Technological advances in solar

Solar energy was the leading source of new power generation in 2016. Pollution from global warming, falling prices, technology advances, and progressive policies are fueling rapid solar energy development throughout the globe. Advancements in the efficiency of solar panels help to fuel this growth. Solar energy conversion improvements make it possible to produce more electricity in less space. This is especially important in urban areas where the limited roof and yard space can dictate the generation limits of the system. According to industry experts, solar is responsible for generating 85 percent of a solar household’s total electricity in 2015. This wouldn’t be possible without recent advances in solar system efficiency. Moreover, advances in panel efficiency also increase the return on investment in the system. The more energy the array generates, the more value it produces. Additionally, the price per watt of a solar system typically falls somewhat with large solar systems because solar systems have some fixed costs. As the return on investment in solar systems increases, it fuels increased solar energy deployment. As production increases, the price of solar panels and equipment tends to fall, encouraging more solar energy use.

Solar panel efficiency climbs

A new solar cell design is being touted as having a 50 percent energy-conversion efficiency in laboratory tests. This and other new technologies are promising, but they may not be widely installed on rooftops. Unfortunately, the super-efficient solar cells normally require more costly materials which often makes them cost ineffective for consumers.
Meanwhile, SolarCity is mass-producing solar panels with 22 percent efficiency, increasing the options of efficient solar panels available to consumers. In addition to increases in efficiency, some panels are more shade tolerant than others, but all solar panels perform better when unshaded. Shade-tolerant panels are helpful for properties with trees or other obstructions, although panel location is still very important for maximizing energy generation.

There has never been a better time to install a solar energy system!

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.