Solar panels are used in homes throughout New South Wales, including Newcastle, Nambucca Heads, Taree, Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour. There are many different types and systems to choose from. You need to take into account the amount of available sunlight, your energy consumption, when you mostly use power, and what you are really wanting to get out of solar installation in your home. Price is not the only thing to consider.
Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity. There are three main types. All have distinct advantages and disadvantages.
Monocrystaline
These solar panels have a high efficiency rating and performance. They look great but have a higher cost than other types of panels. The cells of monocrystalline solar panels are cut from a single pure crystal of silicon.
Polycrystalline
These solar panels have a lower performance and efficiency and the outlay to buy them is comparatively less compared to other types. The solar cells in these panels are created from fragments of silicon crystals. These are melted together into a mould before they are cut into wafers.
Both of the above types of solar panels are made of cells created with silicon wafers. To build a panel of this type the wafers are assembled into rows and columns to form a rectangle. They are then covered with glass and framed together.
Thin Film
Thin film solar panels are portable and flexible, lightweight and are aesthetically pleasing. They have the lowest efficiency of all the three types and so are best suited to those who do not use a lot of electricity and / or only want a basic solar system. Thin film solar panel systems are crated from many different types of materials. The most predominant type of material used is cadmium telluride (CdTe).
To make this type of thin-film solar panel a layer of CdTe is placed between transparent conducting layers which help to capture sunlight. A glass layer is placed on top of the cells for protection. Amorphous silicon (a-Si) is also a product that can be made to use thin film solar panels. This material is similar in composition to monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels. They are created with non crystalline silicon which is place on top of metal, plastic, or glass.
Another popular type of thin film technology used in solar installation is copper indium gallium selenide (CIGs). These patterns have all four elements inserted between two conductive layers of aluminium, steel, plastic, or glass. Electrons are placed on the material to capture the electrical currents.
Wattage
Different panels can have different watt outputs for the same number of modules. This comes down to the quality and purity of the silicon that is achieved during the manufacturing process. There are different methods for improving the quality of the silicon and productivity of the panels. These processes add cost to the solar system.
Points to Consider When Choosing Solar
The panels alone are not the only thing to consider when it comes to solar. Consider these points before making a decision.
Choose Professional Installers
Ensure that your system is supplied and installed by experienced solar installers. Get checkable references.
Bila Energy are known in Newcastle, Nambucca Heads, Taree, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and surrounding areas for their expertise, product knowledge, friendliness, professionalism, and exceptional service. Nothing is too much trouble.
How Much Room Do You Have?
If you have limited space on your roof, or only part of your roof receives direct sunlight, we recommend that you purchase more efficient panels. Although this can add cost to the initial install it will help you get closer to the optimal system size and give you the best value for money in most cases.
Bila Energy are a highly experienced team of solar installers. We use only the best in solar systems, and our attention to detail, workmanship and customer care is second to none. All of our products have a full warranty. Our team service Newcastle, Nambucca Heads, Taree, Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour and surrounding areas. Contact us for an obligation free quote today.