In recent years, there has been a significant drop in the price of solar panels in Australia.

These days, a solar panel can range anywhere from less than one hundred dollars to more than five hundred dollars for a single unit. The price of solar panels is determined by several factors, all of which will be discussed in more detail here.

When deciding the optimal size of solar panels to install your solar power system, keeping a few key considerations in mind is essential.

This is very important. Other concerns besides the sticker price Because you will have to live with the results of your purchase decision for a very long time, you should strive to get the highest possible return on your investment.

It would be best if you didn’t make a purchase decision based solely on the price of solar panels. Here are some pointers to consider when selecting the optimal modules for your particular residential solar panel installation scenario:

What Are The Different Types Of Solar Panels?

The two most popular panel varieties in Australia are monocrystalline and polycrystalline. You probably don’t need to worry about the third type, thin-film, as it is uncommon here (if you’re truly curious about thin-film panels, read more about them below).

Solar panels made of polycrystalline and monocrystalline materials are both dependable and effective.

Naturally, there is constant disagreement within the industry as to whether monocrystalline panels are superior to polycrystalline panels and vice versa. The differences today, though, are subtle.

Regardless of the panel type, the make and model you select and how they are placed should be of the highest calibre.

Check if the panels are being advised to have a strong warranty and the manufacturer has a good presence in Australia rather than fretting about whether you should select Monocrystalline over Polycrystalline (including a warranty service department in case you need to make a claim).

Talk to your installer about your alternatives. Quality, efficiency, amount and warranties may vary between solar panel bands and their models.

Before making a choice, it’s important to check internet product reviews. Solar panels capture the light from the sun and then convert it into electrical energy. There are three distinct varieties of solar panels, which are as follows:

• Thin-film
• Polycrystalline
• Monocrystalline

Monocrystalline

• Extremely effective
• Either dark blue in colors or light
• Perhaps slightly more expensive than Polycrystalline

These solar cells are made from smaller silicon crystals and have a uniform blue or black appearance. Monocrystalline cells are generally the most efficient.

However, they have curved corners, which waste space when the cells are combined to form a solar panel. As a result, monocrystalline panels outperform polycrystalline panels only marginally.

Polycrystalline

• A shade of blue, either light or dark
• Extremely effective.
• Taking up slightly more roof area than monocrystalline panels while producing the same amount of power

The silicon for polycrystalline cells is poured into moulds instead of being cut from a single crystal, as is the case with monocrystalline cells.

The end product is a solar cell that is less pure yet is precisely square. Polycrystalline cells have a reputation for lower energy conversion efficiencies, but when integrated to make a panel, there is less wasted space.

Consequently, they are less efficient than monocrystalline panels but far less expensive.

Thin Film

• Space-intensive than mono- or polycrystalline
• Black-looking
• Mono or polycrystalline less efficient

These solar panels are the product of a unique manufacturing method.

Spraying a silicon coating onto a surface rather than manufacturing cells from silicon crystals or cutting them out is the method used to produce thin film panels.

Compared to monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels, these panels are more cumbersome and significantly less effective; yet, their production is substantially more cost-effective.

What Are The Other Factors Of Panel Cost & Value?

As not all module manufacturers are equal. Instead of basing your decision to buy something just on its price.

Tolerance

Within this range, a panel will either produce more power than its rated capacity or less power than its rated capacity. For instance, a solar module you purchase might have a wattage of 200W written on its “nameplate.”

Despite this, there are problems with quality control, so even under perfect circumstances, the output might only be 195W.

A module with a positive tolerance rating will not only create 200 watts but probably generate more beyond that under the usual test conditions.

Temperature Co-Efficient

When analysing the effect that heat will have on the performance of a solar panel after it has been installed, the temperature co-efficient rating is an essential factor to consider.

The better off you are, the lower the proportion that corresponds to each degree of Celsius.

Even though the cost of a module with a low-temperature co-efficiency may be slightly higher, investing in one could benefit Australia because of the country’s typically warm climate.

Effectiveness Of The Conversion

The power your system creates will be directly proportional to the solar panel’s ability to convert light into electrical energy efficiently.

If two different solar panels have the exact cost, but one of them has a higher conversion efficiency than the other, then the other module is the one that offers a better value for the money. Assuming that the claimed efficiencies are accurate, this would be the case.

Pid Resistance

Potentially-induced deterioration is what’s meant by the acronym PID. This phenomenon can result in significant power loss since it is generated by stray currents that are, in turn, caused by particular weather conditions. Solar panels of high quality will show very little or almost nil PID.

Lid Resistance

Light-induced deterioration is what’s meant by the abbreviation LID. After the solar panels have been placed, there will be a period during which this procedure will take place. Even while this will stabilise after a certain period, it may cause the module’s power output to decrease. A high-quality solar panel will have low or no levels of LID.

