Currently, the number of individuals and companies that opt for the use solar energy is increasing exponentiallymany of them fueled by ever-rising electricity prices, as well as climate change and new environmental awareness.
But before you make the investment, it\’s important to know this there are numerous factors that directly affect the performance of solar panels, a fundamental aspect that influences energy production and refers to the ability of the solar panel to transform energy from the sun into electricity. The higher the efficiency percentage of a plate, the higher the energy produced will be.
All solar panels do not offer the same performance, varying according to various aspects such as the materials of the modules, their orientation, the type of roof where they are installed or the climate. We detail everything below factors that we must take into account in order to achieve maximum performance in our photovoltaic installation.
Factors influencing the performance of an installation
The energy available to consume in our home will depend on the performance of the solar panels. There are several factors that make performance increase or decrease, and we need to take into account before installing solar panels. Let\’s see below what are these factors that directly influence the performance of a photovoltaic installation to achieve its maximum potential:
- The materials of the photovoltaic installation. The energy produced by solar panels largely depends on the materials they are composed of, being more profitable the higher its quality. But the materials of the other components like inverter, wiring and battery are also very important. The performance of an installation is reduced by up to 20% when the proper materials are not used. The choice of quality materials extends the useful life of the panels.
- Temperature and climate. The performance is affected by the temperature and climate of the geographical area where the photovoltaic installation is located. The the temperatures very high reduces performance of solar panels, being 25 °C the ideal temperature so that the solar panels obtain maximum performance. The productivity of a plant decreases by 1% for every 2ºC the temperature rises.
Regarding climate strong wind is not a good ally for solar panels, as their flattened shape makes them more vulnerable to its action. It is important to know that today there are high-quality solar panels that perfectly withstand adverse weather conditions such as Cloudy days, because the sun\’s rays pass through the clouds, even if their performance decreases. The the snow Nor is it a problem because reflects sunlight and improves the performance of the boards.
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Most manufacturers include in the technical data sheet of the solar panels Power Temperature Coefficient, which indicates the power loss generated for each degree that rises above the ideal temperature of the solar panels (25ºC). The lower this percentage, the better the performance of the solar panel will be because the loss will have been practically imperceptible. This coefficient varies depending on the type of panel and the technological characteristics it has.
- Solar radiation and geographic location. Spain has between 2,000 and 3,000 hours of sunlight per year. Each geographic area of the country receives a different amount of solar radiation, which directly affects the performance of solar panels. Solar radiation is directly related to the slope, shadows and climate of the geographical area.
there is three types of radiation:
- direct radiation. It comes directly from the sun and depends on the clouds that appear and the time of year we are in.
- diffuse radiation. It is the effect generated when solar radiation reaching the surface of the atmosphere is scattered from its original direction by molecules in the atmosphere.
- reflected radiation. It is produced by backscattered or reflected radiation from the surface. Only buildings located perpendicular to the earth\’s surface receive this type of radiation.
Each geographical area of the country will receive more or less amount of solar radiation, directly influencing the performance of the solar panels.
- Orientation and tilt. The orientation south of the solar panels is the most optimal, as the perpendicular rays that are reflected on its surface increase the productivity and profitability of the photovoltaic installation.
The inclination It is a factor that further influences the performance of solar photovoltaic panels. Depending on the area of the country we are in, solar panels should be tilted to certain degrees to make them efficient and improve their performance.
- Maintenance. Solar panels can suffer damage due to unfavorable weather phenomena such as hail, wind, pollution or dirt, reducing their performance. For this reason, performing maintenance correctly is essential to the performance of the plant.
we will keep solar panels clean and in good condition, which does not require a significant investment of time and money. In this way we will be able to extend the useful life of the photovoltaic system and generate a higher production of solar energy.
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He maintenance of solar panels involves two aspects: cleaning these panels and replacing system parts which are in bad condition. For cleaning we will only need water and a sponge, and only 3 or 4 cleanings per year will be enough.
- seasonality. In summer, solar panels receive more sunlight and therefore generate more energy. But in winter these installations are also profitable, since solar panels capture sunlight regardless of the heat received, although this return is reduced by the lower number of hours of sunshine per day. In addition, in winter the position of the sun varies and affects the solar panels less directly.
- Shadows. These greatly affect the performance of solar panels and are therefore a very important factor to consider. Shadows on solar panels should be avoided as much as possible, as power can suffer a reduction of up to 30%.
- System losses. It can produce 20% of system losses due to bad plate orientation and tilt. In any case, these losses will be reduced if we consider the factors we have just discussed.
It is essential to take into account all these factors that will allow obtain maximum performance in the photovoltaic installationthus generating as much energy as possible.
Technical aspects to improve the performance of solar panels
The following should also be considered technical aspects of photovoltaic installations to improve their performance:
- Correct cable size. You must always use suitable and appropriate cables for the extension of the installation and which are located between the inverter and the battery.
- Shutting down the inverter if it is not used for several days. The power inverter is what converts direct current into alternating current for electrical appliances in the home to work. To extend its life, it should be unplugged when not in use for a long time.
- The type of investor. Depending on the type of inverter we use in the installation, its performance will be higher or lower. In the case of one inverter with string or chain, the panels are connected in series and if one of them is affected by shadows, it will immediately affect the overall performance of the installation. For this reason, it is advisable to use another type of more advanced technology, such as power optimizers microinverters.
Lost microinverters control each panel individually and therefore only the production of the failed panel is affected. In this way, problems such as debris, dirt, various types of inclination or orientation, will not affect the entire installation, but only a certain panel.
P.O.W It has qualified technicians and a team of professionals who will help you maintain and care for your solar panel installation so that you can achieve maximum performance and the best return.