6 Ways To Improve Solar Panel Efficiency And Output
Oct. 28, 2024
6 Ways To Improve Solar Panel Efficiency And Output
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All over the world, more and more businesses are investing in commercial solar panels. There are a few reasons for this. For one, the efficiency of solar panels has improved significantly in recent years. There's also increasing pressure on businesses to use renewable energy solutions to reduce their carbon footprint with Governments setting ambitious net-zero targets.
Many businesses are spending a fortune on commercial solar panels. However, some aren't doing enough to maintain the efficiency of their solar panels during their lifetime. As a result, their panels don't output as much electricity as they could, costing the business.
There are a variety of things businesses can do to maintain the efficiency of their solar panels. Here are our top six ways businesses can improve commercial solar panel efficiency and obtain the best possible output of electricity.
The 6 Best Ways To Improve Solar Panel Efficiency
1. Buy one of the more efficient solar panel models
Solar panels are made up of photovoltaic cells, and it is these cells that convert solar energy in the form of sunlight into usable electricity. Although it would be awesome, a solar panel can't transform all of the solar energy it receives into electricity.
Therefore, a panel's efficiency is the percentage of energy hitting the panels that the photovoltaic cells actually convert into electricity.
Solar cell technology has come a long way in the past five years, and average solar cell efficiency has increased from about 15% to 20%. However, not all solar panels are created equal, and the material and structure of a model determine its efficiency (and price).
Although the initial cost will likely be more expensive, buying one of the more efficient models of commercial solar panels is arguably the most important thing you can do if you want the best results.
In , some of the most efficient commercial solar panel models on offer are produced by LG and Sunpower, with efficiencies of about 22%. Check out Clean Energy Reviews breakdown of the top 10 solar panel models in for more information and to find the model that's right for you and your business.
2. Buy panels with High Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) Cells
The principle of CPV is to focus sunlight onto an extremely high-efficiency solar cell that would be otherwise too expensive to use directly. The best traditional solar panels peak at 22% efficiency, whereas the cells used in CPV panels can reach 46% efficiency!
However, with great efficiency comes an expensive price tag. CPV panels can cost up to 4x more than traditional PV panels.
There's also not as many models of CPV available as traditional PV. But, it's certainly worth considering CPV if you can find a supplier and have the money to spend upfront.
3. Avoid installing solar panels in shaded areas
Since solar panels generate electricity from sunlight, it makes sense that shade harms the electricity output. However, many people aren't aware of the effect of shade on a series of solar panels.
If even one photovoltaic cell is shaded, it can impact the energy generated by its neighbour cells. This is because it acts as a resistor.
Tall trees and other buildings are the two main offenders when it comes to shading solar panels. Make sure you spend time during the planning process to analyse a site and ensure that shade isn't going to be an issue.
Be careful not to install panels in an area where they will be shaded by trees or buildings.
4. Get an expert to install your solar panels
If solar panels aren't installed correctly, they won't receive the optimal amount of sunlight and will generate less electricity.
Some of the main things to consider when installing panels are the orientation and the angle. Typically, solar panels should sit at an angle between 18 to 36 degrees for maximum sunlight exposure. If you're in the northern hemisphere, your solar panels should be orientated towards the south. Likewise, they should be facing north if you're in the southern hemisphere.
Somewhat ironically, solar panel efficiency is also affected by temperature levels. The effectiveness of panels can drop as the temperature increases. A sufficient gap should be left between the solar panels and the roof during installation. This allows easy movement of air and prevents your photovoltaic solar panels from overheating.
If all of this information is new to you, it's probably worth enlisting the help of an expert to install your solar panels to ensure you get the most benefit from them.
5. Clean your solar panels
Since solar panels don't have any moving parts, they require very little maintenance. However, it's best to clean your solar panels occasionally as dust and dirt can accumulate on the surface, reducing efficiency.
How often you should clean your solar panels depends on several factors such as how frequently it rains and how much it costs you to have them cleaned.
