What is Solar Panel?
A solar panel is a series of interconnected silicon solar cells, link together to form a circuit. There is a glass layer on the front with an insulating layer and a protective back sheet on the rear of the panel. Solar panels absorb the sunlight and produce an electric current that travels across wires eventually working its way to your home or business. A single solar panel can generate only a limited amount of electricity. Therefore, most installations contain multiple solar panels.
Solar panels are also known as photovoltaic solar modules, solar plates, solar PV modules, and solar power panels, etc. The solar cells in a solar panel are made by melting silicon fragments or silicon crystals together in a mold and cutting them into wafers. Usually, there are a bunch of 60 or 72 individual crystalline silicon solar cells, connected together and covered with transparent glass. The more interconnected cells in a series, the more electricity generated by the solar panel.
How Does Solar Panel Works?
You may have seen solar panels on rooftops in your neighborhood but do you know how they actually work? Let’s understand it in simple language. Solar panels are made of silicon solar cells. When sunlight hits a solar panel, electrons in the solar cell began to move which initiates a flow of electricity. This is direct current or DC electricity.
Unfortunately, direct current electricity cannot power most of our appliances in the home. To create usable electricity, your solar power needs to travel to a solar inverter first. This inverter converts direct current (DC) electricity into alternating current (AC) electricity, which is compatible with most household equipment.
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Solar panel efficiency is a measurement that tells you how well a solar panel converts sunlight into usable electricity. For example, suppose the efficiency of a solar panel is 22 percent, which means it can convert 22 percent of the sunlight hitting it into electricity. The efficiency of solar panels determines by several factors such as their brand, type of solar panel, and wiring & busbars, etc.
Most panels have an efficiency rating between 15 to 22 percent. High-efficiency solar panels tend to be more expensive. But sometimes it’s worth paying extra for panels that produce more electricity. If you have limited roof space and you are struggling to cover all of your electricity bills with solar then using high-efficiency panels can increase your long-term savings.
5 Points to Remember Before Buying Solar Pane
Solar panels are the main part of all types of the solar system. A complete solar panel system typically includes two or more solar panels, a solar inverter, a solar battery, and other accessories.
1- Which type of solar panel would be best for you?
By the way, there are not many technologies or types of solar panels in the market. But still, you are not a solar expert. You don’t know which type of solar panel out of monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and bi-facial solar panel will be more beneficial for you. So before buying a solar panel, it is necessary to ask a solar expert that which type of solar panel will be best for you.
2- Trust a 25 year old brand for next 25 years.
This is one of the most crucial recommendations to keep in mind when purchasing a solar panel. Before buying any solar panel, do a little research. Check the company profile, check the panel’s certificates. The type of testing that has been performed on solar panels is indicated by the certification. For example, IEC 61215 is one of the core testing standards that confirms a solar panel has completed several stress tests and performed well in regards to quality, performance, and safety.
3- Is solar really beneficial for your location?
Some states in India are far better for solar energy production than others. Surprisingly, we are not talking about the weather conditions in your state here. The weather only plays a very small factor in this because, on cloudy days, solar panels can still generate solar power. It's your state's electricity cost more than the weather that determines how much you can expect to save and how soon you can get a return on investment. Also, consider your state's solar subsidies and their net-metering program.
4- Always choose a trusted solar brand?
Solar companies nowadays advertisements too much about their solar product to woo people. A lot of people don’t understand in the glare of these advertisements which solar panel they should buy. In such conditions, it is always preferable to seek advice from others. You can inquire from your knowns who already have installed a solar system at their homes or a solar expert. Remember, by buying solar panels, you are going to invest a large part of your earnings for a long time. So you should be careful about which solar panels you want to buy and which are not.
5- Check, Compare and then Buy.
Of course, the cost of solar panels has been decreasing continuously for the last few years due to the initiatives and schemes of the government. But if you are paying far less money for the same size solar panels available in the market, then be careful. You may get poor-quality panels as well as installation services. Before buying solar panels and other solar components, always do a little research about its current price in the market. Otherwise, it is quite obvious that you get what you pay for.
Advantages
- Increase your property value
- 25 years long working life
- 30% to 70% government subsidy on solar panel
- Get green energy & save the environment
- Low maintenance cost
- Reduce electricity bills
- Freedom from centralized grids
- Great Rate of Return On Investment
- Get free electricity after 3 years
- Only one-time investment
- Fully customizable and portable
Disadvantages
- Weather dependent
- Required large shadow-free area
- Heavy one-time investment
- Weekly cleanings
Maintenance of Solar Panel
Solar panels are a zero-maintenance solar product. However, it is mandatory to clean solar panels regularly to remove dust particles that accumulate on their surface. Regular cleanings will increase the efficiency as well as the working life of your solar panels. For cleaning solar panels we recommend using a solar panel cleaning kit. However, you should take precautions and keep the following things in your mind about solar panels.
