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A Total Solution - Solar Panels Australia
National Solar Power approaches the design and specification of your solar PV system with the following principles:
Solar technology suited to your needs
There are four main types of solar panel technologies available, each with their own benefits.
Mono Crystalline (monocrystalline c‐Si) Solar Panels
These panels are a proven technology that has been in use for over 30 years. They have the highest efficiency of 12‐15% in the real world, meaning that fewer panels are required to produce a given amount of energy. They are commonly used where space is limited, or where there are high costs associated with installing large panels.
They have a very slow degradation, generally loosing 0.25 ‐ 0.5% per year. However, they are also the most expensive to make and purchase.
Poly Crystalline (polycrystalline c‐Si) Solar Panel
These panels are similar to Mono Crystalline panels, but the silicon used is Multi‐Crystalline which is easier to make. They are comparable to Mono Crystalline in performance and durability, except their efficiency is slightly lower, generally 11‐13%. Slightly more panels are required to produce a given amount of electricity, however installation costs are often lower. They are more resistant to the effects of heat than Mono Crystalline panels.
String Ribbon Solar Panels
This is a relatively new technique that combines conventional crystalline silicon and newer thin films. They have an efficiency of 11‐13%, meaning that the panel size is approximately 30% bigger than Mono Crystalline and Poly Crystalline panels. Degradation is very slow, typically losing 0.25 ‐ 0.5% per year. As less energy is used to manufacture these panels than the Mono Crystalline and Poly Crystalline panels, they are usually cheaper to purchase.
Thin Film or Amorphous Solar Panel
This is a very new technique, so its long‐term durability can only be estimated.
The production process is more energy efficient than the other panel varieties so the panels are generally cheaper to make and to purchase. They have a lower efficiency of 5‐6% so the panel is typically nearly double the size than the other panel varieties. However, their light weight makes them suitable for curved structures. As a new technology, research is continuing to improve the performance of Thin Film or Amorphous panels and to refine the manufacturing process.
The most common varieties of Thin Film or Amorphous panels are:
- Cadmium Telluride Thin‐Film panels (CdTe)
- Copper Indium Gallium Selenide Thin‐Film panels (CIGS)
- Amorphous silicon Thin‐Film panels (a‐Si)
Source: Clean Energy Council Australia
Systems sized to optimize your roof and energy needs
The size of your solar PV system will depend on:
- the physical unshaded area available for the installation of your panels
- how much you are prepared to spend
- what portion of your electrical consumption you wish to generate.
To work out what size solar PV system you require, our team will analyse your household’s daily electricity consumption. Your monthly or quarterly electricity bill measures your household’s electricity consumption in KWh. From this figure, you can calculate your average daily electricity consumption, and the average amount of electricity your solar PV system needs to produce to cover your electricity needs.
Our consultants also consider whether your solar PV system has enough Watts to power your appliances, and that the solar panels will physically fit in the space you want to install them.
Each solar panel is approximately 1.5 metres long and 0.75 metres wide. A 1kW solar panel system will require around 8m2 of roof space, and a 1.5kW solar panel system requires around 12m2. This will vary depending on the type of panel installed on your roof.
Accredited Designers / Installers
To be eligible for solar power government rebates, the designer/installer of your solar PV system must be accredited by the Clean Energy Council (which ours are). The Clean Energy Council’s Accreditation scheme ensures that accredited designers/installers of solar PV power systems:
- have undergone the necessary professional training
- follow industry best practice
- adhere to Australian standards
- routinely update their skills and product knowledge.
Our accredited designer/installer will provide you with a solar PV system design and specification. This will include things such as:
- Establishing your electrical loads over an average day using a load analysis
- Determining the type of panels
- Determining the size of your solar PV system
- Deciding the type of inverter
- Establishing the location of solar panels in relation to angles, available sunlight, shading and temperature.
Positioning panels on the roof to optimize the sun
Solar PV panels produce most power when they are pointed directly at the sun. In Australia, solar modules should face north for optimum electricity production. Panel orientation will often have a greater effect on annual energy production than tilt angle. We aim to achieve a minimum tilt of 10° to ensure self cleaning by rainfall.
For grid‐connected solar PV power systems, the solar panels should be positioned at the angle of latitude to maximise the amount of energy produced annually. Most Australian homes have a roof pitch of 20° to 30°.
If your roof’s slope is not ideal, we will create a mounting frame to correct the orientation and elevation of your panel. Failing this, we can advise you on the difference in energy output for different tilt and orientation.
The amount of energy in sunlight that a solar PV panel receives over a day is expressed in peak sun hours. As the amount of energy generated by a panel is directly proportional to the amount of energy it receives from sunlight, it is important to install panels so they receive maximum sunlight.
We will calculate the amount of energy generated by the solar PV panel from the peak sun hours available. Peak sun hours vary throughout the year. The following table shows the average monthly peak sun hours for north facing PV panels at various locations in Australia.
Solar PV panels should ideally be in full sun from at least 9am to 3pm. They should not be placed in shaded areas and be kept free from dust and dirt. Even a small amount of shade will have a large impact on the output of a panel, as it changes the flow of electricity through the panel. Shading or dirt on just one of the cells in a solar panel results in a loss of power from many cells, not just the one that is shaded.
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