Over the course of a year, dust and dirt may only cause a 5% decline in output. However, if they get very dirty &#; perhaps in a location that does not get regular rainfall &#; the output decline can be greater than 20%. Therefore, cleaning your solar panels once a year is a pretty good idea.
It's important to clean your panels to remove any dust or dirt that has accumulated.
6. Monitor your solar panel output using energy management software
Some businesses install solar panels and if they're happy with the initial output levels, forget about them. This is a problem because if you don't monitor the amount of energy generated by your solar panels, you won't notice when their efficiency drops.
One way you can keep an eye on your generation levels is by connecting your solar panels to energy management software such as Surple. Doing this, you can monitor the output over time and detect any unexpected decreases.
With Surple's analytical tools, this is simple. Just head over to the Analytics page, select your solar meters and look at the energy generated. Is it less than you'd expect? Maybe it's time to clean them? Or, perhaps a panel is faulty?
Learn more: Introduction to energy analytics »
Surple's analytical tools can help you identify problems with your solar panels.
Energy managers are busy, though, and if you can spend less time digging through data, that's better. Right? I agree. That's why I'm going to tell you an even better way of monitoring your solar panel output using Surple.
Head over to the Alarms page and create an alarm for any set of solar meters. Then, enter the minimum amount of energy that you'd expect them to be generating. That's it. You're all done. Now you'll be notified in Surple and via when the selected meters generate less electricity than the set threshold.
Setting alarms in Surple is a good way to monitor the efficiency of your solar panels.
Essentially, using Surple, you can rest easy in the knowledge that your panels are functioning efficiently until an alarm is triggered. Then, it might be time to clean your panels or check they're not faulty.
Conclusion
There you have it. More businesses than ever are investing in commercial solar panels as a way of saving money and reducing their impact on the environment.
Link to JM
However, if commercial solar panels aren't installed, maintained and monitored correctly, you likely won't achieve maximum efficiency when it comes to electricity output.
These six tips should help you improve solar panel efficiency and maintain optimal performance levels, saving you money and reducing your businesses impact on the planet.
Since you read this guide, you may also be interested in our comprehensive guide to energy management for business looking to improve the efficiency of their buildings.
Remember, using Surple is a great way to improve solar panel efficiency. If you've recently installed solar panels and would like to hook them up to Surple, simply click the link below to book your demo.
How to boost your solar panel energy production
How to boost solar panel input is critical as solar energy has brought enormous advantages in reducing our reliance on fossil fuels, lowering energy costs, and providing a reliable source of electricity for off-grid communities.
For this reason, many countries have recently put in place measures to incentivize the installation of solar panels. For example, the US Government provides a federal solar tax credit that allows individuals and businesses to claim a credit of 26% of the cost of their solar panel installation on their federal tax return.
Even with the right incentives, installing solar panels can still be very costly, so maximizing energy production is essential to achieve a higher return on investment.
In this article, we&#;ll provide you with some tips on how to boost your solar panels&#; output.
How to calculate solar panel energy production in 5 steps
First, let&#;s address how to calculate solar panel energy production. This process is essential to understand the current status of your solar panel and measure any production improvement or deterioration.
Here is a five steps process for calculating solar panel output:
1) Determine the panel&#;s wattage:
This information can usually be found on the panel&#;s label or technical specifications.
2) Measure the amount of sunlight the panel receives:
You can do this using a solar irradiance meter or a solar insolation chart, which provides average sunlight data for different locations.
3) Calculate the total number of watt-hours the panel generates in a day:
To do this, multiply the panel&#;s wattage by the number of hours it receives sunlight. For example, if a panel has a wattage of 250 W and receives 5 hours of sunlight per day, its output would be (250 W * 5 hours) = watt-hours.
4) Convert the watt-hours to kilowatt-hours (kWh):
To convert watt-hours to kWh, divide the total number of watt-hours by . Continuing with the example above, the panel&#;s output would be watt-hours / = 1.25 kWh per day.
