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I’ve been comparing various makes and models of PV panels for an 8kW project.
Sales people keep on and on at me about this or that panel being ‘more efficient’ than some other, so is obviously worth the extra cost.
My understanding is that the efficiency of a panel is the rate at which it converts solar energy into useful power, PER UNIT AREA. Is that right?
So an ‘inefficient’ 250W panel would simply be BIGGER than a super-modern, new chemistry expensive one of the same, 250W, output?
So my reckoning is that it doesn’t matter a monkey’s ---- whether the panels are more or less efficient (within reason), unless you are short of roof space and need to cram in as much generation capacity as possible per square metre.
Therefore, if you have space, as I do, buying a cheap, big array is more sensible than an expensive small one of the same output.
Am I right?
It seems to me that ‘efficiency’ is a nice comfy word which the uneducated public likes to hear, so it’s in general no more than a sales gimmick. Sign now! It's is a special price for this day only and I’m only allowed to give it to one house in this street! (Does anyone really fall for that rubbish?)
Sales people keep on and on at me about this or that panel being ‘more efficient’ than some other, so is obviously worth the extra cost.
My understanding is that the efficiency of a panel is the rate at which it converts solar energy into useful power, PER UNIT AREA. Is that right?
So an ‘inefficient’ 250W panel would simply be BIGGER than a super-modern, new chemistry expensive one of the same, 250W, output?
So my reckoning is that it doesn’t matter a monkey’s ---- whether the panels are more or less efficient (within reason), unless you are short of roof space and need to cram in as much generation capacity as possible per square metre.
Therefore, if you have space, as I do, buying a cheap, big array is more sensible than an expensive small one of the same output.
Am I right?
It seems to me that ‘efficiency’ is a nice comfy word which the uneducated public likes to hear, so it’s in general no more than a sales gimmick. Sign now! It's is a special price for this day only and I’m only allowed to give it to one house in this street! (Does anyone really fall for that rubbish?)
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