☀️ Maximising Solar System Performance: Key Factors & Solutions

Solar energy is the most popular renewable energy source that we have, and one of the best things you can do for your home is install solar panels on your roof for free electricity and electricity saving. To ensure your output of solar energy is maximised, you need to take some steps to making your solar panels more efficient. In this article, I will inform you of several factors concerning efficiency, and how you can improve your solar panels efficiency.

1. Choose the Right Place to put Solar Panels

Installing solar panels in a location that will give them maximum exposure to sunlight is essential. In the northern hemisphere, solar panels should face south and, in the southern hemisphere, north. The angle of the panels should be calculated for your particular location to give you the best exposure to the Sun throughout the year. Solar installers will calculate the optimal angle for you, based on your latitude and local climate.

2. Maintenance and Cleaning

As time goes by, dust, dirt, bird poop and other residues may accumulate on your solar panels lowering their ability to efficiently generate electricity by 25-40 percent. The best way to make sure that your panels maximise the amount of rays from the Sun they capture is by getting them cleaned regularly. They should be inspected and cleaned at least twice a year, but more frequently in very dusty or polluted locations. In addition, your wiring and connections should be inspected at least once a year.

3. Inverters

They convert solar-produced DC power into home and business AC power. Inverters should be applied optimally for several key metrics. For example, software updates will often improve inverter efficiency. Its also recommended that you get inverters with the highest possible conversion efficiency and a size appropriate for your solar array so as to avoid power loss.

4. Shading Management

Shading from trees, buildings, or other structures can reduce the power output of solar panels. Shading of a single panel in an array can reduce the total power output of the array, which is of particular concern for string inverters that connect the panels in series. Shading issues can be mitigated by pruning trees, but property owners should plan the location of the array, especially to mitigate winter shading. Shading issues can also be mitigated by the use of microinverters or power optimisers, which manage the output on an individual-panel basis, so shading impacts just the shaded panel.

5. TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Panels work best at moderate temperatures. Generally, they will overheat when they get to full efficiency. It tends to be counterintuitive, because there is no power without the sun, but the hotter the panels are, the less power they will generate. These panels will work cooler with good air flow at a reasonable speed. Panels a few inches above the roof (or ground) are good for this air flow.

6. System Monitoring

Buy a system that monitors your panels’ output, and tweak your solar system until it’s delivering maximum power and efficiency. The real-time output data enables you to catch ERA problems before they contribute to long-term underperformance.

7. Upgrading Older Systems

Your solar system could be outdated by newer technologies, with solar panels you got five years ago being less efficient than today’s models, or disliking new-fangled technology like modern inverters or battery storage. Discuss your options with solar energy professionals to see if upgrading parts of your system would provide some actual efficiency benefits.

Conclusion: On the other hand, the efficient solar panels also can save a great amount of energy for people. For instance, installing the solar system in the right position, maintaining the system regularly, managing the external factors such as shading and temperature and using the advanced technology, homeowners can significantly improve the efficiency of the solar system. To sum up, since the investment on solar technology cannot be ignored, saving enough energy for solar system should be the ultimate goal for people to achieve. Always remember that a properly maintained and operated solar system is not only beneficial to environment but also bring a sustainable saving for your pocket.