Embodied Energy

The embodied energy of the solar panel is yet another essential factor to consider. It is how much energy was required to produce the panel and how quickly it will have paid for itself by making more energy. Take into consideration that this is an environmental cost.

Warranty On The Product’s Durability And Longevity

A solar panel warranty must be durable or lengthy for several reasons; one of these reasons is that it can reflect the manufacturer’s trust in the items it sells. Solar panels from a reputable manufacturer will come with a performance warranty of 25 years. This guarantee duration is offered on all of our most essential modules, including REC Solar, and lasts 25 years.

However, keep in mind that the warranty will only be honoured when the organisation remains in business. This is an essential fact regarding security.

Another argument in favour of purchasing a module from a well-known, well-respected company rather than a lesser-known, more affordable brand is that the latter is more likely to go out of business overnight.

Because you will probably not purchase solar panels directly from the manufacturer, choosing an installation and reseller is also crucial.

It is in your best interest to go with an installation firm that is also an authorised service agent for the solar panel manufacturer you decide to go with. This is because the turnaround time to a resolution will be far faster if you have an issue.

Dimensions As Well As Wattage Capacity

Because solar panels are typically priced and compared in dollars per Watt, the wattage capacity of the solar panel will have an immediate and direct impact on the overall cost.

Watts is a measurement that corresponds to each module’s output. This indicates that a solar panel with a capacity of 100 watts appropriately placed and maintained would produce 100 watt-hours of electricity every hour.

Each hour, a solar panel with a power rating of 200 watts will produce 200 watt-hours. In light of this, you should anticipate paying up to twice as much for the 200W panel as you would for the 100W module when you go to make your purchase.

The output of a panel can also affect the size of the solar panel; for example, a solar panel with 200W of power will have a larger footprint than a module with 100W of power.

The solar panel size is also determined by the variety of solar cells utilised in its construction.

The most important things to think about are whether or not the size of your system is adequate to power all of your electronics and whether or not the solar panels can be physically installed in the location that you have in mind.

Because the area of your roof facing north is prime real estate for solar power generation, you will need to consider your future plans.

If you think you might want to add more solar panels at some point in the future, you should ensure you have enough space to accommodate their installation.

In that case, you might need to replace the installed modules before they end their useful lives. Panels that face the west are also proving to be highly effective in recent years.

What Are The Best Solar Panel Brands?

The concept of the solar panel “tiers,” with tier 1 denoting the best panels and tier 3 denoting a defective product, is likely familiar to anyone looking to purchase solar panels.

Although tiers are frequently used to promote the sale of particular panels, there are several crucial points to remember. There isn’t a single, all-encompassing ranking system to start.

Numerous organisations, typically banking and financial analysis corporations, rate the various solar panel brands separately.

When someone tries to offer you a “tier 1” panel, it is worth asking, “who says?” even if these organisations often have comparable assessments.

Second, rather than referring to a brand’s solar panels’ actual quality, the tier system typically discusses the brand’s investment potential. The tier rankings frequently consider the size of projects for which the business has provided:

• Panels
• The company’s manufacturing capability.
• The intensity of its R&D. It must also be vertically integrated (producing panels from start to finish) and in business for at least five years to be even remotely considered a tier 1 brand.

Other Types Of Solar Panels

N-Type Solar Cell Technology

By the nature of the materials they are composed of, N-type cells have a better tolerance to impurities and a lower defect rate, which contribute to an increase in total efficiency.

This results in superior performance for the cell. In addition, n-type cells can withstand higher temperatures for extended periods than either mono or multi-P-type cells can.

More crucially, n-type cells do not experience LID problems, also known as light-induced deterioration caused by boron-oxygen defects. These problems are typical of p-type cells that have been doped with boron.

Some consider bifacial solar panels the industry’s future. You can double mono/polycrystalline solar cell energy production without reducing absorption—better low-light performance and energy yield.

Bifacial Solar Panels

Bifacial panels have the ability to collect solar energy from both of the panel’s faces.

Bifacial panels are typically mounted on highly reflective surfaces, and the manufacturers of bifacial modules suggest a 30 per cent increase in power production from the backside reflection of light alone.

Bifacial solar panels are generally installed on highly reflective surfaces. Most bifacial solar panels are made using monocrystalline cells, but polycrystalline configurations are also available.

Half-Cut Cell Solar Panels

Half-cut solar panels have cut-in-half solar cells. These solar cells enhance the module’s performance and endurance.

Because their size was halved, so were their outputs. Less resistive losses imply more power.

Consider roof tiles. Instead of one large shingle per section, use a much smaller one to alleviate mechanical stress.

This prolongs the roof’s life and reduces tile breakage.

Half-cut solar cells act like regular cells. Therefore, they last longer than typical solar panels. Half-cell modules produce more energy in low light or shade. This leads to increased power generation and efficiency over time.

