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Solar Panels; Bi-Facial & beyond
We give you some easy-to-understand tips and how to avoid common mistakes
Get the most out of your solar panels for off-grid
Solar panels consist of small sections called “solar cells” which are made of silicone.
These cells are comprised of two parts; a positively charged portion and a negatively charged portion. The parts meet in the middle to form what is called the PN Junction. When sunlight hits the solar cell, it causes the electrons on the positive part of the solar cell to move to the negative part. We can tap into this movement of electrons to generate solar power!
Solar Panel performance
There are many factors that affect how well a solar panel performs. If we put aside technological advancement, the main focus on panel performance is its position to the sun.
There are two things that determine the effectiveness of this position and they are direction and pitch.
Direction
In New Zealand, because we are in the southern hemisphere, the best direction to position our panels, is true North
Pitch
For off-grid ground-mounting, we want to maximize our solar generation in winter. To do this, we pitch our panels at between 30-40 degrees (compared to a 22-30 degree pitch commonly used on houses). This means in winter when the sun is lower in the sky, we harness the most energy possible.
Ultimately you can generate more energy over the course of a year with a lower 15-20 degree pitch. However, you will not get the same performance during the winter, which is when you need the power the most in an off-grid scenario.
The other main factors that contribute to panel performance is obstruction and temperature.
Obstruction is a common problem which is easily overlooked. We want to make sure our solar panels are not shaded by objects, trees or buildings. Having even a small section of your solar panels shaded has a dramatic effect on the panels output. Regularly check that the panel surface is clear of shading
Keeping your solar panels clean is also crucial. Debris, dust, pollen and moss will build up on your solar panels, effectively shading them out. We would recommend that solar panels are cleaned at least once a year, or more often depending on your location.
Temperature
Temperature is another issue that can effect panel output. Keeping solar panels cooler can enhance their performance.
- Pitching the solar panels correctly will help, allowing air to circulate
- For an off-grid system, if the space is available, we would highly recommend ground-mounting the solar panels. This is an effective way of managing temperature and makes cleaning the solar array much easier
