Solar Panel Efficiency Ratings

Solar panel efficiency is a measure of how much sunlight that hits the surface area of a solar panel is converted into usable electricity.

Solar panel efficiency ratings.

So if a solar panel has an efficiency rating of 15 that means 15 of the sunlight that hits the solar panels will be converted into electricity. The best solar panels available on the market today are sunpower s a series residential solar panels which are 22 8 efficient at their maximum. Solar panel warranties solar energy performance guarantee solar panel efficiency solar. What is solar panel efficiency.

The most efficient solar panels commercially available today have solar panel efficiency just under 23. The efficiency of a solar panel. Monocrystalline solar panels have the highest efficiency values of the market with ratings varying between 15 22 2 and a lifespan of 25 30 years. A higher efficiency rating is better because it means that your solar panel is able to convert more of the sunlight it captures into electricity.

The panasonic n series of panels are a good quality solar panel with a top efficiency on their 330 watt monocrystalline system of 19 7 and a very impressive temperature coefficient of 0 29 a figure which is equal best with the market leader sunpower. What affects solar panel efficiency. Given the same amount of sunlight shining for the same duration of time on two solar panels with different efficiency ratings the more efficient panel will produce more electricity than the less efficient panel. Iconic solar panel manufacturers of monocrystalline technologies are sunpower lg and jinkosolar.

The panel s maximum wattage is divided by this number and then multiplied by 100 percent to calculate solar panel efficiency. Solar panel efficiency is a measure of the amount of solar energy irradiation which falls on a panel surface and is converted into electricity due to the many recent advances in solar cell technology over the last 5 years average panel conversion efficiency has increased from 15 to 20. Solar panel efficiency is a measurement of a solar panel s ability to convert sunlight into usable electricity. A higher solar panel efficiency rating means a panel will produce more kilowatt hours of energy per watt of power capacity.

Ultimately there are only a handful of primary categories that are important when getting solar panels rated. How we came up with our solar panel ratings. This large jump in efficiency resulted in the power output of a standard size.