Solar Panel Efficiency
Solar Panel Efficiency
When browsing the wide variety of solar panels out there, solar panel efficiency should be an important factor on your list to help you determine which types of panels are best for you. The efficiency of a solar panel relates to how much energy from the sun that hits the panel is actually converted into energy.
High end solar panels, such as the ones used on satellites, convert up to 50% of the sun’s light into energy. Unfortunately these panels cost far too much for anyone to afford. Standard silicon solar panels have an efficiency of up to 23% but are also fairly expensive, where the thin, flexible panels are much more affordable and offer 15-18% efficiency.
The cost of the solar panels usually relate directly to the amount of materials used. Since thin-film panels use such a thin layer of silicon they are much less expensive than standard silicon solar panels, even if the efficiency isn’t as good.
Right now the cost of silicon is at an all-time high, which is why most solar panels are costing so much. Although silicon has shown the best efficiency as a semi-conductor material in solar panels, there are many companies out there trying alternatives which are less expensive and equally efficient.
One such material is called copper indium gallium selenide, or CIGS, which is far more affordable than silicon and can be used to make thin-film solar panels. This material has shown efficiency rates of up to 20%, making them a good replacement for expensive silicon panels. Over the next few years it is hoped that technology will improve this amount to 25% or more.
It is also predicted that due to the increase in silicon manufacturers that soon the price of silicon will fall dramatically, making silicon solar panels much more affordable. Also there are many companies researching how to make silicon more efficient as a solar power semi-conductor, so we may even see increase efficiency in the silicon solar panel market before too long.
The problem with all these ‘what-ifs’ is that people who are interested in solar power are tempted to wait until the technology becomes less expensive, which is something we cannot afford to do. If we hope to stop global warming and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels we need to start making the transition now, not later. Getting a couple of compact florescent light bulbs is not going to cut it, we need to start cutting down on our greenhouse gas emissions in more significant ways.
If 15-18% efficiency is all you can get for now out of an affordable solar panel then this should be enough to at least start you out. A few panels can provide a significant amount of energy and won’t break the bank. You may not think that it is worth it now, but in a few years if you have to start wearing a gas mask outside you will wonder why you waited so long. Even if you start small, it is better to get going now than to wait for technology to catch up.
