Solar is one of the best options available to homeowners who want to power their homes with a clean, renewable energy source that also lowers their utility costs. However, is solar energy an efficient source of electricity for your home? Let’s examine the efficiency with which solar panels generate electricity and the factors that determine their performance.
How Energy Efficient Are Solar Panels Today?
The average residential and commercial solar panel system has an efficiency rate of around 11 to 15 percent. This means that 11 to 15 percent of the sunlight that reaches the panels gets absorbed and converted into electricity for buildings to use. However, newer photovoltaic technologies can achieve efficiency rates of 20 percent and higher, with some even reaching 40 percent.
These figures aren’t fixed and can depend on several factors, including:
Panel Material
Solar panels can be composed of a variety of materials, which affects their efficiency. Monocrystalline panels are produced from a single silicon crystal and have an efficiency rating of roughly 22 to 27 percent, and are the most efficient variety currently available for residential use. Polycrystalline panels, on the other hand, are composed of a block of silicon crystals and have a 15 to 22 percent efficiency rate.
Panel Age
As with any other equipment, solar panels gradually lose efficiency as their components age. Fortunately, routine cleaning and maintenance can help keep their degradation to a minimum, allowing you to continue using your panels well beyond their stated lifespan.
Orientation and Angle
The solar panels’ position and tilt on your roof affect how much sunshine hits them, thus also affecting the amount of electricity generated. Installers make sure that the panels are positioned in a way that allows for maximum sunlight absorption.
Amount of Sunshine
The more frequently solar panels get exposed to sunlight, the more energy they can generate for your home, thus increasing their efficiency. Therefore, if you live in Arizona, the sunniest state in the US, you could generate more electricity from your panels than someone who lives in New York, which has slightly gloomier weather.
Outdoor Temperature
Just because it’s hot and sunny outside doesn’t mean your solar panel will be more efficient. Studies show that higher temperatures, particularly those reaching triple digits, actually decrease the amount of power generated by a solar panel. This is because heat generates more current for the panel while reducing the voltage generated, which is what is required to power your home.
An ideal temperature range for a solar panel would be between 59ºF to 95ºF.
Inverter Efficiency
Solar panels generate direct current (DC) electricity, which your home’s appliances can’t use since they rely on alternating current (AC) power. To solve this, the solar panel system uses a device called an inverter to convert DC into AC. Thus, the amount of solar power your home can use depends on how efficient the inverter is at converting the current.
How Efficient Is Solar Energy Compared to Others?
Here’s a brief look at other popular energy sources and their efficiency compared to solar energy:
- Fossil Fuels: In contrast to other energy sources, fossil fuels are highly efficient since they are not impacted by weather. They are, however, non-renewable and pollute the environment significantly.
- Hydropower: Hydropower relies on the kinetic energy generated by fast-flowing water (such as waterfalls and rivers). While highly effective and renewable, hydropower needs dams that can harm the surrounding environment. Droughts also limit the amount of electricity they can produce.
- Wind Power: Wind turbines can create large amounts of electricity, but they only work in places with high enough wind speeds, making them inefficient.
Unlike other energy sources, solar energy is easily installed in homes and can be used almost anywhere that receives enough sunlight throughout the year. It also causes less pollution to the surrounding ecosystem.
Can Solar Cells Be 100% Efficient?
While modern home solar power systems still have a ways to go efficiency-wise, achieving 100 percent efficiency isn’t impossible. In 2011, scientists experimented with solar cells that reached that level. Who is to say this technology can’t be used in our homes in the future?
Enjoy Efficient Solar Panels with Design 1 Solar Group
Is solar energy efficient compared to other available power sources today? While there’s still room for improvement when it comes to how panels convert sunlight into electricity, there’s no denying that solar power is more efficient in other ways. For example, it is easy to install and maintain and causes little disruption to the environment.
For the latest energy-efficient solar panels in the industry, you can always give Design 1 Solar Group a call. We use monocrystalline cells, which are more efficient at converting sunlight than other solar panel materials. To learn more about our solar products and to get a free quote, contact us at any time.
