and in this case, dozens of decades.

Conclusion

When it comes to the efficiency of your home solar system, it is not a “system” issue, it’s a “solar panel” issue. In your home solar system, not just any solar panel will do. You need great solar panels that increase conversion rates to generate more electricity, lower energy loss to capture more, pair with storage to use every last bit, endure weather to avoid seasonal dips, and maintain decades of performance. This isn’t “purchasing the most expensive” panels. This is about optimizing your system. A home solar system with great panels goes beyond “going green” system. It is saving real money, reducing utility bills, and maximizing the return on investment. It does not matter how long you have been on solar energy. My important tip to you is solar panels are the most vital components of your system. Choose the best panels and your home solar system will keep rewarding you throughout the years.