Solar Panel Photovoltaic Efficiency

Most solar panels are between 15 and 20 efficient with outliers on either side of the range.

Solar panel photovoltaic efficiency.

Solar panel efficiency is a measure of the amount of solar energy irradiation which falls on a panel surface and is converted into electricity. The efficiency of the solar cells used in a photovoltaic system in combination with latitude and climate determines the annual energy output of the system. Solar panel efficiency is a measure of how much sunlight that hits the surface area of a solar panel is converted into usable electricity. It is true that solar cell efficiency directly affects the solar panel efficiency.

The highest efficiency solar panels on the market today can reach almost 23 percent efficiency. The average efficiency of solar panels falls between the 17 to 19 percent efficiency range. It may seem counter intuitive but solar panel efficiency is affected negatively by temperature increases. Solar cell efficiency refers to the ratio of the power output of a solar cell to its power input while considering its surface area.

If a solar panel has 20 percent efficiency that means it s capable of converting 20 percent of the sunshine hitting it into electricity. Due to the many recent advances in solar cell technology over the last 5 years average panel conversion efficiency has increased from 15 to 20. Simply put solar panel efficiency is referred to the ratio of peak power compared to the amount of sunlight that arrives at the solar cells of the module. Nrel maintains a chart of the highest confirmed conversion efficiencies for research cells for a range of photovoltaic technologies plotted from 1976 to the present.

Learn how nrel can help your team with certified efficiency measurements. Photovoltaic modules are tested at a temperature of 25 degrees c stc about 77 degrees f and depending on their installed location heat can reduce output efficiency by 10 25. In other words the efficiency value that we can find on the datasheet of a solar panel represents the ability of the module to convert sunlight into electricity according to its size. It is the portion of energy in the form of sunlight that can be converted via photovoltaics into electricity by the solar cell.

So if a solar panel has an efficiency rating of 15 that means 15 of the sunlight that hits the solar panels will be converted into electricity.