How is solar panel technology improving

The solar industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, and because of that, there are advancements practically every year. In the news, it is either solar advancements or new records for solar installations every week.

With well over 200,000 workers in the U.S. solar industry, it’s no surprise that new panel efficiencies and product improvements are announced all the time. In some cases, it’s difficult to stay up to date on all of the developments in solar panel technology. In the past two years, the concept of average solar efficiency has risen from the 14-15 percent range up to 16-17 percent – a significant margin. In 2018, there are 60-cell solar panels that have comparable outputs to 72-cell panels. Efficiency is changing the affordability of solar and the residential market is set to reap the benefits.

One company to note is Panasonic, which is challenging the likes of SunPower with premium PV efficiencies (upwards of 19%) offered at mid-tier prices. A big reason for the success of this manufacturer and the tech giant is their dynamic heterojunction panel product (HIT) that combines maximum efficiency and optimized temperature control to allow for top performance under extreme conditions of sunlight. And now for its next trick: Panasonic recently announced that it will manufacture the solar cells for Elon Musk’s illustrious solar roof. With aesthetic design, high efficiency and BIPV rising up as the next big trends in solar manufacturing, Panasonic is a company to keep an eye on. Other PV innovators have been LG and SolarWorld, which are both making major strides in the world of bi-facial panels, glass-on-glass, inverter integration and high capacity solar panels.
 

Double-sided solar panels

Formally known as bi-facial solar panels, double-sided solar panels is a hot topic in solar and will continue to be an attractive product option for homeowners in 2018. Double-sided panels offer the value described in their name: they can harness sunlight through both surfaces of the panel. The simple premise is that double-sided panels can capture light as it reflects off of the roof or ground surface below the panel. Because the majority of roofs in the residential market are black, installers will typically paint a white border around the solar panel system before installation to maximize light reflection. In the case of ground-mounted solar, the light will naturally reflect off the ground especially during winter when modules in many areas will benefit from a naturally white ground surface due to snowfall.
 

PV integration: solar panel with inverter

A big factor in the world of PV is the concept of solar efficiency, which refers to the rate at which silicon cells can convert rays of sunlight into electricity. And while panel efficiency gradually increases every year, the efficiency of solar panel manufacturing and installation is also improving. A new innovation seen across the industry is the concept of a solar panel plus inverter.

For solar installers, inverter installation and connection can add significant time to a typical rooftop installation. To solve this problem, innovative manufacturer Enphase is making inverters easily attachable to the back of the panel. The U.S. inverter specialist has announced partnerships with a number of leading panel manufacturers in the past few months in an effort to create a module that does not require the installation of an inverter. Instead, the modules will be manufactured with small inverters already in place on the back of the panel. For the solar market as a whole, this seemingly minor technical innovation will contribute to significant reductions in installation time, which results in reduced installation costs.

If you want to move into the future and join the solar revolution, or if you want to find out what solar panels are right for you, go to HahaSmart.com and try our price checker tool. You can see how much a system will cost, and how much you can save over the next 20 years.

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