The efficiency of solar panels determines the amount of sunlight it can capture and convert to electricity. The higher the solar panel efficiency, the more productive it becomes. This means that if you have a solar power system, it makes sense to know how to increase solar panel efficiency to enable you to get the best result for your solar system.
There are different ways to increase solar panel efficiency, such as by cleaning the solar panels regularly, positioning your solar panels to receive enough sunlight, avoiding shading in the area where you install your solar panels, monitoring and maintaining your solar panels regularly, etc. Over the years, these measures have been proven to be effective in increasing solar panel efficiency.
Our expectation is that at the end of this comprehensive guide, you will be able to get your solar system to work optimally by increasing the solar panel efficiency. We are going to show you how to achieve this with ease. Keep tabs as we proceed with the discussion.
How to Increase Solar Panel Efficiency
There are different measures to increase solar panel efficiency, ranging from cleaning the solar panels regularly to using monitoring tools to track the performance; these methods are effective, and guess what? For the sake of clarity, we are going to discuss these measures one after the other.
1. Cleaning the Solar Panels Regularly
One of the ways to increase the solar panel efficiency is to clean it regularly. What happens is that dirt, leaves, droppings, dust, etc. can accumulate on the surface of the panels; once they accumulate, the ability of the panels to capture sunlight will be reduced, thereby reducing the efficiency drastically.
So, when you clean the panels regularly, it will be able to capture enough sunlight, which is definitely going to lead to its efficiency. Cleaning a solar panel is not difficult because you can do that using water and a soft cloth, sponge, or even brush to remove any dirt. However, never use any abrasive material or toxic chemicals to clean your solar panels because if you do, it will scratch and damage the surface of the panels. Alternatively, if you don’t know how to clean it, you can hire a solar cleaning company to assist you.
2. Positioning your Solar Panels to Receive Enough Sunlight
You can also increase your solar panel efficiency by positioning the panels to receive enough sunlight during setup. This can be achieved by ensuring proper orientation and tilting during setup. When a solar panel receives enough sunlight, it can function optimally. The proper positioning goes thus: if you are in the northern hemisphere, your panels should face south; meanwhile, if you are in the southern hemisphere, your panels should face north.
In addition, the tilt angle should be adjusted depending on your location’s latitude to maximise sunlight exposure. Once the panels are arranged correctly, it will reduce shading, thereby increasing the efficiency of the solar panels.
3. Avoid Shading in Where you Install your Solar Panels
Another way to increase solar panel efficiency is to keep the panels free from any form of shading to optimise their exposure to sunlight, thereby maximising solar panel output.
What happens is that when there is shade on or close to the solar panels, it will reduce the amount of sunlight that such solar panels receive, thereby reducing energy output. So, it makes sense to install your solar panels in free space that is free from obstructions like buildings, trees, etc. However, if you can’t avoid shading entirely, you can reduce it by trimming trees or adjusting the installation to be a bit far from buildings.
4. Monitor and Maintain your Solar Panels Regularly
By monitoring and maintaining your solar panels regularly, you can also increase their efficiency. You can monitor your solar system by using the advanced monitoring tools or software that your installer gave you during installation. With these tools, you can know the condition of your solar system at any given point in time. These tools allow you to easily identify any issues with your solar power system.
When using these tools, your keen interest should be on voltage levels, daily energy output, and any possible error message reported by the solar system. You can also conduct routine inspections to ensure that panels are not faulty and that they are properly connected too.
Additionally, you can schedule professional maintenance checks at least once a year to help identify and tackle any potential issues like malfunctioning components or even faulty wiring.
5. Increasing Solar Panel Efficiency with Mirrors
Although this method may sound strange to some solar enthusiasts, the truth is that you can increase your solar panel efficiency by using mirrors. The mirrors serve as a solar concentrator technique, which is also called solar panel reflector systems. What happens is that when you place mirrors strategically around the solar panels, the sunlight concentration will be redirected to the panel surface, thereby increasing its exposure to light.
You can place your mirrors in such a way that they capture and reflect divergent sunlight that ordinarily would have been lost. This technique is most effective in regions with limited direct sunlight exposure.
Meanwhile, to get this right, ensure that the mirrors do not cause excessive glare or heat to the panels because if they do, they may be hazardous to some birds or even planes. In fact, to use a mirror to increase your solar panel efficiency, you can consult professionals to do that for you.
Is there a way to make solar panels more efficient?
Yes, you can make your solar panels more efficient by cleaning panels regularly, positioning your solar panels to receive enough sunlight, avoiding shading where you install your solar panels, using a mirror, etc.