Solar Panels come in all shapes & sizes, but which is the best?

There are a wide variety of solar panel systems that differ in size, material and shape. So for a novice all this information can be overwhelming when considering solar for your home/commercial property. Obviously all these different factors will affect the amount of electricity you produce, how much you save and how much you will earn on RHI or feed-in-tariffs.

Sizes

Solar Panel size often depends on how big/small your roof is. Although you can opt for smaller panels on a large roof if the price of a big system blows your budget. Installers will refer to the size of the panel by the amount of kilowatts it produces. Here are some examples:

                            2 kW System                                                                  3 kW System                         

Typically, 8x250 Watt Panels,
Covering approximately 11sqm
of clear roof space
Estimated Cost: £3,000-£4000
Estimated Output: 1,700 kW p/a
Estimated CO2 saved over 25 years: 20 (tonnes) 
Total Benefit (Year 1) £375.00

Total profit made on panels: £3,800

Typically, 12x250 Watt Panels,
Covering approximately 17sqm
of clear roof space
Estimated Cost: £4000-£6000
Estimated Output: 2,550k kW p/a
Estimated CO2 saved over 25 years: 30 (tonnes)
Total Benefit (Year 1) £534.00
Total profit made on panels: £5,635

                                                                                                         

                                                                     4 kW System 

Typically, 16x250 Watt Panels,
Covering approximately 22 sqm
of clear roof space
Estimated Cost: £6000-£8000
Estimated Output: 3,400 kW p/a
Estimated CO2 saved over 25 years: 40 (tonnes)
Total Benefit (Year 1): £750.00
Total profit made on panels: £6,750

Those are some fantastic numbers. The extra £6,750 in your back pocket will definitely come in handy, not to mention all the money you will SAVE on the panels as well. The profit is just coming from the feed-in-tariff, also as an added bonus it will cushion you against sky rocketing energy bills (which seems to be happening a lot these days.)

Types of Solar Panels

There are number of different types of solar panel, from an ever increasing range of manufacturers. Each claims that they are best for one reason or another, with different sales people all giving different information. This blog will help you distinguish which type of panel is best suited for you! The two main types you will most likely come across are:

Monocrystalline 

The solar cells in monocrystalline are aligned in one direction, which means that when the sun is shining brightly on them at the correct angle, they are extremely efficient. So, these panels work best in bright sunshine with the sun shining directly on them. They have a uniform blacker colour because they are absorbing most of the light.

Pure cells are octagonal, so there is unused space in the corners when lots of cells are made into a solar module. Mono mono panels are slightly smaller than poly panels for the same power, but this is only really noticeable on industrial scale installations where you may be able to fit a higher overall power with monocrystalline.

Polycrystalline                     

Polycrystalline panels are made up to form blocks and create a cell made up of several bits of pure crystal. Because the individual crystals are not all perfectly aligned together and there are losses at the joints between them, they are not quite as efficient as Monocrystalline. However, this misalignment can help in some circumstances, because the cells work better from light at all angles in low light. For this reason, I would say that polycrystalline is slightly better suited to the UK’s duller conditions, but the difference is marginal.

The only other difference they have to the Monocrystalline is that you can see the random crystal arrangement and the panels look a little bluer as they reflect some of the light.

The Best One

Photo Credit: Michael Coghlan

To conclude the best solar panel is entirely down to what suits you the best be it size or type. After reading through this blog you should be able to set aside the confusion from all the sellers that have bombarded you with misinformation; now knowing there isn't much difference between Polycrystalline and Monocrystalline. 

If I were to leave my last bit of advice it would be IGNORE All Black Solar Panels! Why? Because they don't get the same reflective light that the cells need and get from the Poly and Mono AND also avoid Hybrid Solar panels. Why? Because they are ridiculously expensive and outweigh any chance of making your money back and you just generate the same amount of electricity. 

So stick to your Polycrystalline and Monocrystalline my dear Sirs and Madams, I bid you adieu.

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