The world today is looking for new, cheap and green energy options. Once you have decided to “go solar” the next big question is to choose the right solar panels for your property.
This is a very important step because obviously you are spending a lot of money on this project and do not want to see it going south in a few years. If you go through a few things that I have mentioned below it will become much easier for you to choose the right panels for your rooftop.
1- Manufacturer With Local Support
Choose a company which has a local presence, this will have a very positive effect on response time regarding your requests.
If the solar panel manufacturer does not have any office in your area it can be very disturbing. As you will have to wait several days before the experts can visit your location. This can delay your energy needs and the solar company can charge you for the visit too.
Choosing a local manufacturer has another advantage that you can easily locate and talk to its old clients. This will give a clear idea of the services and reputation of the company that you are thinking of working with.
2- High-efficiency Solar Panels
Rooftop solar panels are very popular because they do not have an adverse effect on the outlook of a building. In addition to that they also keep the building cool during hot summers.
Like everything else in the world, these roof installations also have some drawbacks, like there is only limited space available to install panels.
Keeping this in mind one should always go for high efficiency solar panels to maximize the energy production in a limited available space. Using this strategy, you can surely achieve the best results and gain maximum power bill savings.
3- Easy Maintenance
Solar panels need a regular and effective cleaning and, in some buildings, it is difficult or often dangerous to perform this task regularly if you have a rooftop solar system. Especially, if the solar panels are installed at a low angle, they tend to accumulate dirt around the edges where rainwater settles.
I recommend choosing panels that are designed to take the rainwater off with the help of specially designed grooves. When this rainwater flows off it takes all the dirt with it keeping the solar panel clean for a longer time.
4- Better System Efficiency
System wirings are one of the main culprits when it comes to energy losses. That is why I recommend using solar modules with higher system voltage. Anything that is 1000 V or higher can be a really good choice.
If you are wondering how this helps, you should know that higher system voltage means lower system current and that results in lower conduction losses in wiring.
So, ask your contractors to use solar modules that can be easily connected in long strings to a higher system voltage. This is one way to make your system more energy efficient.
5- Resistant To Pid
Installing higher system voltage can degrade the solar cells through the PID phenomenon. This happens when there is a high potential difference between solar cells and the aluminum frame. The unwanted charge carrier movements begin to degrade poor quality solar panels.
To avoid this, you can use solar modules that are tested and certified to show low power degradation at high voltages, high temperatures and humid conditions.
This will ensure that panels you are going to install are anti-PID and can be connected in long strings without the fear of damage by high voltages. This solar system will eventually produce more energy for a longer period of time.
6- Best Product Warranty
The average age of a solar panel is about 25 years. Keeping this in mind you should always go for the longest warranty time offered. Market standard is 15 years of warranty so anything around and above this time period is considered a good deal.
Another thing to look at is how much per year degradation does your solar panel go through. Ideally your solar panel should be operating at more than 85% of original output after the first 25 years. This means degradation of no more than 0.5% per year.
7- Withstand Bad Weather
If your solar panel is going to last for 25 years it is bound to face some very harsh weather conditions.
Manufacturers make sure that their panels are going to withstand these situations by applying external pressure on solar panels and conducting DML and ML tests. These tests simulate adverse weather situations like strong winds, heavy snow and hail storms.
When looking for a suitable panel you must check if your choice has passed all these tests, if yes then you do not have to worry about your solar system during storms and bad weather.
8- Withstand The Harshest Environment
If you are installing solar systems near a sea, the salt from the sea can have a corrosive effect on your panels.
If you live near a farm the high concentration of ammonia can have a very harmful effect on solar modules.
Therefore, for those living in coastal or agricultural areas, you must check if the panels you are installing have gone through reliability tests. These tests are carried out to see if the panel can last in high concentration of salt and ammonia.
9- Solar Cell Colours
You must have noticed that all the solar panels do not have the same color. If you install panels on your roof and they have uneven color it can be an embarrassing sight.
To maintain the aesthetics of your building make sure you buy full black solar panels.
