Solar panels are increasingly becoming a part of our lives. People who want to cut the high electricity costs and save energy are shifting to solar panels these days.
However, solar panels installation is a task of huge financial investment and depends on many factors. The equipment, installer, and financing options that you choose will have a high impact on your solar savings. Therefore, before making any decision, you need to evaluate them to prove cost-effective and reliable in the long run.
If you consider some parameters while buying solar panels, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime investment. You can keep saving your money as well as energy forever. However, the results can be opposite in the other case. So, you have to be very careful while buying them. Let’s take a look at some factors which should take your attention before solar panels installation.
Efficiency
The productivity of a solar panel is measured by how efficient it is. Its efficiency is measured by how much of the light energy is converted into electrical energy. Hence, the more efficient, the better would it be. The wattage of most solar panels ranges between 250 watts to 400 watts. However, some also exceed 400 watts. But higher wattage comes with a high cost too. Therefore, the more efficiency, the more will be watts of electricity produced. For example, if two solar panels have equal watts, the one with more efficiency will take less space and produce more electricity. Hence, it would help if you prefer more efficient solar panels while staying at affordable costs.
Cost
As you know, quality comes with a cost. Good quality solar panels can cost you from 67 cents to 1.60 dollars per watt. This cost is just for the panels and does not include other components or installation. If you want to lower the cost, you might have to compromise the quality, which means poor performance in the long run. There are some good deals on high-quality products too. If you target a low price or some cheap deal, you have to ensure product quality, service, performance, and warranty.
Size
The size of the solar panels should be chosen according to the requirement. The size should be big enough to support all power appliances. Also, you should have the space for its installation too. The bigger the size of the solar panels, the more powerful they would be. An average household would require 4kW power of solar panels. More watts will typically provide better output. A 200-watt panel would produce 200 watts per hour, and a 300-watt panel would generate 300 watts each hour. Wattage is something that should be considered wisely while buying. If underestimated, it can lead to lesser energy. However, its overestimation may cause a huge financial loss.
Brand
Like many other factors, the brand or the manufacturer company is also what matters a lot. Some companies buy solar panels and sell them with their name. You have to be very cautious in it and look for the original manufacturer companies. A good and original manufacturing company is likely to give you reliable services along with a warranty.
Type of solar cells
Different types of solar cells affect efficiency. Monocrystalline panels provide the advantage of high performance and good heat tolerance characteristics. They are best known for their efficiency and so are very expensive. Their price can range from 300$-700$ per panel. All panels are made of silicone; the purer the silicone is, the better would it work. That is why Monocrystalline panels are considered ideal.