A rough estimate suggests that the total amount of sunlight that reaches the earth’s surface is sufficient to handle the entire world’s energy consumption for a year. With a resource this powerful, it doesn’t just make sense to harness this energy source, but to not waste it.
How to Maximize Solar Panel Efficiency
Solar panels can be improved and maximized by following these simple tips.
Buy Efficient Solar Panel Models
For starters, purchase the most efficient solar panel model you can to ensure you convert more sun-powered energy. The most efficient solar panels feature high concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) cells, but these aren’t widely available and the cost could be prohibitive.
You can find the efficiency rating of the solar panels you’re thinking of purchasing in the panel specifications. It will be measured as a percentage. The higher the percentage, the more efficient the panel is.
Have an Expert Install Your Solar System
Get the Green Building Project Checklist
Use this handy checklist on your next project to keep track of all the ways you can make your home more energy-efficient and sustainable.
Are you a fan of DIY videos on YouTube? You might not want to try your skills in the installation of your electricity production system. Reach out to experts in the field to make sure the entire installation is performed without any hitches.
Getting the ideal amount of power is not achieved just by the installation of your panels. They need to be placed correctly to ensure they produce the right amount of electricity. This will mean doing some exact calculations to figure out the ideal orientation and tilt angle of your panels. Getting these calculations wrong will mean a loss of efficiency.
Monitor Your Panel Output
Once your panels are up, monitor their output so you know how they’re performing. If you have a professional install your panels, they’ll likely leave you with monitoring equipment. That could be a physical device or it could be monitoring software or an app you install on your phone.
If you installed a system yourself and have a string inverter, you can check the data on the inverter.
Check the power output regularly, even if there aren’t any problems. Knowing how much your panels usually produce will help you understand if there is any unusual decrease in their performance.
Regularly Clean Your Solar Panels
Cleaning your panels can also improve their efficiency, as dirt plays a major role in decreasing the overall efficiency of your production system. Solar panels do not require excessive or frequent maintenance. However, they require consistent monitoring to make sure no dirt, fallen leaves or tree branches are covering them and affecting their performance.
When your solar panels get dusty, you need to clean them to make sure there is no direct impact on the power production efficiency of the solar panel.
Feature image: schropferoval; Image 1: PublicDomainPictures
