Solar Energy has proven itself to be the most conveniently usable form of alternative energy source.
Especially in countries like Australia where the sun exposure is very high, it is a true champion. This is one of the reasons why solar panels are so popular in Australia.
Solar panels are mounted over the built structures of homes, shops, and other business places to traps sunlight and convert it into a usable form of electricity.
There are various options available on solar panels for houses. It’s up to your need and choice to decide which one to go for.
But first, let’s have a short intro to Solar Power systems and how they work.
What Is Solar Power System?
The solar power system is a simple apparatus that includes solar panels which convert the heat energy coming from sun rays into a usable form of electricity.
This electric energy can be used directly to power your home appliances or you can store them in batteries to use later when the power supply is out.
The solar panels can absorb the dispersed sun rays over the whole area or mirrors and reflectors can be used to converge a heavy amount of sunlight into a focused beam to fall on the panels.
Solar panels are the integral and most important part of the solar energy system. Let’s know a bit more about them.
Summary On Solar Panels
Solar panels are also known as solar cells or photovoltaic cells. These are rectangular panels that are mounted over someplace where it is optimally exposed to sun rays so that it can produce more and more electricity.
The Solar panels are mounted with an arranged array of solar cells. Solar cells are made up of silicon atoms connected in a crystal lattice. The lattice constitutes an efficient structure to convert light energy into electricity.
There are several types of solar cells and their efficiency depends upon the crystal structure and composition.
Different types of solar cells compose different types of solar panels.
Three Different Qualities Of Solar Panels
Before deciding The Best Solar Panels Australia for your home, you must know the types of solar panels.
Generally, on a structural basis, there are three Best Quality Of Solar Panels; monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film solar panels. They are all explained below:
1. Monocrystalline Solar Panels:
About 40 monocrystalline solar cells combine together to make up a monocrystalline solar panel. These are the oldest and undoubtedly the most advanced of all solar panels.
The monocrystalline solar panels are made of pure silicon and the involved manufacturing process is called the Czochralski method. In this process, a silicon crystal is placed inside a vat of molten silicon.
After it gradually starts cooling, the crystal is slowly pulled out of the molten silicon. This allows the molten silicon to form a solid crystal around the in-placed piece of crystal.
This is called an ingot which is later sliced into thin wafers. The wafers are converted into cells and the cells are combined to form the monocrystalline panels.
The cells appear to be black but there are a variety of colors and designs for the back sheets and frames. These are in square shape and the corners are removed. Also they have a bit of a gap between them.
2. Polycrystalline Solar Panels:
These are the newly developed technology in solar panels, slowly gaining rise in efficiency and popularity. Just as monocrystalline panels these panels are also made from silicon but the difference is in the manufacturing process.
Polycrystalline solar panels are manufactured by melting together the smaller fragments of silicon crystals. In this process, the silicon crystal is allowed to cool in the vat instead of pulling out. The crystal is given time to fragment and then cool.
Once the mold is completely cooled down, the fragmented crystals are sliced into wafers and then combined to form the polycrystalline solar panels.
These panels appear blues in color and the back and frames are in silver color. There are no gaps between the cells. The blue color of the polycrystalline panels is due to the way it reflects sunlight.
3. Thin-Film Solar Panels:
Thin-film solar panels are the newest addition to the expanding solar panels’ industry. The peculiar thing about the thin-film panels is that they are not necessarily always made up of silicon.
A variety of materials can be used to manufacture thin-film solar panels. Some of those materials are cadmium telluride (CdTe), amorphous silicon (a-Si), and Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS).
The thin-film panels are made by placing the main constituent material between the thin layers of conductive material covered by glass on top for protection. When thin-film panels are made using silicon, then non-crystalline silicon is used.
As the name implies, the thin-film panels can be identified by their thin and compact appearance. The color of the thin-film panels can be black or blue depending on the material used.
The monocrystalline solar panels are suggested as the best solar panels for house roofs as they reach the highest efficiency.
But it is also the most expensive among all the above three types of solar panels; which makes the choice a bit difficult.
It’s not only the types of the composition of the solar panels that create the dilemma of choosing among options. The solar panels come in different wattages; that makes choosing the best solar panels for houses a bit more complicated than it already was.
Let’s explore the different wattage options offered by solar panels.
Different Solar Panels Type In Terms Of Wattage
The solar panels come in generally three wattage ranges: 5kw, 6.6kw, and 10kw. The differences among the three types have been featured in the following few paragraphs:
1. 5kw Solar Panels:
The 5kw solar panels system is considered the best choice for homes having low energy requirements. These panels are also very efficient for small businesses.
This can be a start in the process of switching to a clean and renewable source of energy. In the beginning, the 5kw panels would solve the need for your basic energy requirements.
You can always upgrade to a higher or heavier version if you need increases.
2. 6kw Solar Panels
If your family has a bit higher household needs for electricity then 5kw won’t be enough to meet those needs. The 6.6kw solar panels are ideal for medium to large families.
This can cover your entire electric power requirement. You can run almost all home appliances on the 6.6kw panels including Air Conditioner.
The 6.6kw solar panels can reduce your reliance on the grid to a certain extent that would account for a good amount of savings on energy costs.
This is an ideal size to power the needs of a small shop, coffee shop, small business, retail stores, single-person office space, etc.
3. 10kw Solar Panel
The 10kw solar panels are the largest among all these varieties. These panels are gaining popularity as the tariff rates for electricity are increasing every day. The 10kw solar panels are sufficiently capable of powering the electricity needs of a household completely.
The 10kw solar panels are ideal for you if you have a large household. These panels combined with a battery system can enable you to go off the grid permanently.
This size can power the medius sized commercial endeavors as well such as restaurants, small offices, and health clinics.
All the above sizes have their own compatibility. But the point to keep in mind is that the larger the size you opt for the higher will be the efficiency and the lower will be payback periods.
You can also go for 5kw vs 10kw vs 6.6kw Solar System comparison to get a more clear view.
We have some final things to share with you…
Before you go…
You have been already introduced to the different types and sizes of solar panels. We want to give some final tips to conclude this small attempt of ours.
Always mind the following factors before choosing solar panels for houses:
- The solar panels must be from the category of the tier-1 equipment
- The quality of the solar panels must be optimum
- Keep an eye on the energy efficiency
- Durability must be at least 25 years
- The combination of size, output, and cost must make a great deal
If a solar panel ticks all the above boxes, then that’s the best solar panel for your rooftop. Close the deal and proceed to installation. If you are still having any troubles then here’s a message for you.
We, Topsolarquote have certified expertise in creating the bridge between the customers who want to go solar and the best solar deals.
For any question related to solar panels, you can connect to our solar energy experts would solve all your doubts.
Here at Topsolarquote, provide the gateway to the best deals in solar installations.