5) Repeat the process for multiple panels:
If you have multiple panels, you can calculate the total output by adding up the production of each panel.
It&#;s important to note that the actual output of a solar panel can vary based on several factors, including the panel&#;s overall efficiency, the angle and orientation of the panel, and the weather conditions.
Once you identify the current energy production of your solar panel, you can put in place some measures to improve their efficiency by tackling the factors that reduce their output.
Factors that reduce solar panel energy production
Several factors can negatively impact the output of a solar panel:
Shade: If the solar panel is shaded by trees, buildings, or other objects, it will receive less sunlight and produce less electricity.
Dust, dirt, and bird droppings: A dirty solar panel can reduce its output because the dirt can block some sunlight from reaching the cells.
Temperature: Solar panels become less efficient at higher temperatures, so if the panel operates in hot conditions, it may produce less electricity.
Age: Over time, the efficiency of a solar panel can decrease due to factors such as wear and tear or exposure to the elements.
Incorrect orientation or tilt: The angle at which the solar panel is installed can also affect its output. In general, the panel should be oriented towards the sun and tilted at an optimal angle for the location.
Cloud cover: If the sky is overcast, the solar panel will receive less sunlight and produce less electricity.
Electrical issues: If there are problems with the solar panel system&#;s wiring or other electrical components, this can also affect its output.
Overall, it is essential to carefully consider each of these factors when installing and maintaining a solar panel system to ensure that it is operating at its maximum efficiency.
Let&#;s dive into it.
Six ways to increase solar panel energy production
After learning about the factors that impact solar panel&#;s performance, let&#;s see what you can actively do to boost solar panel energy production:
1) Optimize panel orientation and tilt:
The angle at which the solar panel is installed can affect its output. In general, the panel should be oriented towards the sun and tilted at an optimal angle for the location. This can be determined using a solar angle calculator or consulting a solar panel installation professional.
2) Keep the panels clean:
Dust, dirt, bird droppings, and other debris can block sunlight and reduce the output of a solar panel. Regularly cleaning the panels can help to improve their performance. Also, install an effective bird deterrent system to prevent droppings from covering the panels.
3) Use a solar panel tracker:
A solar panel tracker is a device that adjusts the panel&#;s angle to follow the sun as it moves across the sky. This helps maximize the amount of sunlight the panel receives, leading to increased energy production.
4) Install additional panels:
Increasing the number of installed solar panels can also increase the overall energy production of the system.
5) Use an inverter with a higher efficiency rating:
The inverter converts the direct current (DC) electricity produced by the solar panel into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is used in most homes and businesses. An inverter with a higher efficiency rating will be able to convert more of the DC electricity into AC electricity, leading to increased energy production.
6) Use a battery storage system:
A battery storage system can store excess energy produced by solar panels when needed. This stored energy can then be used when the solar panels are not producing as much electricity, such as at night or on cloudy days.
Extra tip: Prevent bird droppings from impacting solar panel input
Like dust and dirt, bird droppings can negatively impact solar panel performance by blocking some of the sunlight that the panel is designed to capture.
If the droppings are not cleaned off the panel promptly, they can build up and create a layer that absorbs or reflects some incoming sunlight, reducing the amount of energy produced.
Furthermore, the droppings can build up on the panels, leading to potential long-term damage.
The constant maintenance can be very costly for solar panel owners, so installing a long-term effective bird control solution is highly recommended.
Bird-proof solar panels with laser technology
One effective solution to this problem is using laser bird control technology. This technology uses carefully targeted lasers to create a visual deterrent for birds, preventing them from perching on or near the solar panels. With laser bird deterrents, solar panel owners can keep their panels clean from bird droppings and preserve their efficiency.
Furthermore, they can also help reduce the potential negative impact of solar panels on bird populations and prevent birds from colliding with the panels or becoming trapped behind them.
The AVIX Autonomic laser bird deterrent is the newest generation of laser bird deterrent. It is completely automated and shines a green laser beam that scares birds away immediately and cleans the area.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit how to maximize solar panel efficiency.
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