What Are The Best Solar Panels For Your Home & Business?
Solar panels have become part of the planet’s world and energy revolution. Solar energy allows us to be energy independent and save money by breaking free from power companies. By using this renewable energy source, we are also helping the planet and ensuring that we rely on an inexhaustible energy source.
Progress in technology has made it possible that even if there are cloudy days, we can store enough power to continue using it in our daily tasks.
But to take advantage of solar energy, we must use solar panels and, to get the maximum efficiency when collecting the energy from the sun, we have to choose the right solar panels, as there is no one-size-fits-all.
What to look for in a solar panel?
Hundreds of different brands and models of solar panels are on the market. So, to make the right decision, you have to pay attention and consider a few things. Here’s what to look for:
Solar Panel Size
One of the essential elements to look at and take into account is the size of the solar panels.
I always recommend a detailed assessment of how we want to place the panels before any installation. This will help to find out what space is available, what space we want to occupy with them, and the efficiency and type of panel required.
Type of Solar Panels
We already cover this in our previous article, “Solar Panels: The Ultimate Guide to Get the Right Solar System for your Home“, but I’ll leave here a quick overview:
Monocrystalline or Polycrystalline Solar Panels?
- Monocrystralline Solar Panels: Monocrystalline panels are still the most expensive option but also the most effective for generating electricity from solar energy. Its efficiency ranges from 18% to 22%.
- Polycrystalline Solar Panels: Polycrystalline cells are characterized by a high quality-price ratio: their efficiency ranges from 14 to 18%, thanks to which they effectively convert energy.
How do I differentiate Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline Solar Panels?
Monocrystalline solar panels are darker in colour, often black or dark grey, while polycrystalline solar panels have a dark blue colour when exposed to light.
In the table below, you can see a quick comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of polycrystalline and monocrystalline solar panels:
| Panel Type | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Monocrystalline | – High efficiency – Space efficient – Have a long lifespan – More efficient in warm weather | – Higher Cost – Less sustainable |
| Polycrystalline | – Easier production – Lower cost | – Efficiency of panels – Lower space-efficiency |
If you have a lot of space for solar panels, you could save money upfront by installing low-efficiency, low-cost polycrystalline panels. However, roofs with limited space might require installing high-efficiency, monocrystalline solar panels. Therefore, it’s always best to consult a Solar expert who can advise you.
Nominal Voltage
For isolated solar installations with batteries, the panels are 36 cells (12 V) or 72 cells (24V). If we want to use the module in a small isolated installation that feeds a battery (monoblock, for example), we will need 12V panels, while if our installation is a little larger and has a larger accumulation system (two monoblock batteries), we will need 24V panels.
Nominal voltage is not usually found on the product data-sheet; instead, they usually put the voltage at maximum power. The nominal voltage is the closest to the standard’s maximum power (12-24-48 Volts).
Power of Solar Panels
Solar panels differ according to their maximum working power Wp (peak watt), which means the maximum power it can reach.
How to choose the right power for your solar panel?
First, you must calculate the power that your appliances consume. Multiply the power in watts (W) of your appliance per the time (hours) of use over one day.
Example: A 50 Watt television turned on for 3 hours daily consumes 50 x 3 = 150 Wattheure (WH) daily. If you have several pieces of equipment, repeat the operation and add the total (WH).
Once we know exactly our consumption, we need to know the power necessary to satisfy this consumption. For this, we need to take into account some factors, such as:
- The power generated by the solar panel
- Solar Panel efficiency
- Number of hours of sun
Once we have this data, we can use the following formula to determine the actual power generated per hour for each photovoltaic panel:
(Solar Panel Power * System Efficiency * Hours of solar exposure) / 1000 = KWh Generated per Day
Ideally, your solar panel should produce enough energy on a daily basis to supply your electrical appliances.
Efficiency of Solar Panels
We call efficiency to the power that the panel is capable of producing 1 square meter of photovoltaic solar panel when it receives an irradiation of 1000 W / m2.
For example, If in the technical data sheet of a 245W photovoltaic solar panel we see that it has an efficiency of 15%, it means that for every 1000W / m2 of irradiation that 1 square meter of panel receives, it will produce 150 W of power.
Nowadays it is quite common to extol the quality of the higher efficiency solar panels, and many times, the higher efficiency solar panels are considerably more expensive.
In my opinion, if we don’t have space problems, it doesn’t make much sense to pay a higher price for more efficient solar modules. On the other hand, if we have a very “fair” roof, we can install more efficient solar panels to optimise the installation as much as possible.
Top Solar Panel Brands On the Market
Now let’s have a look at some of our top favourite brands of solar panels. We will present some of their top solar panels and their characteristics so you can choose the one that is right for you.
Canadian Solar Inc. is a Canadian and Chinese company dedicated to manufacturing solar energy products that manufacture solar modules and photovoltaic solar energy systems.
Canadian Solar, founded in 2001, is already one of the five largest producers of solar panels in the world in terms of global production, both for large solar orchard areas and for residential and industrial photovoltaic self-consumption installations.