-Do not apply pressure on PV photovoltaic panels by sitting or stepping on them
-Make sure solar panels are properly earth grounded to prevent electrical shock
-Do not bring flammable gas or explosive materials near solar panels
-Never touch any electrical connections or wiring without proper protection
-When working on your solar system, avoid wearing metallic jewelry as it may cause electric shock
Types of Solar Panel
The rising demand for solar power is fueling advances in the research and development of solar PV technology. Solar panel technology now has changed and it’s gonna better as improvements in efficiency, quality, and versatility continue to develop. Nowadays there are only three types of solar panels available in the market. These panels are different from each other on the basis of their formation, efficiency, and material. To know about all types of solar panel, have a look below.
There Are Three Types Of Solar Panel
Polycrystalline Solar Panel
Polycrystalline solar panels are the most common type of solar panel. These panels are made up by pressing multiple pieces of silicon together. Polycrystalline solar panels usually have a blue mottled look.
The efficiency rate of a polycrystalline solar panel is around 16%-17%. These panels are best to work under extreme weather conditions. Polycrystalline panels are slightly less efficient than monocrystalline but they are cheaper which makes them a popular choice.
Monocrystalline Solar Panel
Monocrystalline solar panels are the second most successful type of solar panel. These panels have blackish-hue on their surface. Monocrystalline solar panels are made by a single silicon crystal. Monocrystalline panels have solar cells in a more rounded shape with their corners cut off.
Monocrystalline solar panels tend to be more efficient than polycrystalline solar panels. Their efficiency rating is around 19%-20% because the solar cells have high purity. These solar panels are the best solar panels with the best purity and highest efficiency levels
.Bi-facial Solar Panel
Bifacial solar modules offer many advantages over traditional solar panels. Power can be produced from both sides of a bifacial solar module, increasing the total energy generation. Since more energy is transformed into electricity, fewer panels are required to satisfy the same power requirements in typical roof installations.
Bi-facial solar PV modules are often more durable too because both sides are UV resistant. When bifacial modules are installed on a highly reflective surface they can generate up to 30% more electricity from their bifacial properties.
Monocrystalline V/s Polycrystalline Solar Panel
There are mainly two types of solar panels or modules used in rooftop and ground-mounted installations – monocrystalline and polycrystalline. However, monocrystalline v/s polycrystalline solar panels, both are the best type of solar panels. But often, they create great confusion while it comes to choose the best among them. Here we have a comparison between both types of solar modules to make the selection process easy.
Monocrystalline Solar Panel
- Expensive solar panel.
- Panel efficiency up to 20%.
- Looks black in color.
- It takes less rooftop space.
- Better efficiency even in low light.
Polycrystalline Solar Panel
- Cost Effective.
- Panel efficiency up to 16%.
- Looks bluish in color.
- It takes more rooftop space.
- Low efficiency in cloudy weather.
Subsidy Scheme on Solar Panel
One of the most significant factors stunting the rise of solar energy was the previously high cost of solar panels themselves. That’s why the government itself had to come forward so that the common man could also have access to solar. Nowadays, to promote “Green energy, Clean energy” in India, the government is providing subsidies on solar through MNRE (Ministery of New and Renewable Energy). You can get up to 90% subsidy on solar depending on your location and purpose of installing a solar system. Below, you can get a brief idea for a subsidy on solar in India.
-90% subsidy on Solar Water Pumping System for farmers only.
-70% subsidy for 3 hill states i.e. Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand & Jammu-Kashmir.
-30% subsidy for all states of India.
Top 10 Solar Panel Companies in India
Solar energy has risen to the top of renewable energy around the world. Since the demand for solar power in India is still increasing day by day, therefore there are over a hundred distinct brands of solar panels like Tata solar, UTL solar, Luminous solar, Patanjali solar, and many more. And finding the best solar panels for your home can be a difficult task.
Installing solar panels at your home may be a next-level experience for many peoples. By doing this, you are going to invest a large part of your earnings for approximately 25 years. So you would not want to buy a solar panel from such a company, due to which you have to face problems again and again. So choose only the best, who can give 25 years on-site services. We have compiled a list of the best solar panels for your convenience, which you can see by clicking on the link given below.
FAQ'S
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How many types are available in the solar system?
There are three types of solar system. The first is on-grid, the second is off-grid and the third is a hybrid solar system.
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Can a commercial solar system be used for home?
Yes, a commercial solar system can be used for home. A commercial system will produce more power and need more space to install. If you have that much space at your home and you can handle that much production than you can install a commercial solar system at your home.
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How much can I save through on grid solar system?
It can’t be predicted. It depends upon the capacity of solar system and your supply to grid. If you install high capacity solar system and supply more to grid, than your electricity bill will be reduce more otherwise vice-versa.
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What is solar rooftop system?
In solar rooftop system, the solar panels are install on roof of a house. Through these panels the electricity will be produce which will power your home. Also read about: Solar System For Home