Solar energy has boomed in popularity in recent years as an alternative energy source. The power of the sun can be harnessed to generate clean, renewable electricity through solar panels.
However, in order to maximise the performance of your system, there are certain factors that can influence the amount of energy being produced. Weather, tilt of panels, shading, and material are some of the elements that can influence the performance of solar panels.
Understanding these factors is essential for maximising electricity production and ensuring that you’re getting the best value from your investment. This guide is here to help you unpack these criteria and achieve high solar panel efficiency in Queensland.
1. Temperature
You might think that higher temperatures equal more power generated, but this can actually put a strain on your system. Solar panels work best (that is, at full efficiency) at around 25°C. This then declines by roughly 0.25% for every degree above that figure.
Exposure to high heat can cause the voltage between white solar cells to drop, which reduces their optimal generation capabilities. To put this into perspective, a 100Wp solar panel will generate the equivalent of 75Wp in 45°C temperatures during the summer.
Thankfully, average temperatures in Queensland tend not to reach this extreme, with Weather Spark reporting that summer highs average at around 29°C and winter highs average at 20°C.
2. Weather Conditions
Alongside high temperatures, other extremes in weather conditions can impact your solar energy panel efficiency. Reputable solar energy providers in Queensland utilise high-quality solar panel brands that are specifically designed to withstand heavy rainfall, storms, and other adverse weather conditions.
The durability of the materials used means that solar panels can have a lifetime of 25 years or even longer with regular maintenance. The outer layer of glass allows rainwater to run directly down the panels while protecting the surface heating of the solar system.
During the rainy season, storms can cause damage to your system, ranging from debris falling on your panels to lightning strikes, which can result in a sudden voltage surge. After a big storm, it is necessary that you get in touch with your installer so that if there is any damage, he or she may examine whether such damage is interfering with the efficiency of solar panels.
3. Shading
If your solar panels are shaded during the day, production across your system can suffer. That’s because solar cells in a panel and across panels are connected and wired in series. This means that shading can result in a larger production drop than just the shaded area.
Shaded cells obstruct the flow of current through the entire series of connected cells, which can have a big impact on solar panel cell efficiency. Solar panel installers, such as Volteam, will perform a site analysis prior to installation to ensure that the panels are positioned in an optimal location, preventing drops in production due to shading.
Experts will typically make recommendations, such as pruning nearby trees that could cast shadows on your system, and monitoring the movement of the sun throughout the day to identify where shadows are cast on your property.
4. Rooftop Aspect
Another manner in which the motion of the sun will affect the efficiency of your solar panel will be through the orientation of your roof. In order to maximise the amount of direct sunlight hitting the solar panel, these have to be placed in a certain way.
In addition, the position of the sun changes, and as such, solar panels should be adjusted periodically to receive the optimal amount of direct sunlight during sunshine hours.
Obviously, climbing up your roof to adjust the panels manually isn’t a realistic solution to this issue. However, with advances in solar panel technology, some solar panels can track the sun’s movements to maximise the output of your system.
5. Solar Panel Technology
With constant innovations and improvements in solar panel technology, the materials used can impact your solar panel efficiency. There are various types of silicon that comprise solar panels. The altered structures of these solar cells can impact the effectiveness of your panels. Here are the most common types that are used presently:
- Polycrystalline: These cells used in the solar panels are less expensive compared to other types of cells because of the simpler method of production. They are robust but tend to have a shorter lifespan compared to other kinds of solar panels, and tend to withstand high temperatures poorly.
- Monocrystalline: The power output in units of kWh for these solar panels is higher compared to the polycrystalline panels; they require a smaller number of panels to produce the same power, making them ideal for smaller areas. This is due to their high conversion efficiency, which makes them costly.
- Thin film: These solar cells consist of a thin layer of semiconductors that can be applied to glass, plastic, or metal substrates, resulting in the manufacture of a solar cell for a solar panel. Thin film solar cells have almost equal efficiency to that of polycrystalline solar cells.
Long-Term Solar Panel Efficiency
The cost of installing solar energy has gone down due to government rebates. With energy storage technologies such as solar batteries and virtual power plants, homeowners can now sell back their excess energy to the power company. This investment is expected to pay for itself within a few years.
Despite the many advances that have been made in terms of technology, there are always ways for professionals to optimise the efficiency of your solar panels. In order to make the best use of your solar panels, it has to be understood that they can be affected in the following ways: they may be reduced because of high temperatures, or because of the weather conditions that may damage the panels, or because of positioning that can improve efficiency.
In addition to all these considerations, it is also important to be aware of the capabilities of your system and what it can produce based on the materials from which it is made. A professional installer and expert in this industry can assist with optimising the capabilities of a solar panel system and making it worthwhile.
