How to Save Money and Energy with Solar Panels

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Hi, I’m Sean Nantel, here to talk to you today about various types of solar panels, and how you can save money and energy, using solar panels for all kinds of applications.

When it comes to photovoltaic solar energy installation, there are 3 basic types of solar panels.

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First, let’s talk about monocrystalline solar panels. These use a single ingot of crystalline silicon, which delivers a higher level of efficiency over polycrystalline panels, which use multiple smaller crystals. They are a bit more expensive, however, monocrystalline solar panels generate more watts per square meter, which is critical if space is an issue. The higher efficiency also helps monocrystalline solar panels perform better in low light or shaded conditions. These solar panels are also better suited to high temperature environments; but this isn’t as critical when you consider solar panel efficiency is typically measured at 25 degrees Celsius or 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Next, we’ll discuss polycrystalline solar panels. While their efficiency has been improving over the years and hasn’t yet caught up with monocrystalline solar cells, polycrystalline panels are a cost effective alternative if you have a good location with good light conditions, very little shade and favorable temperatures. In such settings, the cost per watt of polycrystalline solar panels is better than monocrystalline solar panels.

Finally, amorphous or thin film solar panels are typically created by vapor deposition, similar to printing on a plastic backing. This process makes amorphous solar panels cheaper to produce than crystalline solar panels. However, amorphous solar panels are about 50% less efficient than their crystalline solar panel counterparts. Therefore, a lot of room is required in order to make amorphous solar panels a viable solution to produce solar energy, but they do tolerate high temperatures much better, so a desert environment makes them an ideal solution for an alternative energy provider.

As you can see, it’s important to choose the right solar panel for your photovoltaic solar energy installation, taking into account the location conditions, the amount of room available for solar panels, and the costs versus benefits. In the past, once the installation conditions were studied and the solar panels chosen, the last piece of the analysis would be to pick a central inverter in the case of a grid tie system, or to pick a battery charger and batteries in the case of an off-grid solar electric installation. Today, many more options are available using solar panels for electricity, including turning your solar panel into an ‘AC Solar Panel‘ or a ‘Smart Solar Panel‘.

Call or visit Future Energy Solutions to find out more about crystalline, thin film and custom cut solar panels to fit any application.

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