The most efficient solar panel is not always the best for you

People want the most efficient solar system when installing panels on their home.

Different companies will always say their solar panels are the best, but is the more efficient panel always the better choice for residential solar power? 

Often the solar contractor with a higher efficiency panel will cite this as a good reason why you should purchase their system. It sounds reasonable that a solar panel with a higher efficiency should be more expensive than a system using less efficient solar panels but is it really worth paying more for panels with higher efficiency? 

The answer is not as crucial as you might think. The bigger questions that determine your solar output is how much space you have on your roof, how much of it is shaded, and what kind of inverters and optimizers are you using on the project?
 

Solar panel efficiency measures how much of the sun’s energy it converts into electricity

Efficiencies range from as low as 10 percent for cheaper thin-film panels to 14-15 percent for most polycrystalline panels and up as high as 20 percent for some monocrystalline panels. Although, this does not mean that a consumer buying a 6kw system panels that are 18 percent efficient will get more kWhs of solar electricity than a person buying a solar power system with panels that are 14 percent efficient. Both solar arrays will be installed to provide 6 kW of power.

The only difference may be that the more efficient panel will have a higher wattage rating and therefore you will need less of them to get your total output. You don’t want to opt for a 200-watt panel versus a 350-watt panel, but as long as the wattage is pretty close the difference is not as big as you might think. If you have 18 solar panels that are 350 watts, versus 21 panels that are 300 watts, you are still getting more than 6kW out of your solar system, one just does it with three fewer panels. 

The real test is whether these panels generate enough electricity for the home’s use. If your home has limited roof space or if there are shading problems and you need fewer panels to do the trick then the more efficient panels are better for your home. It’s just that they usually cost more overall. So, if the slightly less efficient panels can do the trick, Then the overall cost of the project will probably be less than if you used the more efficient panels.
 

A good argument for premium solar panels

A really good argument for premium solar panels might be that often the most efficient panels on the market are made by companies that are innovative, have excellent engineers, and a high level of quality control. Because they are this type of company, it may give you an overall quality and reliability advantage if you use their products. These panels tend to have longer warranties too. If you plan to have your solar panels for 25 years, a 10-year warranty versus a 25-year warranty might make the difference between which ones you choose. Other panels are catching up, so it is important to look at warranties on all your solar panel options.
 

How do you know what panels to choose?

You ask questions and do the math. If you ask your installer the wattage of their panels, and what optimizers can do to create a strong solar energy output. Let them explain why their systems are the best for your situation. Figure out how many kW you need, and how many solar panels and optimizers it will take to get you there. If 20 300 kW panels get you to 6 kW, and 18 350 kW panels do the same thing. It would only make sense to do it if those panels cost less money overall. It’s just that in most cases they cost more.

We work with solar installers all over the country who can help find the right system for you. Click here for more information about our certified HahaSmart Installers. 

You can also learn more about solar power and how it is less expensive than you think. Visit HahaSmart, and try out our Price Checker Tool yourself. You can not only see how much a solar panel system would cost, not just in Redding, but in your area too. Enter the information and see how much you can save in the next 20 years. 

For information relating to going solar don’t forget to visit our solar blog section for more handy guides and articles.