Is Your Residential Solar Panel Output Optimized?
At the time of this writing, it is the middle of summer and temperatures are scorching. For most Americans, this time of year means enjoying backyard barbeques, relaxing in swimming pools, taking vacations, and just living life at a little slower pace because of the oppressive heat. But summer also has a dark side. This is the time of year when energy bills skyrocket and rolling blackouts leave many families without electricity for hours at a time. It’s also the season where strong storms can sometimes leave neighborhoods powerless for days.
Having solar panels installed is one of the best ways to combat summer’s dark side. They help ensure you have electricity when power from the grid is interrupted and they dramatically reduce your dependence on the grid, which translates into significantly lower energy bills.
But just how much your solar panels can save you ultimately depends on whether they are operating at their optimum level. So, if you want to ensure your energy bills are as low as they can go, it is vital to ensure that your solar panels are optimized to deliver their highest possible power output. Here are five things you need to do to optimize your solar panels.
#1: Purchase High-Efficiency Solar Panels
Not all solar panels are the same. Some can produce power at a higher efficiency than others. So, to ensure that your solar system is optimized to save you money, you will want to purchase high-efficiency solar panels from the start. However, these types can be more expensive, so if you are working with a budget, buy the highest efficiency panels you can get within your price range.
#2: Keep the Solar Panels Clean
Over time, a haze can develop over the surface of your solar panels caused by rain, snow, dirt, dust, and other elements and particles. And this haze can interfere with the panel’s ability to absorb the sun’s rays, thus reducing the efficiency of the system. To ensure that your panels are absorbing the sun’s rays and working at peak performance, it is important to ensure that the surface of your solar panels are nice and clean.
#3: Make Sure the Panels are Oriented Properly
For your solar panels to achieve maximum energy production, they need to be pointing directly at the sun. The only problem with this is that the sun changes position throughout the day and over the course of the year. For instance, in the winter, the sun typically appears lower on the horizon than it does in the summer.
As a result, having the azimuth (the compass angle of the sun) and zenith (the angle of elevation from ground level) orientation of the panels adjusted by a professional solar technician during the changing of the seasons will help ensure that your panels are always facing the right direction for the most efficient energy production.
#4: Invest in a Solar Panel Cooling System
Although solar panels work best in full sun, they do not work at peak efficiency in extremely high temperatures. The reason is because solar panels are made from semiconductors, and semiconductors do not perform well when they get overheated.
To help combat overheating, solar panels should be installed with at least seven inches of space between the panels and the roof. But for even better performance, there are several types of cooling systems that can be installed to help keep your panels cooler. If you live in an area where the temperatures can cause your solar energy production to decrease, then investing in one of these systems may be well worth it.
#5: Buy the Best Battery Solution You Can Afford
To keep your reliance on the grid at a minimum and your energy bills as low as possible, you need a battery system to ensure you have access to energy produced by your solar panels after the sun goes down. So, you want to invest in the best batteries and inverter you can afford because if these components aren’t efficient, then your system won’t be. Today, there are a variety of new battery systems designed to deliver better capacities and longevity to choose from, so try to purchase equipment utilizing the latest technologies as this will give you the best value for your money.
In conclusion, solar panels will help you save a lot of money on your summertime energy bills and with very little maintenance or requirements on your part. Taking just a few simple efforts, like the ones mentioned above, will help you yield the most benefits from your solar system.