Choosing the right panels for your home is rarely done by just picking the most recognizable brand. For both residential and commercial solar panels, the buyers compare different manufacturers, efficiency ratios, warranty, and cost before they select the panels of their choice. However, it is possible that a high-quality brand may underperform because of the improper design, overshadowing obstructions, inadequate maintenance, and faulty inverters and wiring.
That is why the overall performance of the panels throughout the years is a crucial metric to take into account. It shows the actual efficiency of panels in diverse conditions after the initial installation and is relevant for the future of the system. Thus, for landowners that are considering buying residential solar energy solutions, it may be more informative than the name and reputation of the brand.
Panel Quality Is Only One Part of System Performance
Solar panels are a critical component in the system, but they are only a part of the total configuration. Inverters, mounting structures, cabling, connectors, protection, roof inclination, and the installation itself impact the overall production of electricity.
Two homes that purchase the exact same panels can see different production rates due to the variables listed above. The orientation and tilt of the roof can impact the amount of electricity produced depending on the direction it faces and if there are any obstructions. Ventilation, dirt, and temperature also play a role in how well the panels produce electricity.
While a laboratory test would show the theoretical maximum output of a panel, the actual production rate will always be lower due to these factors.
Long-Term Monitoring Can Identify Subtle Issues
Performance monitoring gives an ongoing view of exactly how your solar installation is performing. And not only does it allow you to review generation on a day-to-day basis, but also over months and even years.
Depending on your equipment, a monitoring platform can identify daily, monthly, and yearly generation, along with inverter status and issues, voltage, and even performance of individual panels or strings.
Monitoring provides the information needed to determine:
- Is generation trending downwards?
- Is part of my array underperforming?
- Did production drop off suddenly after an incident?
- Is the system performing as expected for this time of year?
These are all insights that cannot be determined by simply looking at the panels’ brand.
Seasonal Variations Need to Be Understood
Depending on the season, solar panels can produce different amounts of electricity. During the summer, there is more sunlight, so the production rate is higher. During the winter, the days are shorter, and the panels produce less electricity. Cloudy weather and monsoons also reduce the production rate.
Therefore, a lower production rate during a cloudy and rainy season is not a sign of a faulty system. Performance monitoring builds a history of the production rates of the system. Therefore, if the owner wants to know if the production rate is lower than usual, they can compare it to the production rates from the past few months or years.
Using this information, the owner can determine if the panels are underperforming and if there is an issue with the inverter or mounting structure.
Small Issues Can Lead to Larger Problems
The lifespan of a solar system is long, so small issues that develop over time can reduce the production rate of the system. These issues might not be apparent to the owner since the system might continue to produce electricity, although at a lower rate than it should.
This is where performance monitoring becomes critical. If the system produces less electricity than it is supposed to, an owner would notice it since they would have to buy more electricity than they anticipated. However, if a fault develops in the system, like a damaged cable or inverter, the owner might not realize it.
Monitoring lets the owner know if the system is producing less electricity than it should. If the owner realizes that the production rate has gone down by a noticeable amount, they can call for a service technician to address the issue. Identifying the issue at an early stage can prevent larger problems in the future.
Installation Quality Can Outweigh Brand Differences
While a popular brand would promise higher output, it cannot fix issues with the installation. Cables, mountings, connectors, and other components can impact the production rate if not installed properly.
Homeowners considering residential solar energy solutions should review the system design in conjunction with the efficiency of the product. The roof on which the panels would be mounted, the consumption patterns of the household, the amount of sunlight that would fall on the panels, and the inverter capacity and requirements would impact the production rate. Therefore, it is critical that homeowners ensure the system is designed to meet their needs.
Monitoring would let the owners know if the system they purchased was providing them with the expected results.
Monitor To Identify Degradation Rate
Over time, solar panels begin to degrade. The production rate begins to drop, usually by a couple of percentage points. While manufacturers provide information about the theoretical maximum degradation rate, the actual rate will always be different.
Long-term performance monitoring can provide owners with the actual rate at which their panels begin to degrade. This information helps determine if the system is operating normally or if there is an underlying issue.
This information is especially useful when the system has been operating for a long time, and the owner needs to determine if it requires maintenance or not. With the data from monitoring, the owner can identify the root cause of the issue.
Data Determines the Need for Maintenance
While it is good practice to maintain the system regularly, it is important to only maintain components that require service. With monitoring, owners can determine if an issue exists with their solar system. If they determine that an issue exists, they can call for a service technician to pinpoint the issue.
If the production rate of the system has dropped, the technician would be able to identify if it is due to shading, dirt on the panels, or an issue with the inverter or the connections. This method would save the owner both time and money since they would not have to maintain components that do not need servicing.
Visual examination and professional electrical and electronic tests are still necessary, even with monitoring. Monitoring only assists the owner in identifying an issue quicker and more accurately.
The Inverter Has a Say in System Production as Well
A solar panel is only one part of the system. The inverter converts the direct current (DC) electricity produced by the panels to alternating current (AC) electricity that can be used by the owner. Therefore, the condition of the inverter directly impacts the production rate of the system.
Monitoring lets the owner know if the inverter has shut down or is malfunctioning. If monitoring is done at a higher level, the owner can see if a particular string or module of panels is malfunctioning. This is one of the reasons why long-term monitoring is better than just purchasing panels from a popular manufacturer.
Choosing The Right Solar Panel Solution
When purchasing residential solar energy solutions, owners should consider how the production data would be available to them. They should not only inquire about the efficiency of the panels and the warranty but also the rate at which the panels would produce electricity. They should also ensure that they have access to data about the system during the panels’ lifetime.
Purchasing a panel with great efficiency is important, but so is long-term performance monitoring.
Creating A Long-Term System
A residential solar installation is a long-term investment. Therefore, the focus should be on creating an installation that can provide electricity for a long time. The quality and brand of the panels are important, but they are only one part of the equation. The efficiency of the inverter, the quality of the cabling, the installation, the condition of the roof, the amount of dirt on the panels, and solar irradiance will also impact the production rate.
Infrax Renewable provides residential solar energy solutions that take the long-term view of the homeowner. In addition to offering quality products, the company ensures that homeowners make the right decision about their solar needs. The company can be contacted at Infrax Renewable for more information.
Conclusion
While a known brand would instill confidence in a potential buyer, the brand alone cannot guarantee that the homeowner will get quality residential solar energy solutions. The long-term performance monitoring of the system is critical to ensure that the system is working correctly and that the homeowner gets the maximum benefits out of their investment. Monitoring helps identify faults in the system, seasonal variations in the production rate, and issues with the inverter and other components. Therefore, homeowners should invest in residential solar energy solutions that offer long-term performance monitoring.
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