What is the Best Solar Panel to Buy?

With solar energy emerging as the most popular and practically the most accessible method for acquiring alternative energy in most homes in the US, homeowners are asking about which type of solar panel is the best choice for their homes. Solar panels cost a fortune and it is only logical that homeowners seek out the best options where they can get the most out of their money.

And so we lay down three of the most popular solar panel types marketed for domestic use and compare the pros and cons of each one:

    Monocrystalline Silicon Solar Panel

These panels are characterized by its sleek, smooth patterns of rounded squares.

PROS - experts deem that monocrystalline solar panels are the most efficient ones since they record the highest energy conversion rates. This type of solar panel could record up to 20%-21% conversion rate and are four times more efficient in conversion than its closest relative: the polycrystalline panel types. This has an average lifespan of 25 years. All these characteristics are due to the fact that they are made of the highest grade of silicon.

CONS - they are expensive. Quality comes at a high price in these babies. On top of that, they are highly sensitive to dirt and their efficiency can be easily affected by the weather and coverage changes.

    Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Panel

The polycrystalline panels are characterized by their wafer-like appearance. Unlike the monocrystalline panels, these panels are made of lesser-grade silicon.

PROS - These panels, because they do not use high grade silicon, they are generally much cheaper. They are also more tolerant to heat compared to the monocrystalline ones.

CONS - They are 5%-7% less efficient than the monocrystalline silicons, recording between 13%-16% in conversion rate. This, in turn, requires homeowners to get more panels for better coverage to make up for performance making it not quite the most space-efficient option.

    String Ribbon Solar Cells

As its name implies, string ribbon cells are molten polycrystalline silicon that have been stretched and molded to become thin silicon ribbons.

PROS - they are very cheap. Because of its saturated silicon concentration and the far less expensive production methods, they come out cheaply in the market.

CONS - the same reason that makes it cheap makes it less advantageous: its polycrystalline content makes it less efficient. It also is the least space-efficient type of solar panel.

Solar Power Buying Guide

With the rising prices in the nonrenewable energy that we are using today, not to mention the amount of damage its carbon emissions cause to the environment, more and more people are finding it practical to utilize solar energy to power their households. And thanks to technology, buying your own solar panels and solar power kit for use at home has been made possible and largely easier than when it was ten to fifteen years ago. Before making a purchase however, it is important to make the necessary solar panel comparison not merely on brand and price but on type and installation contractor as well.

Here is a simple power buying guide for all homeowners and business owners looking to make the shift to solar energy for their power needs:

    Know the types of solar panels and power available. Make a solar panel comparison as per type and capacity of each. Commonly, there are four types available in the market. The monosilicon panel is deemed the most efficient of these common types but is also among the most expensive. Its single silicon structure allows for most amount of sun energy converted into electricity. It’s easy to build on the roofs. It’s less expensive and less efficient relative, the polysilicon type uses thin silicon films on conduit wires. They’re also good to install on the roofs. The other type is the BIPVs or the building integrated photovoltaics. They make for the aesthetics as they are built into the wall/roof like actual shingles but they are less efficient.
    Determine how much energy you need. Oftentimes, households do not go full solar panel. They substitute a portion of their energy consumption with solar power so they significantly lower their electric bills. When buying your own solar kit, determine where you intend to use it (den, room, RV, cellar, etc) and how much energy you are to consume. This way you will only buy what you need i.e. the number of panels you’re going to install.
    Find the right company to handle the installation. Do not jump at the first contractor you find on the internet. Apart from solar panel comparison, run a comparison of the installers too! You might end up losing more money than what you save because you trusted the wrong company to handle the job for you.

Solar Crisis for Investors and Manufacturers, Not for Consumers

Chinese manufacturers have recently faced a huge solar crisis that has caused the Chinese government to run to their aid. In the midst of debates about solar panels and how to make them more affordable for the average families, Chinese manufacturers of solar panels have come face to face with challenges on demands, defects, and steep tariffs in the US government.

For the most part, the US is still the largest market for Chinese manufacturers of solar panels. However, many of their clients have lost good faith in the much, much cheaper Chinese-made panels when defects and efficiency problems began arising.

On the other hand, popular solar energy companies in Germany - still tops in having the world’s cheapest solar energy rates - are facing their own crisis likely caused by mass producing Chinese companies. Some have thrown in the towel, while others are barely hanging on. If this is not solar crisis, then we do not know what is.

But this problem may be just between on the manufacturers’  and investors’ end. Companies might actually be struggling for their rightful place in the world market and for a dominant spot in the alternative energy sources market, but the consumers are on the winning end so far.

And this crisis may soon end, albeit only with a few winners.

Many homeowners and business owners are discussing about solar panels and the efficiency of investing in much cheaper, more ecologically friendly solar power for their consumption needs. On top of that, solar energy retail aka leasing is also on the rise even despite the dropping amounts in government incentives on renewable energy investments.

With this predicted rise in demand, solar energy is seen as the next best thing in energy sources across America. And while this may actually lower the prices of solar panels in the market -  lower than it already is today at 80% off its 2005 price - the demand will become steady to make up for it.

It is highly interesting to see that despite this so-called solar crisis in the energy market today, solar energy companies are still trying to make a surge in the stocks market while consumers are still trying to discuss and learn more about solar panels.