Solar Energy Efficiency: Is Solar Energy-Efficient?
Solar is one of the best options available to homeowners who want to power their homes with a clean, renewable energy source that also lowers their utility costs. However, is solar energy an efficient source of electricity for your home? Let’s examine the efficiency with which solar panels generate electricity and the factors that determine their performance.
How Energy Efficient Are Solar Panels Today?
The average residential and commercial solar panel system has an efficiency rate of around 11 to 15 percent. This means that 11 to 15 percent of the sunlight that reaches the panels gets absorbed and converted into electricity for buildings to use. However, newer photovoltaic technologies can achieve efficiency rates of 20 percent and higher, with some even reaching 40 percent.
These figures aren’t fixed and can depend on several factors, including:
Panel Material
Solar panels can be composed of a variety of materials, which affects their efficiency. Monocrystalline panels are produced from a single silicon crystal and have an efficiency rating of roughly 22 to 27 percent, and are the most efficient variety currently available for residential use. Polycrystalline panels, on the other hand, are composed of a block of silicon crystals and have a 15 to 22 percent efficiency rate.
Panel Age
As with any other equipment, solar panels gradually lose efficiency as their components age. Fortunately, routine cleaning and maintenance can help keep their degradation to a minimum, allowing you to continue using your panels well beyond their stated lifespan.
Orientation and Angle
The solar panels’ position and tilt on your roof affect how much sunshine hits them, thus also affecting the amount of electricity generated. Installers make sure that the panels are positioned in a way that allows for maximum sunlight absorption.
Amount of Sunshine
The more frequently solar panels get exposed to sunlight, the more energy they can generate for your home, thus increasing their efficiency. Therefore, if you live in Arizona, the sunniest state in the US, you could generate more electricity from your panels than someone who lives in New York, which has slightly gloomier weather.
Outdoor Temperature
Just because it’s hot and sunny outside doesn’t mean your solar panel will be more efficient. Studies show that higher temperatures, particularly those reaching triple digits, actually decrease the amount of power generated by a solar panel. This is because heat generates more current for the panel while reducing the voltage generated, which is what is required to power your home.
An ideal temperature range for a solar panel would be between 59ºF to 95ºF.
Inverter Efficiency
Solar panels generate direct current (DC) electricity, which your home’s appliances can’t use since they rely on alternating current (AC) power. To solve this, the solar panel system uses a device called an inverter to convert DC into AC. Thus, the amount of solar power your home can use depends on how efficient the inverter is at converting the current.
How Efficient Is Solar Energy Compared to Others?
Here’s a brief look at other popular energy sources and their efficiency compared to solar energy:
- Fossil Fuels: In contrast to other energy sources, fossil fuels are highly efficient since they are not impacted by weather. They are, however, non-renewable and pollute the environment significantly.
- Hydropower: Hydropower relies on the kinetic energy generated by fast-flowing water (such as waterfalls and rivers). While highly effective and renewable, hydropower needs dams that can harm the surrounding environment. Droughts also limit the amount of electricity they can produce.
- Wind Power: Wind turbines can create large amounts of electricity, but they only work in places with high enough wind speeds, making them inefficient.
Unlike other energy sources, solar energy is easily installed in homes and can be used almost anywhere that receives enough sunlight throughout the year. It also causes less pollution to the surrounding ecosystem.
Can Solar Cells Be 100% Efficient?
While modern home solar power systems still have a ways to go efficiency-wise, achieving 100 percent efficiency isn’t impossible. In 2011, scientists experimented with solar cells that reached that level. Who is to say this technology can’t be used in our homes in the future?
Enjoy Efficient Solar Panels with Design 1 Solar Group
Is solar energy efficient compared to other available power sources today? While there’s still room for improvement when it comes to how panels convert sunlight into electricity, there’s no denying that solar power is more efficient in other ways. For example, it is easy to install and maintain and causes little disruption to the environment.
For the latest energy-efficient solar panels in the industry, you can always give Design 1 Solar Group a call. We use monocrystalline cells, which are more efficient at converting sunlight than other solar panel materials. To learn more about our solar products and to get a free quote, contact us at any time.