You'll hear myths like "solar panels are made more energy than they produce" or, "solar panels have more carbon footprint than they will offset. None of this is true!

 

All manufacturing uses energy and has a carbon footprint, and solar panels are no exception.

 

Renewable power generation repays its carbon footprint during its operation. Unlike fossil fuels, which require carbon-intensive fuels throughout the life cycle of the system.

 

With the greening of the manufacturing national grid, the manufacturing footprint will get smaller and smaller over time. Solar panel factories also tend to install solar panels on rooftops to provide their own green energy.

 

 

 

 

Solar power that is used by households or exported to the grid actually offsets the high-carbon gas power generation.

 

Since 2015, solar panel manufacturing has become more efficient and the grids at manufacturing locations have become greener. So I think the payback time is much less these days.

 

Monocrystalline solar panels are the most widely used technology. To produce solar panels, it takes a lot of energy to melt the silicon used in the batteries. Other technologies are being developed that use a fraction of the energy, but these are not yet commercialized and are not very efficient.

 

QCells estimates that their panels will take about 1.5 years to recoup the energy needed for production.

 

The operating period is approximately 30 years, equivalent to 28.5 years of renewable energy generation.

 

recycling solar panel recycling

Solar panel components are all regularly recycled materials.

 

People often ask, "What happens to solar panels at the end of their useful life?". The answer is that they are likely to be recycled.

 

Because in Australia there are many systems that are going to be scrapped. The market is ready for solar panel recycling. Look at Gedlec, they are currently recycling 95% of their solar panels and will be able to recycle 100% by the end of 2021.

 

The most sustainable solar systems are those that operate efficiently and last a long time.

 

Replacing a system before the end of its design life will double the carbon footprint of installing a quality system for the first time.

 

By using experienced designers, experienced installation teams and quality products for your solar system, you can ensure that your system will last, perform well and be sustainable.

Shingled solar cells are solar cells which are cut into typically 5 or 6 strips.  These strips can be overlaid, like shingles on a roof, to form the electrical connections.  The strips of solar cells are joined together using an electrically conductive adhesive (ECA) that allows for conductivity and flexibility.

Shingled solar cell

 

 

 

Shingled solar cell – end elevation

 

 

This allows the cells to be connected differently to conventional solar panels, in that, there are no busbars (ribbons) required and the solar cells can be joined together resulting in no gaps between the solar cells.

 

Shingled solar modules can also be wired differently to conventional solar panels.  Typically, solar cells in conventional solar panels are wired in a series of strings whereas the solar cells in shingled panels can be wired in parallel configuration.

 

 

What are the advantages of shingled solar panels?

Essentially the three key advantages of the shingled solar panel design are they produce more power, improve reliability and are aesthetically pleasing.

 

1. Increased energy harvest

Higher power per square metre

The shingled solar cells do not require busbars across the top of the cells so more of the solar cells are exposed to sunlight.  The cells do not need to be spaced apart like in conventional solar panels so the solar panel area can produce more energy.

 

Comparison between conventional solar panel and Solaria shingle solar panel

 

Less energy loss due to shading

Conventional solar panels have the individual cells wired in series so when a part of the solar panel is shaded it can have a significant effect on the level of power output.  By configuring the solar cells in shingles, they can be wired in groups and configured in parallel which significantly reduces the losses caused by shading.

Current flow comparison

 

Below are some examples of shading and losses for a conventional solar panel and a shingled panel.  The Shingled panels have greater performance except for the vertical shading example.

 

Outdoor shade testing over a 70-day period has shown that the  shingled solar panel performs between 37 to 45% better than conventional solar panel designs.

 

2. Better reliability

 

Low busbar failures

Shingle solar panels do away with approximately 30 metres of busbar and soldered joints that is required on conventional solar panels, so busbar failures are reduced.

 

Better mechanical performance

Static and dynamic load tests show that the shingle approach is more resistant to failure due to external forces being applied to the solar panel compared to conventional solar panels.

 

3. More attractive

Shingled solar panels have no visible circuitry which give them clean simple look providing superior street appeal.