Its products include modules, inverters and complete kits with all the necessary systems for producing solar energy.
 | BiHiKu6 Mono Bifacial High Power Dual Cell Power: 560~585 W Efficiency: up to 21.0 % Dimensions: 2450 × 1135 × 35 mm Performance Warranty: 30 years |
 | BiHiKu5 Poly/Mono Bifacial High Power Dual Cell Power: 430 W ~ 475 W/465 W ~ 490W Efficiency: up to 20.1 %/up to 20.7 % Dimensions: 2260 × 1048 × 32 mm Performance Warranty: 30 years |
 | BiHiKu Poly/Mono Bifacial High Power Dual Cell Power: 390 W ~ 415 W/420 W ~ 445 W Efficiency: up to 19.25%/up to 18.52% Dimensions: 2132 × 1048 × 30 mm Power output warranty: 30 years |
| BiKu Poly/Mono Bifacial Dual Cell Power: 350W ~ 365W/375W ~ 400W Efficiency: up to 19.9%/up to 18.7% Dimensions: 2022 × 992 × 30 mm Power output warranty: 30 years |
 | HiKu6 Mono High Power Dual Cell Power: 570 W ~ 590 W Efficiency: up to 21.3 % Dimensions: 2443 × 1134 × 35 mm Power Performance Warranty: 25 years |
 | HiKu6 Poly/Mono High Power Dual Cell Power: 440 W ~ 485 W/475 W ~ 500 W Efficiency: up to 20.6 %/up to 21.2 % Dimensions: 2252 × 1048 × 35 mm Power Performance Warranty: 25 years |
| HiKu Poly/Mono High Power Dual Cell Power: 395 W ~ 420 W/430 W ~ 455 W Efficiency: up to 19.0%/up to 20.6 % Dimensions: 2108 × 1048 × 40 mm Power Output Warranty: 25 years |
 | Ku Poly/Mono High Power Dual Cell Power: 355 ~ 395 W/380 ~ 400 W Efficiency: up to 19.4%/up to 20.2 % Dimensions: 2000 × 992 × 35 mm Power Output Warranty: 25 years |
 | HiDm Mono High Power Dual Cell Power: 320 ~ 420 W Efficiency: up to 20.37 % Dimensions: 2078 × 992 × 35 mm Power Output Warranty: 25 years |
Canadian Solar panels have to pass a triple security check. In addition, they ensure that their solar panels are durable and 100% recyclable.
REC is a pioneering multinational solar energy company founded in 1996 in Norway. At the end of 2019, it already operated around 38 million solar panels that accumulated more than 10GW of clean energy: Enough to power the homes of 16 million people. It is one of the largest suppliers of solar panels worldwide, specialising in commercial and industrial installations and residential use.
REC’s latest advances in improving its solar panels focus on preventing power loss, considering adverse weather conditions such as environments with very high temperatures or humidity. The result is solar panels that are 100% free of induced power degradation.
 | REC Alpha Power: 380 Wp of 60-cell power Efficiency: up to 21,7% Dimensions: 1721 × 1016 × 30 mm Power Output Warranty: 25 years |
 | REC N-Peak Power: 315W/ 320W / 325W / 330W Efficiency: up to 19.8% Dimensions: 1675 × 997 × 30 mm Power Output Warranty: 20 years |
 | REC TwinPeak 2 Mono Power: 310-330 Wp to 60 cells pane Efficiency: up to 19.2 % Dimensions: 1675 × 997 × 38 mm Power Output Warranty: 25 years |
The company’s primary mission is to modify citizens’ energy consumption habits by encouraging electricity use through renewable energy. Take responsibility for finding clean, efficient and economical sources of energy solutions.
Jinko Solar panels are widely used in medium and large photovoltaic installations. Jinko Solar panels have excellent technical characteristics, a reasonable price and great durability.
 | Cheetah Power: 345 – 410 Wp for 60/72 cells Efficiency: up to 20,38% Dimensions: 1840 × 998 × 35mm Power Output Warranty: 25 years |
 | Swan Power: 405 Wp Efficiency: up to 19,78% Dimensions: 2031 × 1008 × 40mm Power Output Warranty: 25 years |
 | Tiger Power: 470 – 475 Wp Efficiency: up to 21% Dimensions: 1842 × 1021 × 35 Power Output Warranty: 25 years |
Longi Solar is the world leader in manufacturing monocrystalline solar panels and monocrystalline photovoltaic cells; with more than 3000 patents, it is the leader in this technology.
Since 2000, when it was founded, it has not stopped growing. It already has a production capacity of 8.8 GW and a vertical production chain, which begins with the smelting of silicon ingots, goes through the production of wafers, the manufacture and doping of photovoltaic cells and the assembly of solar panels.
Longi Solar panels are characterised by high energy efficiency: low irradiation, low temperature-power coefficient, and low operating temperature, which leads to increased energy efficiency.
 | Hi-MO X LR6-60OPH Power: 345~355Wp Efficiency: up to 20,6% Dimensions: 1762 × 994 × 35mm Power Output Warranty: 25 years |
 | Hi-MO4m LR4-60HPH Power: 360~370Wp Efficiency: up to 20,9% Dimensions: 1755 × 1038 × 35mm Power Output Warranty: 25 years |
 | Hi-MO3m LR6-60HPH Power: 310~325Wp Efficiency: up to 19,9% Dimensions: 1672 × 991 × 35mm Power Output Warranty: 25 years |
How we determined the best solar panels in Australia
These are some of the largest solar panel companies in the world. The most important thing to take into account when buying a solar panel is the power we need according to the use that we are going to make of the solar panels. Likewise, it is interesting to see if the company has a service to facilitate the transfer of the panels or if you have to transport it yourself. Also, look at the modulated efficiency of the panels and the temperature they support. Finally, take into account the years of energy guarantee that they promise.
I hope this guide has been of help, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any questions.
