The Best Solar Panels for Winter
Solar panels are designed to produce energy from the sunlight, not heat; therefore, they work during winter months, so long as you stay on top of snow removal. Any solar panel will continue to produce energy in the winter, but some will do so more efficiently than others. Does this Spark an idea?
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Solar Panels in Winter
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Getting the most out of solar panels during the winter requires work. With less hours of sunlight, you'll want to capitalize on the rays you do get. In circumstances of a thin layer of snow, most PV (photovoltaic) solar panels will continue to produce electricity -- they may even heat up and melt the snow. However, in the circumstance of heavy snow fall, it's essential that you clean off the panels. Even on cold, overcast days, enough sunlight diffuses through to continue energy production. The second challenge of harvesting solar energy in winter is angling your panel correctly for optimum sun exposure. According to macslab.com, the ideal angel for a solar panel during winter is your latitude plus 15 degrees.
Types of Solar Panels
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There are four types of solar panels: monocrystalline silicone panels. polycrystalline silicone panels, string ribbon silicone and amorphous silicone panels. Monocrystalline are the most efficient solar panel, generally producing an electrical return rate between 14% and 18%. As a result of the high electrical output, monocrystalline are also the most expensive solar panel. Polycrystalline produce an electrical return rate between 12% and 14%. The main difference between polycrystalline panels and monocrystalline panels is that if a cell were to break in a polycrystalline panel, it could be replaced without having to replace the entire panel. Monocrystalline panels are made to be one large solar cell, whereas polycrystalline panels are designed as several solar cells functioning in unison. Polycrystalline panels are also less expensive than monocrystalline panels. String ribbon panels have the same production rate as polycrystalline, but they're cheaper. They are very similar in almost every regard to polycrystaline panels, except that the solar cells combined in string ribbon panels are much larger ribbon strips, hence the name. Amorphous panels are the least expensive and least efficient, only producing an electrical production rate of four to five percent. The low production rate of amorphous panels make them a poor choice for long-term efficiency.
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The Best Solar Panel
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The most efficient solar panels on the market today are produced by Sun Power, a U.S. company. Recently, Sun Power has announced that they are currently working on a panel that will have a production rate of 23.4%, claims Solar Power Authority writer Court Rye. Currently the most efficient panel on the market is the Sun Power E19 monocrystalline panel, coming in at a production rate of 19%. The E19 panel features a non-reflective black design that absorbs sun heat and rays, making it ideal for winter use. Once heated up, ice and snow will quickly melt off the panel.
The Best Bang for Your Buck
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The Daily Green chose the Kyocera KD Series polycrystalline solar panel has the best "bang for your buck" panel of 2010. Costing just under $1,000 for the 210W panel, it's a great choice when on a strict budget. The electrical production rate of 16% makes it an excellent competitor on the market in terms of efficiency. The KD Series panels feature a sleek black design that melts snow and ice quickly once heated up. Typically, the Kyocera KD Series panels cost 10% less than the leading competition and still have a great output.
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