Author: Casiana Pridea

In one of the previous articles we saw how many photovoltaic panels are needed for a house. It’s time to also analyze which are the best photovoltaic panels.

There are 3 types of panels designed to produce electricity:

• monocrystalline (sc-Si)
• polycrystalline (mc-Si)
• thin layer panels

1. Monocrystalline Solar Panels (sc-Si)

Monocrystalline solar panels are considered the best photovoltaic panels, appreciated for their efficiency.

Manufactured using a single pure silicon crystal, these panels can convert between 15-20% of solar energy into electricity.

In addition to this remarkable efficiency, monocrystalline panels also have a very long lifespan of 25 years and can be easily maintained.

Being regarded as the best photovoltaic panels, their price is also higher compared to other types of panels.

2. Polycrystalline Solar Panels (mc-Si)

Unlike monocrystalline panels manufactured using a single pure silicon crystal, polycrystalline panels are made from leftover silicon.

Even though their lifespan is also about 25 years, these panels can only convert 13-16% of the captured sunlight into electricity. This explains their lower price compared to monocrystalline panels.

3. Thin-Film Solar Panels

At the bottom of the photovoltaic panel ranking are the thin-film panels. The major advantage of these panels is that they are not dependent on the intensity of sunlight and are very easy to install.

The price of thin-film solar panels is relatively low because their conversion process is only about 6-12%, which is why they are not the most favored ones.

Installation and Maintenance

In order to achieve high efficiency from photovoltaic panels, their installation and maintenance should be carried out by a specialist in the field.

However, it’s not wrong to know some basic aspects:

• Photovoltaic panels should be installed with a tilt of 15 degrees, facing south. This will ensure the efficiency of the photovoltaic panels and facilitate the self-cleaning process.
• One of the most important maintenance procedures is filling with solar antifreeze. It is crucial to have a specialist take care of this, as the antifreeze regulates circuit pressure and ensures the proper functioning of the system.

Photovoltaic panels: The price for a house

The price of photovoltaic panels for a house is the last step before you decide to invest in such a system. I left this topic at the end of the article, because it is more important to know first which are the best photovoltaic panels.

Unfortunately, we cannot determine an exact cost as it varies from household to household and depends on each customer’s needs.

A cheap photovoltaic panel system can start from €1000 per 1 KW installed. It is highly likely that such a system may not guarantee very high efficiency, and the quality of the equipment may be relatively low. On the other hand, a complete and high-performance system can reach up to €1600 per 1 KW installed.

Conclusion

Now you know what the best photovoltaic panels are and have a clearer picture of the types of these systems.

We know it can be daunting to search for all the necessary information, but if you are interested in installing such a system, we encourage you to contact us with any questions you may have.

Solar batteries are one of the main components of a photovoltaic system. Do you know what the role of batteries is within a photovoltaic system? How do you determine the best solar batteries?

The primary role of batteries in a solar system is to store surplus energy. As mentioned in one of the previous articles, solar panels produce less electric current during the cold season or on cloudy days.

When photovoltaic panels produce more electric current than is needed, the batteries store that extra amount to be used during times when the panels produce a lower amount of electric current or none at all, such as during the night.

Depending on the voltage and capacity of the battery, a specialist can determine how many batteries are needed for a solar installation.

How do you choose a solar battery?

When choosing a solar battery you need to consider the following factors:

• safety;
• initial cost;
• profitability;
• storage capacity;
• battery power;
• lifetime;
• the impact of the battery on the environment;
• maintenance cost;
• transportation cost;
• installation cost.

The storage capacity of a solar battery is expressed in kWh. This indicates the amount of current that can be stored by the battery and how long the house can be powered with this amount of current.

The power of the battery determines the amount of energy that can be delivered in a single charging cycle.

In addition to these two factors, consider the depth of discharge of the battery. This determines how much the battery can be used before it needs to be recharged. It is also essential to know the conversion and storage efficiency: how many units of electric current can be used as a percentage of the already stored electric current.

Types of Solar Batteries

Solar batteries can be confusing when you are searching for and evaluating the best option for your photovoltaic system, especially if you have little knowledge on this subject. But don’t worry, we can help you with all the necessary information according to your needs. We will guide you step by step, including which batteries are suitable for your photovoltaic system.

