Beyond Oil Solar has been designing and supplying solar power systems for over thirty years. We have worked with the top suppliers and manufacturers in the industry. Photovoltaic solar systems have come a long way and efficiencies are constantly improving. We are looking forward to seeing new future developments!
When buying solar panels it’s a good idea to look for the Tier One quality panels. To maximize high output from the panel, Tier One panels are produced with the highest grade silicon. For a company to be Tier One it would have to be making solar panels for 5 years or more. In addition, it’s advisable to go with a manufacturer that has a fully automated production line and a high degree of vertical integration. Tier One companies usually make significant investments in their brand, have a strong balance sheet and are publicly listed.
We now have a variety of manufacturing processes and cell configurations from which to choose when comparing solar panels. The PERC (or bifacial) panels can produce power from the front and rear of the panel. This is a good option if you have a reflective surface behind the panel to increase power. However, the PERC panels have not been around long so the technology does not yet have a verifiable longevity.
The Monocrystalline PERC panels can work well but lack the efficiency and longevity of the newer N-type panels.The PERC panels are also slightly less efficient than the N type panels.
N-type panels have a more complicated composition and offer a higher efficiency and longer life with the ability to adapt to changing weather conditions, such as shading. Unlike the traditional P-type panels (using Boron), the N-type panels use silicon which transfers valence electrons to a phosphorous base for the cells, a negative (N) charge provided by the extra electrons from phosphorous. Boron and phosphorous have a similar valence electron structure to Silicon and this is why these materials work.
Also, remember the N panels typically have longer warranties with higher output guaranteed over longer periods. These are definitely some of our favorite panel options.
Even though many companies are starting to use the N type technology, you also have to consider the other features of any solar panel option, such as the brand investment and strength of the company to honor the warranty.
Amorphous panels are typically too thin to carry any current but the latest technology places a layer of amorphous substrate on top of a silicon cell. This allows the silicon and the amorphous layer together to capture more light frequencies. These panels are too new to judge in terms of longevity but look promising.
Another type of manufacturing that is offered in the panel manufacturing process is cutting the ingot very thin. Since all silicon is cut from an ingot block of silicon, Chinese manufacturers have figured out how to cut thinner cells using a diamond blade. This gives them more cells to wind onto a panel. However, at this time we feel that Chinese panel manufacturers using this process should be avoided since there is more chance of panel degradation and shorter lifespan of the panels using this manufacturing process.
The typical P-type panel warranty is 85% of rated power in 25 years, and the typical N-type panel is rated for 92% power output in 25 years. We think that buying Tier One solar panels largely ensures higher quality panels that stand a good chance of outliving the length of their warranty. These warranties are only as good as the company behind them and unfortunately many solar companies have recently gone out of business.
We look forward to more decades of photovoltaic panel innovations!