Shinged Cell Solar Panels

Shingled cell panels are modern, efficient solar module technology. Five or six-strip panels are shingled. They’re layered like roof shingles.

These overlays are bonded with an electrically conductive adhesive for enhanced conductivity and flexibility. Panels without busbars have no cell gaps.

Per square metre, they produce more power.

The cells can create more energy than typical solar panels because they receive more sunlight. Roofing cell solar panels are the most expensive, so keep that in mind.

FAQs

How Long Do Solar Panels Last?

Solar panels of good quality should last at least 25 years. However, you may want to replace them sooner because they lose energy conversion efficiency over time if the economics make sense.

Many Australian households are seeing an excellent return on their solar investment, with the savings on their electricity bill more than covering the initial cost of their system in less than three years! Solar is a no-brainer for many Australians.

How Many Solar Panels Are In A 5 Kw System?

A 5 kW solar power system will require 17 panels if the panels are 300 Watts each. You will need slightly over 27 m2 of roof area if each solar panel is roughly 1 x 1.6 m.

If their roof has the space, many households are already installing 6.6kW of solar power. 390 Watts is the typical solar panel size. In this case, you would want 17 panels occupying about 28 square metres of roof space.

It doesn’t matter whether you select 300-watt panels, 350-watt panels, 370-watt panels, 390-watt panels, etc., if you have the roof space.

The benefit of choosing a higher wattage panel is that you can instal more of them, increasing the amount of electricity your roof can generate.

However, you might not require that much. However, suppose you later add a battery. In that case, you will have more energy to store and utilise when the sun is not shining (assuming your battery is large enough to accommodate all that extra energy, of course!).

Which Type Of Solar Panel Is The Best?

Even if thin film solar panels can be installed on residential rooftops, choosing between monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar panels will always be the deciding factor.

The efficiency of monocrystalline panels is typically somewhat higher than that of other types; however, many people are dubious about whether or not this advantage justifies the higher price.

The consensus is that it doesn’t matter. The type of panel you choose will come down to personal preference – whether you want a sleek, uniformly coloured panel or a colourful patchy panel with smaller gaps between cells.

Choosing the type of panel you want will come down to personal preference.

How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?

The solar panels you should install will depend on the following:

• When you consume the most electricity, how much you use, how much roof space you have, how many watts you decide to have, and how effective those solar panels are all important factors.

If you want a 6.6 kW system, which is popular in Australia, you’ll need 17 panels. Each panel is 100 by 165 cm. 17 solar panels require 28 square metres of roof space.

You can put all of the panels in one spot or divide them up among two or three different areas of your roof to capture the sun at different times of the day as it moves across the sky.

Depending on when you need the most electricity, it may be helpful to instal your solar panels in different angles. This is important to take advantage of the sun’s movement across the sky during the day.

Conclusion

There has been a considerable reduction in the cost of installing solar panels in Australia over the course of the past several years. Monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels are the two types of panels that are purchased the most frequently in Australia.

Manufacture sure that the make and model that you choose, in addition to how they are arranged, are of the highest possible standard.

Solar panels work by absorbing light from the sun and then transforming that light into an electrical current. Monocrystalline, thin-film, and polycrystalline solar panels are the three main categories of solar cells available today.

There is a wide range of variation between solar panel bands and their models in terms of prices, quality, and efficiency.

The solar panel’s capability to convert light into electrical energy in an effective manner is directly related to the panel’s overall efficiency.

If you are in a better financial position, the share of your wealth that correlates to each degree Celsius will be lower.

A solar panel of good quality will have very low levels of light-induced degradation (LID) or potentially-induced deterioration (PID), if any at all.

A manufacturer with a solid reputation will back their solar panels with a 25-year performance guarantee as standard.

One of the most important steps in the process is deciding on an installation and reseller company. If you want to get the most out of your investment in solar panels, it is in your best interest to work with an installation who is also an authorised service agent for the manufacturer of the panels.

The size of a solar panel can be affected by both its output and its output. A solar panel that generates 200 watts of power will take up more space than a module that generates 100 watts.

The number of solar cells that are used in the fabrication of a solar panel is another factor that determines the panel’s size.

Solar panels that are bifacial are able to capture solar energy from both of the panel’s surfaces simultaneously. In locations with little light or partial shadow, half-cell modules are able to generate a greater amount of usable energy. According to the manufacturers, just the backside reflection of light can lead to a 30 per cent increase in the amount of electricity produced. Solar panels consisting of five or six strips are laid like shingles on a roof.

These overlays have an electrically conductive adhesive used to bond them together, resulting in improved conductivity and flexibility. N-type cells have a higher impurity tolerance and a lower defect rate than other types of cells, both of which increase the cell’s overall efficiency.

