Solar Panel Efficiency

In todays increasing environmentally conscious society, reducing our carbon footprint is seen as a social responsibility. Furthermore, as traditional sources of power become evermore expensive, energy derived from renewable sources are becoming more attractive and sought after.

Herein lies the beauty of using solar panel efficiency as a means of providing some or all of our electrical power. Furthermore, the accessibility and affordability of efficient solar panels means that they are no longer looked upon as quirky but rather as innovative, sensible and ultimately cost-effective.

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It is estimated, given the world governments' increasing commitment to the use of renewable energy sources, that by the year 2030 some 14% of the world's energy will be provided by solar power.

The term solar panel actually describes two types of device, to give them their technical names:

1. Solar photovoltaic modules
2. Solar thermal collectors

Solar thermal collectors use the sun's energy to heat water (in domestic use) or other fluids. A good solar hot water panel is able to provide an average household with around a third of its annual hot water supply.

However, it is with the photovoltaic modules (solar panels to you and I) that we will concentrate on here. These panels use solar sensitive cells to convert light energy from the sun into electricity and thereby provide a clean source of energy with no waste by-products.

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For the science minded, photons from sunlight knock the electrons into a higher state of energy thereby creating electricity, passing the current so produced through a photodiode to power equipment or to recharge batteries.

Solar cells are interconnected and assembled into panels which require protection form the environment to allow them to continue to work effectively. Consequently, these panels are placed into a frame made of metal, plastic or fibreglass and glass fronted. The construction of the frame within which the solar cells are housed is vital. This is because the solar cells themselves are commonly made of wafer-based silicon and due to their being brittle they need protection from the elements, particularly impact from hail, wind and snow and from moisture, which would corrode the metal contacts and connections. A solar panel installation usually consists of multiple panels called an array.

The use of solar panels is becoming evermore popular and production has been doubling every two years, increasing by an average of 48% each year since 2002.

Building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) are increasingly being integrated into new domestic and industrial buildings either as a principal or an ancillary source of electrical power. In new builds, the arrays are incorporated into the roof or walls of the building and roof tiles with integrated PV cells can now be purchased.

For existing buildings, arrays can be retrofitted usually on top of the existing roof structure. Alternatively, arrays can be located separately and connected by cable to provide the power supply for the building. Arrays are usually installed in a position angled so as to allow access to as much sunlight as possible to increase their efficiency.

For guidance on how to make and install your own solar panels please click on the image below: