With the growing global demand for sustainable and eco-friendly energy solutions, solar power has become a leading choice. Solar panels are a symbol of the renewable energy movement, providing not only environmental benefits but also an economical way to meet your energy needs. Whether you're looking to equip your home, business, or industrial property with solar energy, understanding how to choose the right solar panels is crucial for maximizing the potential of this technology.

Solar Panels: Sustainably Harnessing the Power of the Sun

Solar energy is an infinite and environmentally friendly power source. Solar panels capture sunlight and convert it into usable electricity, providing reliable energy for homes, businesses, and industrial projects. For example, a 635 Watt Solar Panel Supplier offers high-output panels that help users make the most of their installation space efficiently.

Solar Panels Explained: Converting Sunlight into Electricity

Solar panels, or photovoltaic (PV) panels, are devices that convert sunlight into electrical energy. They are composed of solar cells made from semiconductor materials, usually silicon, which efficiently capture sunlight and convert it into usable electricity. The size, energy output, efficiency, and material type of solar panels vary, which affects their suitability for different applications. Understanding the composition of solar panels allows you to choose the right type based on your energy needs.

For example, a suburban home looking to reduce energy costs might opt for high-efficiency monocrystalline solar panels, known for their durability and higher efficiency, making them ideal for limited roof space. Meanwhile, large commercial facilities may prefer polycrystalline panels, which balance efficiency with cost.

Solar Panels: Key Factors in Choosing the Best Option

When selecting solar panels to meet your energy needs, several key factors must be considered. First, power output, measured in watts, determines how much energy a panel can produce under standard conditions. Second, the available installation space determines whether you should choose fewer, high-efficiency panels or more, less efficient ones.

Another important factor is the climate and geographical location. Areas with frequent cloud cover might require panels with better low-light performance. Additionally, consider warranties and certifications to ensure that your panels come from trusted sources. Renowned manufacturers often offer long-term warranties and international certifications, ensuring performance and reliability.

For example, in areas with abundant sunlight, a homeowner might prioritize energy output and cost by investing in high-capacity panels. Conversely, businesses in cloudy cities might focus on efficiency in low-light conditions to ensure a continuous power supply.

Choosing Solar Panels: Energy Demand and Return on Investment (ROI)

When choosing solar panels, several guiding principles can ensure the best selection. First, assess your daily energy consumption and peak sunlight hours, then calculate how many panels you need to meet this demand. Consider your existing roof structure or land availability, as it will influence the type and configuration of the panels you choose.

It is also essential to consider the long-term return on investment (ROI). High-efficiency panels may have a higher initial cost but can pay off over time by saving more energy. Working with reputable installers can also be helpful, as they offer valuable insights and often conduct audits to recommend the best installation configurations.

For instance, a university campus planning a large facility might collaborate with experts to analyze energy trends and budget constraints, ensuring the selected panels align with both short-term and long-term energy goals.

Solar Innovations: Shaping the Future of Renewable Energy

As technology advances, the future of solar panels continues to evolve. Emerging trends include the development of bifacial solar panels, which capture sunlight from both sides, increasing efficiency. The integration of smart home technologies is also gaining popularity, allowing users to monitor and optimize solar consumption via mobile apps.

Additionally, flexible solar panels and solar tiles are becoming mainstream, offering consumers more aesthetic choices without sacrificing efficiency. The growing demand for more versatile and visually appealing renewable energy solutions is driving such innovations.

Imagine a homeowner installing a solar tile system that seamlessly integrates with their roof design. Not only does it enhance curb appeal, but it also delivers robust energy output, showcasing how future solar products will meet both functional and aesthetic needs.

Choosing the right solar panels requires a careful consideration of energy needs, installation environment, and technological features. As a leading Full Black N-Type Solar Panel Company, Enecell offers high-quality all-black monocrystalline solar panels with advanced technology and superior durability. Enecell’s panels come with a 25-year power warranty, ensuring long-term reliability and maximum return on investment.

The adoption of lithium-ion batteries in e-motorcycles has transformed the way riders experience performance and sustainability. These batteries deliver exceptional power, fast charging, and long-term reliability, making them the top choice for electric motorcycles. Here’s a closer look at why lithium-ion batteries stand out and how they enhance the overall riding experience.

High Performance with 72V Motorcycle Batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are synonymous with high energy density, which translates into exceptional power output. For e-motorcycles, this means better acceleration, higher top speeds, and longer travel distances per charge. 72V motorcycle batteries are particularly popular for their ability to provide consistent, robust performance, ensuring riders can handle both urban commutes and long-distance rides with ease. This voltage level is ideal for modern electric motorcycles, combining efficiency with power.

Convenience with Fast-Charging Capability

Time is valuable, and the fast-charging capability of lithium-ion batteries addresses this need perfectly. Unlike traditional lead-acid batteries that take hours to charge, modern lithium-ion solutions enable quick turnarounds. Fast-charging Motorcycle Batteries can reach significant charge levels in under an hour, making them perfect for riders who rely on their bikes for daily transportation. This convenience enhances the practicality of electric motorcycles, eliminating concerns about long charging times.

Lightweight Design for Better Handling

Lithium-ion batteries are not only powerful but also lightweight, which plays a crucial role in the handling and agility of e-motorcycles. The reduced weight improves acceleration and makes the bike easier to maneuver, particularly in urban environments. Among these, the LiFePO4 Battery for E-Motorcycle stands out for its balance of durability, safety, and weight efficiency. This battery type ensures riders enjoy both stability and performance, making it a preferred choice for many.

Long Lifespan and Durability

One of the biggest advantages of lithium-ion batteries is their long lifespan. They can handle hundreds of charging cycles without significant capacity loss, which means less frequent replacements and lower overall costs for owners. Both 72V motorcycle batteries and LiFePO4 Battery for E-Motorcycle are known for their extended durability, ensuring consistent performance for years, even under regular usage. Riders can depend on these batteries for both reliability and value.

A Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Choice

Lithium-ion batteries are a step forward in promoting eco-friendly transportation. They are more energy-efficient and have a lower environmental impact compared to traditional battery types. With their recyclable components and longer service life, they align perfectly with the goals of sustainable mobility. Combined with Fast-charging Motorcycle Batteries, these solutions are not only practical but also contribute to a greener future by reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Why Choose Superpack E-Mobility Batteries?

When it comes to lithium-ion solutions for e-motorcycles, Superpack E-Mobility Batteries are an excellent choice. Designed for performance and safety, Superpack’s products include 72V motorcycle batteries, Fast-charging Motorcycle Batteries, and LiFePO4 Battery for E-Motorcycle, offering the ideal combination of power, efficiency, and longevity. With advanced engineering and rigorous quality standards, Superpack ensures that riders get the most out of their electric motorcycles, whether they need a fast charge or a battery built for endurance.

Amid constant iteration in high-efficiency solar cell technology, domestic businesses have exceeded 23% in the efficiency of mass production at new PERC production lines in 2021, and managed to develop ceilings at an efficiency of almost 24%, which further solidifies the determination of domestic businesses in establishing additional production lines for the N-type solar cell.

In the race to develop the most efficient type of solar panels, manufacturers have developed bifacial solar panels. This type of panel has solar cells on both sides which allows the technology to capture more sunlight leading to greater solar cell efficiency compared to traditional solar arrays.

How Do Bifacial Solar Panels Work?
Lets first dig deep into how bifacial solar panels function. The top and bottom solar cells on a bifacial solar array function differently. The top solar cells function like a conventional solar panel array. They face the sun, so they capture incident sun rays directly, absorbing only certain wavelengths.

On the other hand, the bottom solar cells absorb light that is reflected off the ground. Since white or light colors reflect better than dark colors, painting a white or silver surface on the roof or driveway under the panels is encouraged. According to a study by Burns & McDonnell, white surfaces reflect more than 80% of this light while grass only reflects 23%.

How Is Bifacial Solar Panels Installed to Increase Efficiency?
To understand the difference, let’s first uncover how a monofacial solar array is set up. A monofacial solar panel system, or a group of one-sided solar panels, are placed in racks parallel to a surface such as a rooftop. Unlike single-sided panels, bifacial solar panels are installed on a tilt because they produce more energy when they are angled off of the roof or ground at varying degrees.

Below are three benefits of the titled installment of the bifacial solar array.

1. More sunlight to absorb
In these types of titled installations, there is a great amount of reflection. Because sunlight bounces off of all objects reflectively at many different angles, bifacial solar panels are able to capture more of it.

2. Productive on cloudy days
Because of the point above, bifacials can be productive on cloudy days while monofacial solar cells are at a greater disadvantage when there isn’t direct sunlight. Also, bifacials are less susceptible to weather damage because they are more durable. According to the Solar Magazine, because they are more durable than conventional solar panel systems, warranties for bifacial solar panels are typically 5+ years longer (that is, 30+ years versus 20–25 years).

3. Two energy peaks a day
A titled installation can also produce two energy peaks throughout the day based on their placement. For example, half of the bifacials in an array can be tilted toward the east to capture sunrise and morning rays. The second half can then be tilted to the west to soak up afternoon intensity and sunset rays.

Another installation that can achieve this is a vertical installation. During each peak, the reflection of sunlight on the other side of the solar panels will also contribute to energy production.

How Much More Efficient is a Bifacial Solar Array?
When we say efficiency, we are referring to how a solar cell takes the amount of solar energy it received and converts it into electrical energy. Although bifacials produce more electricity than monofacial panels, it definitely isn’t double the efficiency although solar panel manufacturers are working to make that happen in the future. Bifacials can increase energy efficiency by 11% compared to a conventional solar panel system, according to our study. And with a solar tracking system that tilts solar cells continuously toward the sun, the bifacial solar cell efficiency can be as high as 27%.

Floating solar farms gained traction in 2018, particularly in countries with high population density and with competing uses for limited available land. These also operate at high efficiency since installing the solar panels on water helps cool the equipment.

The Republic of Korea was among the first to pilot floating photovoltaic (PV) systems. State-owned Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) began testing a 2.4-kilowatt (kW) model in 2009 on the surface of Juam Dam reservoir in Suncheon, South Jeolla Province. In October 2012, it constructed a 500-kW commercial plant at the Hapcheon Dam in South Gyeongsang Province after it developed a 100-kW demonstration plant in Hapcheon Dam the year before. This was the world’s first commercial floating solar PV installation using the surface of a dam reservoir and the country’s first floating solar farm.

The country currently operates three commercial floating solar power facilities that aim to contribute toward increasing the share of renewables to 20% of the energy mix by 2030 from the current level of 7%.

What is a floating solar photovoltaic system?

It is an eco-friendly method of generating electric power that combines marine technology and renewable energy technology. Solar modules are made to float on the surface of water, such as a dam or a reservoir. Electricity is sent through underwater cables to a transmission tower.

Figure 1: Floating PV Generation Concept

Source: K-Water

What are the benefits of a floating PV system?

• Promotes land-use efficiency. As the floating PV energy systems are set up on water, the land can be used for other purposes. It requires no construction on land or conversion of forest and farmlands for solar power facilities.
• Provides high-energy yield. The increased energy generation is due to the natural cooling effect of the water, which reduces rises in temperature of the solar modules.
• Saves water resources. It reduces the evaporation of water in the reservoir since the floating PV system blocks the sunlight.
• Uses an eco-friendly system. Natural fish farms thrive under the platform.

Four environmental impact analyses by the Korea Environmental Policy and Evaluation Institute (KEI) from 2011 to 2019, showed that the floating PV facilities caused no harm to the environment, developed a ground for fish spawning, increased aquatic plants, and reduced algae. Also, as of 2018, the floating solar farms in the country has reduced the amount of carbon emissions by 52,414 tons.

What are its features?

A floating solar power plant is composed of the solar module, buoyancy body, and anti-rust material, which includes the vertical frame and horizontal frames, inspection footrest, and module mount assembly.

The solar module should be highly resistant to humidity, lead-free, dust-proof, and protected against the effects of temporary jets of water, and it should have passed the drinking water test. Floating PV Mounting System is applied to solar pv power plant installation on the water. Adopting HDPE material, it should pass the Hunt Water Absorption Test, Anti-Aging Test, Anti-UV Test etc. Moreover, it can bear the pulling force that is much higher than other products. Adopting new module design in floater and main floater, it can realize the array of double row in the same facing or in symmetrical facing, which can increase the efficiency of solar power generation and installation capacity, be easily installed, and save the cost. and its lifetime has more than 25 years.

Figure 2: Floating PV Plant Components

How do half-cut solar cells work?

Half-cut solar cell technology increases the energy output of solar panels by reducing the size of the cells, so more can fit on the panel. The panel is then split in half so the top operates independently of the bottom, which means more energy is created – even if one half is shaded.

That’s the general overview – below, we break the process down.

Traditional monocrystalline solar panels usually have 60 to 72 solar cells, so when those cells are cut in half, the number of cells increases. Half-cut panels have 120 to 144 cells and are usually made with PERC technology, which offers higher module efficiency.

The cells are cut in half, very delicately, with a laser. By cutting these cells in half, the current within the cells is also halved, which essentially means that resistive losses from traveling energy via current are reduced, which, in turn, equals better performance.

Since the solar cells are cut in half, and are thereby reduced in size, they have more cells on the panel than traditional panels do. The panel itself is then split in half so that the top and bottom portions operate as two separate panels – generating energy even if one half is shaded.

The key to half-cut cell design is a different method of “series wiring” for the panel, or the way the solar cells are wired together and pass electricity through a bypass diode within a panel. The bypass diode, indicated by the red line in the images below, carries the electricity that the cells generate to the junction box.

In a traditional panel, when one cell is shaded or faulty and does not process energy, the entire row that is within the series wiring will stop producing power.

For example, let’s take a look at the traditional 3-string series wiring method:

With the traditional full cell string series wiring, shown above, if a solar cell in Row 1 does not have ample sunlight, every cell within that series will not produce energy. This knocks out a third of the panel.

A half-cut, 6-string solar panel works a bit differently:

If a solar cell in Row 1 is shaded, the cells within that row (and that row only) will stop producing power. Row 4 will continue to produce power, generating more energy than a traditional series wiring because only one-sixth of the panel has stopped producing power, instead of one-third.

You can also see that the panel itself is split in half, so there are 6 total cell groups instead of 3. The bypass diode connects in the middle of the panel, instead of on one side like the traditional wiring above.

What are the advantages of half-cut cells?

The advantages of half-cut cell panels are numerous.

They improve the power output and performance of solar modules because they offer a higher shade tolerance due to their unique wiring system. This means that if your home has some trees that cast shade onto your roof at certain times during the day, your entire solar panel will not be unusable, like it would with a traditional solar panel.

Another benefit is the fact that they usually offer a higher wattage than traditional panels, meaning they produce more power per square foot.

Additionally, the effects of hot spots are less severe on your solar panels with half-cut cells. Hot spots are the shifting of excess heat on a panel, say from a very hot part to the shaded, cooler section. With a half-cut cell, hot spots will not be as damaging because there are more cells to spread the excess heat to.

Half-cut cells also reduce power loss suffered by traditional panels by reducing internal resistance. Internal series resistance occurs just by the nature of energy traveling through the panel via electric current. But because solar cells are cut in half, there is less current generated from each cell, meaning less resistive losses.

The 166mm monocrystalline HJT solar cell developed by SunEvo has achieved a record-breaking conversion efficiency of 25.23% from the recent testing of the authoritative testing institution ISFH, which means SunEvo’s sturdy improvement in HJT solar cell technology, and indicates the company’s unswerving determination and strength in achieving the particular efficiency.

It is understood that SunEvo had achieved a conversion efficiency of 25.06% for the mass production line of 166 HJT solar PV cell on June 8th, before achieving a new world record of 25.23% by adopting the microcrystalline production process when working with leading HJT equipment supplier Maxwell. According to Doctor Wang, the CTO of SunEvo, the record is a new height achieved on microcrystalline craftsmanship that is possible for mass production, as well as a reliable guarantee in attaining a mass production efficiency of 25.5%.

Senior insiders of the industry commented that the regular-sized 166mm Champion cell announced by SunEvo still uses the sputtering TCO film for the PVD mass production process, which offers feasibility in extensive mass production, while the difficulty and gold content are self-evident. The company has been aggressively exploring methods in elevating efficiency and reducing cost, and achieved constant improvement in mere months, as well as multiple critical breakthroughs in N type high-efficiency mono-Si HJT solar cell technology.

Doctor Wang commented that HJT solar cells can be further improved in efficiency by replacing the current doped amorphous silicon with doped microcrystalline silicon or doped microcrystalline silicon oxide (carbide), where both the doping concentration and light transmittance would elevate, and the electrical resistance of the doped layer would reduce, before the current density of the HJT cell is magnified at the end. Doctor Wang said that the company anticipates a constantly improving record of efficiency, and these high-efficiency technologies will be applied on the production lines to achieve extensive production under low cost and applications for GW-grade 25%+ HJT cells.

HJT still possesses a relatively large sum of impedances and difficulties in progression after 30 years of development since 1990; thus, a reinforcement in the guidance and innovation of leading companies are exceedingly important in the expedition of commercial applications of HJT, as well as the actuation of technical upgrades in the relevant equipment and materials of the supply chain. On the occasion of HJT’s 30th anniversary, the Shanghai Solar Energy Society and the TestPV Forum will once again convene the “6th International Forum for the Leading Mass Production and Supply Chain Coordination of HJT”, which centralizes global businesses and experts from the research, manufacturing, application, and investment fields of solar cells, as well as comprehensively probes into the technology and popular market topics of each segment of the HJT industry chain, and penetrates into the future development orientation of HJT cells.

For more than ten years, the classic solar module with a cell size of 156 mm (M0 wafer), later 156.75 mm (M2 wafer), was considered as the standard solar PV module and was very popular.

The times when solar module dimensions have remained on the market over a longer period of time and could be established as a standard are now over. This became particularly noticeable at the beginning of 2020 when solar module producers from China started the trend towards ever larger solar module formats. Increasing wafer sizes are responsible for this.

As recently as 2018, 156.75 mm wafers accounted for about 80% of the market. In 2020, the upheaval came to 158.75 mm wafer sizes. The module outputs here range between 325 and 345 watts, and the dimensions are about 10 to 30 millimeters larger than a classic 60-cells PV module, depending on the design – so they are still very easy to move and process. However, the 158.75 mm solar cell, which was introduced only a few years ago, is already only available to a very limited extent.

A new size came onto the module market – M6 wafers with 166mm. In 2021, it turns out that this size has become the most widely installed solar module. This is a 120 cell with typically 350 to 380 watts solar panel.

But there seems to be no end in sight. The trend shows that it is possible to go even bigger. Wafer sizes of 182 mm (M10) and 210 mm (M12) have now arrived on the market. With the new cell sizes, a new power class is also emerging: M10-based modules have between 545 and 560 Wp Solar Panel.

According to the leading companies, modules with 182 mm wafers and 210 mm wafers are clearly superior to modules with smaller wafers in terms of manufacturing costs. Therefore, modules with these wafer sizes will probably prevail in the long term and make up the majority from 2022/2023.

Installers will also have to deal with this development. On the one hand, a certain increase in efficiency can usually be provided with the use of larger dimensions. On the other hand, handling according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions is only one aspect that must be considered. Larger module areas set new requirements for the module installation and the substructure, which may have to be planned and executed completely differently, with the same or lower frame thickness.

The ongoing demand for high-performance solar panels at a reasonable cost makes solar companies experiment with the structure of solar cells and tweak the module design. To improve the efficiency of the overall module, solar manufacturers optimize not just the solar cell but its entire cell design. One of such modifications or new innovations is incorporating multiple busbars on a panel.

What is the busbar?

In the solar cell, there is a thin rectangular strip printed on front and backside of the solar cell to conduct electricity, that strip is called a busbar. The purpose of the busbar is simple yet crucial as it separates the cells to conduct direct current from the photons and transfer it to the solar inverter to convert the current into alternating current. The busbars are generally made of copper plated with silver(Ag) paste to enhance the current conductivity in the front side and to minimize the oxidation at the backside. Similarly, multiple busbars are used to wire solar cells together to generate high voltage electricity.

A panel with multiple busbars ensures high cost-saving potential as the metallization process will need less amount of silver coating on the front side. Metallization plays a significant role in the fabrication of PV solar cells because the silver coating for deposition of fingers and buses is one of the most expensive steps in cell fabrication. Multi busbar can aid in decreasing the total series resistance of the interconnected solar cells.

Perpendicular to busbars is the metallic and thin grid finger. The fingers aid in the collection of generated current to the busbars. The cumulative power collected by all the busbars with the parallel tab wired cell strings (ribbons) is then delivered to the junction box. A solar cell grid consists of these thin current-collecting/current-delivering fingers and the current-conducting busbars. The key to efficient solar panel design is to strike an optimum balance between the busbar and the resistance/ shading/ reflection losses of fingers.

How do multiple busbars work?

Nowadays, multi busbar cells have become standard in solar panel design. The minimum number of busbars has increased to 9BB from conventional 2BB. Several manufacturers have intensified their efforts a step further and designing 10BB to 12BB panels. They are focusing on designing panels using PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Contact) cells with a maximum number of busbars in frontside contacts. Multi busbars aid in the reduction of internal resistance losses, which occur due to the shorter distance between the busbars.

In a typical solar cell, the metallization pattern usually has thin silver fingers that are responsible for current collection and transportation to the thick busbars. These busbars are then connected to the ribbons (cell strings coated with copper wires) in the photovoltaic module design. The increase in the number of busbars minimizes the current in each ribbon and hence lessens the resistive losses.

Additionally, the distance that the current has to travel from collection fingers to the busbar is plummeted further reducing the resistance of the solar cell and consequently the losses. This allows curtailing the usage of silver paste – as it is the costliest consumables for a silicon wafer.

The usage of multiple numbers of busbars also saves the panel from microcracking. Micro-cracks generally happen between busbars, the effect of these cracks is thus diminished towards smaller affected cell slices between two busbars. Therefore, if we compare the conventional counterpart modules with 2BB and 3BB cells, the long-term durability and reliability of multi-bus bars in case of micro-cracks are commonly higher.

Dash-line pattern busbars

Solar manufacturers never stop researching and innovating new module designs to cut the production costs and to increase efficiency. One of such recent inventions is panels with dash-line pattern busbars, it reduces the usage of expensive silver paste. These modules are available with 3-dash, 5-dash, 6-dash and even 8-dash busbars.

Studies have shown that these panels are more sensitive, meaning they are prone to cracking and power degradation. Increased number of dash lines cause the accumulation of thermal stress in the panel which result in cracking at the corners of the busbar.

All things considered

In conclusion, the goal of using multi busbar cells is to reduce the resistive losses by minimizing the flow of current in both fingers and the busbars. It has the potential to decrease the silver paste usage by 50-80%, less amount of silver also helps in eliminating the finger shading as well. It also enhances the efficiency of cell performance.