Content Summary

• However, something that might come as a surprise to you is the fact that other manufacturers produce solar panels in a wide variety of forms.
• There has been a considerable reduction in the cost of installing solar panels in Australia over the course of the past several years.
• Solar panels can be purchased for as little as one hundred dollars or as much as five hundred dollars for a single panel in today’s market. Prices can range anywhere in between these two extremes.
• The cost of solar panels is controlled by a number of different elements, each of which will be explored in further depth in the following sections.
• It is crucial to keep a few key variables in mind when determining the appropriate size of solar panels to instal for your solar power system in order to get the best results.
• If you are going to make a buying decision, it is in your best interest not to base it only on the cost of the solar panels.
• When deciding on the most suitable modules for your specific commercial solar panel installation scenario, the following are some considerations to keep in mind:
• Monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels are the two types of panels that are purchased the most frequently in Australia.
• Regardless of the panel type, the model, manufacture, and year of the panels you choose as well as the arrangement of those panels should be of the greatest quality.
• Rather than worrying about whether you should go with monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels, you should make sure the former have a robust warranty and the latter come from a company that is well-established in Australia (including a warranty service department in case you need to make a claim).
• Discuss your options with the person who installed your system.
• There is a wide range of variation between solar panel bands and their models in terms of prices, quality, and efficiency.
• It is essential to check out different internet product reviews prior to making a final decision.
• The production of thin film panels involves spraying a silicon coating onto a surface rather than fabricating cells from silicon crystals or cutting them out. This process is prefered since it is more cost-effective.
• These panels are significantly less effective and significantly more laborious when compared to monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels, but their production is notably more cost-efficient than those of the other two types.
• You shouldn’t make a decision to acquire something based solely on the cost of it; rather, you should take into account a wide range of other factors.
• The temperature co-efficient rating of a solar panel is a crucial component that must be taken into consideration when analysing the impact that heat will have on the functioning of the panel after it has been installed.
• Despite the fact that the price of a module that has a low-temperature co-efficiency might be slightly higher, it may be beneficial for Australia to make the investment because the country’s environment is normally warm.
• A manufacturer with a solid reputation will back their solar panels with a 25-year performance guarantee as standard.
• Because it is unlikely that you would buy solar panels directly from the manufacturer, selecting an installation company and a reseller is another important stage in the process.
• It is in your best advantage to deal with an installation company that is also an authorised service agent for the solar panel manufacturer you decide to go with. This will ensure that your panels are serviced according to the manufacturer’s specifications.
• The wattage capacity of the solar panel will have an immediate and direct impact on the entire cost. This is because solar panels are often priced and compared in dollars per Watt.
• A solar panel that has a power rating of 200 watts will produce 200 watt-hours each hour of operation.
• It is also possible for the output of a panel to have an effect on the size of the solar panel; for instance, a solar panel that produces 200W of power will have a larger footprint than a module that produces 100W of power.
• Consider whether or not the size of your system is sufficient to power all of your electrical devices, as well as whether or not the solar panels can be physically put in the position that you have in mind for their placement. These are the most crucial factors to think about.
• Because the portion of your roof that faces north is great real estate for the generation of solar power, you will need to give some thought to your long-term goals and objectives.
• Everyone who is interested in purchasing solar panels has probably heard of the “tiers” of solar panels, where tier 1 refers to the best panels and tier 3 refers to a defective product. Tier 1 refers to the best panels available.
• Second, the tier system often addresses the investment potential of a brand rather than the actual quality of the solar panels that a particular brand manufactures. This is in contrast to the first point.
• The output of these solar cells has been lowered in half as a direct result of the size of the cells being reduced by the same amount.
• Solar cells that have been split in half continue to function in the same manner as regular solar cells, which enables them to outlast conventional solar panels.
• In locations with little light or partial shadow, half-cell modules are able to generate a greater amount of usable energy.
• Solar panels that are bifacial are able to capture solar energy from both of the panel’s surfaces simultaneously.
• In most cases, highly reflecting surfaces are used as the mounting locations for bifacial solar panels.
• Solar panels with shingled cells
• Solar modules with shingled cells are a cutting-edge technology that offers high levels of efficiency.
• The roof is covered with either five or six strips of solar panels.
• Many people believe that bifacial solar panels are the way the industry is going to move forwards.
• N-type cells, due to the characteristics of the materials that make up their construction, have a higher tolerance for impurities and a lower failure rate than other types of cells, both of which lead to an increase in total efficiency.
• Because of this, the cell is able to perform at a higher level.
• In addition, n-type cells can survive higher temperatures for longer periods of time than mono or multi-P-type cells can. This ability is exclusive to n-type cells.
• More importantly, n-type cells do not have issues with LID, which is also known as light-induced degeneration and is brought on by boron-oxygen flaws.
• LIDI stands for lower light-induced deterioration.
• performance enhancements when exposed to high temperatures
  • N-type substrates with lower levels of contaminants