Highly efficient solar cells bring more customer benefits

Aurora · Post by **Aurora** » 07 Sep 2010, 06:52

The Independent - 06/09/10

Newly released high-efficiency solar cells could provide further economic benefits to consumers of renewable energy.

Electronics and photovoltaic manufacturer Sanyo Europe has launched its latest solar module in its HIT series. The new HIT-N235SE10 at 21.1 percent efficiency has the highest efficiency rating achieved by Sanyo's photovoltaic products. To date 23 percent is the highest efficiency rating achieved in solar cells and has only been possible in research and development prototypes. The HIT-N235SE10 solar module is due to begin being shipped to the UK and Europe during September.

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biffvernon · Post by **biffvernon** » 07 Sep 2010, 07:28

I guess we'll see a gradual rise in these efficiency figures over coming years, but the key measure for many wannabe micro-generators is the cost per Watt rather than the efficiency of the module.

From my recent investigations of domestic complete system installations, a price of less than £4/Wp gets a second look. Over £4/Wp goes in the bin, even if it means not using the most efficient panels.

nnnnnn · Post by **nnnnnn** » 07 Sep 2010, 11:38

Yes cost is the most important factor for most people. Even if you fill the average roof with 5% efficiency solar panels, you'd still get a worthwhile amount of power from them.

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 21 Sep 2010, 17:11

Ours are panel efficiency 18%, and worked out as £5.33 per Wp including the cost of installation.

Kontiki · Post by **Kontiki** » 29 Nov 2010, 19:41

Our panels are rated at 14.49% & the cost including installation works out at £3.35 per watt. With these efficiency ratings they are listed by the manufacturer but how are we able to tell if they are correct

Also how can the average person determine if the efficiency is below the stated value?

RenewableCandy · Post by **RenewableCandy** » 30 Nov 2010, 12:16

We'd have to wait til mid-day on the longest day, at which point the sun will be 60 deg up (our roof is south-facing and 30 deg up), making a right-angle. Then I rush to the welly-o-meter, read it, divide the result by 1665 (the watt rating of the panels) turn into a percentage and voila!

If we happen to have a dull solstice that would throw a bit of a spanner in the works