However, it is essential to be familiar with some details when discussing with a specialist.

Each type of energy storage battery has its advantages and disadvantages. In the following paragraphs, we will analyze the main three types of batteries.

• Lithium-ion solar batteries
• AGM solar batteries
• Gel solar batteries

What are the best solar batteries?

So, these are the most common types of solar batteries. Examining the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages of each, we can conclude that Lithium-ion solar batteries are the most suitable for most photovoltaic systems. It is no wonder that they are also the most used, both by domestic consumers and by commercial ones.

What are the characteristics of monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels? Do you know the difference between these two types of photovoltaic panels?

The sun is an incredible source of energy. Just think that the Earth receives more energy from the sun in one hour than the entire energy consumed by the world’s population in a year. Solar energy is converted into electricity by means of photovoltaic cells.

The technology of photovoltaic panels has evolved significantly in recent years, resulting in the emergence of increasingly innovative solar panels. There are many factors to consider when thinking about purchasing a solar energy system, one of them being the type of solar panels.

For residential users, most of the solar panels available on the market in Romania can be divided into three categories:

• Monocrystalline Photovoltaic Panels
• Polycrystalline Photovoltaic Panels
• Photovoltaic panels with thin layer

Although all these categories of panels are intended to convert solar energy into electricity, they still have different characteristics. Considering that most domestic consumers choose monocrystalline and polycrystalline photovoltaic panels, in this article we will compare these two types of panels.

What do we choose – monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels?

The table below shows the main differences between monocrystalline photovoltaic panels and polycrystalline photovoltaic panels:

Characteristics	Monocrystalline panels	Polycrystalline panels
Cost	Higher	Lower
Eficiență	Higher	Lower
Apperareance	Black	Dark blue
Lifespan	Up to 25 years	Up to 25 years
Space	Takes up less space on the roof	Takes up more space
Performance	Higher performance, even in regions with less natural light	Reduced performance in frequently cloudy areas

Conclusion

We can see that apart from the lifetime, which is similar for both types of solar panels, monocrystalline solar panels have many more advantages than polycrystalline ones. This also explains their higher cost.

Are you wondering how many solar panels are needed for a house? Are you also considering solar panels as a good energy-saving solution for your home?

In this article, we will try to answer these questions. We hope to convince you to choose this type of green energy source.

More and more Romanians are interested in solar panels for their homes and commercial spaces. We assure you that you are not the only person with numerous questions regarding this new energy source. However, the one mentioned above is just one of them.

But let’s see together how many solar panels are needed for a house and which are the best panels.

How many solar panels are needed for a house?

To determine the required number of solar panels for a house, we need to know the current monthly electricity consumption.

ATTENTION: We do not need the house’s surface area or the number of residents to determine this.

The simplest way to find out the current monthly energy consumption is to look at the last bill and check the total amount paid for one month. Then we divide this amount by the cost per kWh.

To make it easier, let’s use the following example: 180 RON (last month’s bill), 0.60 RON (cost per kWh). In this case, the energy consumed in one month is 300 kWh.

We divide the 300 kWh by 30 days (average monthly) and get a result of 10 kWh per day, which is the daily energy requirement.

So, we now know how much energy we consume daily. But how do we find out how many solar panels are needed for a house?

We divide the 10 kWh by a coefficient of 3.3 (explained below) and determine the INSTALLED POWER, which in our case is 3 kW.

ATTENTION: Energy is measured in kWh, and installed power is measured in kW.

Considering that most solar panels are 250W, we find that we need a total of 12 solar panels (1 kW = 1000W). If you are considering panels that produce less energy, adjust the calculation accordingly.

To determine an approximate price of a photovoltaic kit, in addition to the panels, take into account the other necessary elements:

• Inverter
• Cabels
• Battery
• Grip structure
• Wiring

Coefficient of 3.3: Annual Daily Average

The installed power produces energy based on the intensity of sunlight: less in the morning, more at noon. This also applies to summer vs. winter.

In our example, even though the 12 panels have an installed power of 3 kW, they will not produce 3 kWh (energy) every hour and every day. Considering that in summer, these 12 panels (installed power) can produce even 5-6 times more energy, the ANNUAL DAILY AVERAGE has a coefficient of 3.3.