With the twenty-first century well approaching its quarter birthday, it should come as no surprise that sustainability has become the top priority now. People are increasingly becoming aware of the harmful effects done to Mother Earth due to human activities and are coming up with innovative and eco-friendly solutions for them.
We use electricity in all aspects of our life, from our morning coffee and shower to desktops and internet used in workspaces, right down to our kitchen appliances and everything in between. One of the best eco-friendly alternatives to generating electricity is to install solar panels.
A solar panel is a flat structure that uses photovoltaic technology to generate electricity from the sun’s energy or to harvest the sun’s heat passively. Photovoltaic (PV) panels or mirrors are used in solar energy systems to concentrate solar radiation for the purpose of converting light into electrical energy.
The list of priorities changes with each individual. However, it is wise to choose a well-reviewed product to get the best performance. Now if you want to get specific and talk numbers, there’s a standardized way of calculating solar panel efficiency. With some specifics of your panels, you can manually work down numbers and optimize your panel’s effectiveness. And if you are already a proud owner of a solar panel, then follow the below steps to increase the solar panel efficiency:
5 ways of ensuring solar panels efficiency
Purchase higher efficiency solar panels
This is a bit of a given. Always go for a product that has higher efficiency rather than saving a few bucks. Purchasing an effective commercial solar panel module is the most crucial thing you can do if you want the best outcomes, even though the initial cost will probably be a bit higher.
The working of your solar panel is directly influenced by the photovoltaic cell and technology type utilized in the solar modules. There are three different kinds of photovoltaic cells available in the market:
- Mono-crystalline solar panels have black-colored solar cells made up of a single silicon crystal, and they usually have higher efficiency.
- Polycrystalline solar panels have blue-colored cells made up of multiple silicon crystals melted together. These panels are a bit less efficient, but are more affordable.
- Bifacial solar PV panels are the best bet since they are capable of absorbing light from both sides. Bifacial cells expose both the front and backside of the solar cells, but they need to be installed on a highly reflective surface.
Avoid shade
Another obvious method that can help in ensuring your solar panel you purchase is not installed under a nice little patch of shade. Shadows reduce the electricity output since solar panels use sunlight to generate electricity. Many people, however, are unaware of how shading affects a number of solar panels.
Even a tiny, cozy patch of shade can be detrimental to the overall output that your solar panel is capable of producing. Tall trees and tall building structures are some of the worst resistors that need to be avoided. Spend time analyzing a site during the planning phase to make sure that shadow won’t be a problem.
Installed by experts
Solar panels won’t receive the ideal amount of sunshine and will produce less electricity if they aren’t installed properly. The direction and the tilt angle are two important factors to take into account while installing panels. For the most sunshine exposure, solar panels should typically be installed at an angle of between 18 and 36 degrees. The thumb rule is that solar panels installed in the northern hemisphere are to be kept in the southern direction and vice versa.
People don’t spend as much time selecting the best solar system as they do the best technicians. However, one of a solar power plant’s most important components is installation. The panels should face true south at an angle. In order to minimize power losses, they must also ensure that the sunlight is not blocked and that the wires are linked according to precise calculations.
Clean your solar panels
Solar power systems don’t need to be maintained frequently. They just require a thorough cleaning of the glass frames once in six months. Normally, you would be aware that a cleaning session is required when the output decreases. Watch carefully for any debris on the modules such as accumulated dirt or bird droppings.
Additionally, you could install water-clearing clamps for improved water drainage. This will stop water from building up at the panel frame’s corner, which could impact the panel’s lifespan and long-term generation. However, be careful not to clean when the temperature is too high because this could cause micro-cracks in the glass frames that could harm the modules.
Correct solar panel pitch
The most sunlight will be absorbed by solar panels positioned in a south-facing site with the proper pitch, resulting in the most power generation. Given that your solar panels are kept clean by their slope, it is imperative to pay close attention to the solar panel pitch. Leaves, dust, and rain can impact the levels of solar energy output. These power obstacles’ effects can be lessened with the proper pitch.
The ambient temperature has an impact on the effectiveness of solar panels as well. As the temperature rises, the efficiency of panels decreases. During installation, adequate space should be left between the solar panels and the roof. As a result, air can travel easily, and your photovoltaic solar panels won’t overheat.
Conclusion
Installing a solar panel has a high-yield benefit. However, it demands a certain amount of disciplined looking after. If the above steps are followed diligently, the installation of solar panels might have been one of the better choices you would have made.
