Metro Manila, Philippines - Solar panels are installed in areas most exposed to sunlight. This is to ensure maximum light harvest for the photovoltaic effect. On the other hand, this also means it is exposed to the sun's high amounts of heat, especially during long, hot summer days in the Philippines' tropical climate.
But how does heat impact the efficiency of your roof-mounted solar panels?
Contents
How hot do solar panels get?
The majority of residential solar panels undergo testing at a temperature of 25°C. Factors such as installation specifics, including the proximity of the panels to the roof, can influence the typical operating temperature of your solar energy system. Depending on where they’re installed, hot temperatures can reduce the output efficiency of solar panels by 10%-25%.
Why do solar panels struggle in very hot temperatures?
The effect of heat on solar panels is rooted in the principles of thermodynamics, which pertain to the behavior of heat and its impact on objects.
The generation of electricity through solar panels is reliant on the movement of particles known as electrons within the electrical circuit. When temperatures rise, these electrons exhibit can bounce around too much, leading to a decline in voltage – essentially, a reduction in the generated electricity. Moreover, excessive heat diminishes the effectiveness of the solar panel, resulting in a decrease of approximately 0.5 percentage points in efficiency for each degree Celsius increase in temperature.
PHILERGY German Solar Panels Pmax and NOCT Ratings for the Philippines
Most solar panels may work fine in mild climate but can deliver disappointing efficiency and savings in the Philippines. This is due to their solar cells not being engineered to perform in a tropical environment with typical ambient temperatures of 30-35°C.
Often not addressed by consultants, the ability of a solar panel to perform under heat is a key point to focus on, especially in the Philippine climate.
To choose the best performing solar panel in the Philippines, you can start by checking the data sheets and comparing the values stated under:
Nominal Operating Cell Temperature (NOCT) - the temperature the solar cells will reach under standard conditions (STC).
PHILERGY'S CURRENT SOLAR PANEL IS RATED AT 42 °C.
Temperature Coefficient at Pmax - defines how much a solar panel’s efficiency is reduced by each degree increase in the panel’s temperature.
PHILERGY'S CURRENT SOLAR PANEL IS RATED AT -0.32% /°C.
Higher values, even just by one or two °C or %/°C can result in up to 20% less savings than PHILERGY's solar panel in the long run.
A PHILERGY German Solar system is an investment with the longest warranties available worldwide. Choose wisely. With PHILERGY, you can be ensured to be making the right choice.
CONTACT US FOR FREE SOLAR CONSULTATION!
PHONE: (02) 8638 8277
SMART: +63 921 373 3840
GLOBE: +63 917 329 2112
EMAIL: service@philergy.com
Best Solar Panel System Installer in the Philippines
PHILERGY German Solar Philippines is your reliable, high quality solar energy installer, solar power system, and solar panel supplier in the Philippines with German-made solar equipment combined with experienced German Solar engineering. All installations come with up to 30 years warranty for homes and businesses, and options for flexible solar financing without collateral and additional fees. We are the nation’s top solar company with headquarters, office and showroom in Manila, Philippines with German management and German head solar engineers setting top of the line solar standards.
All our solar energy systems are customized according to every client's needs via free expert solar consultation and professional onsite analysis, and are installed by trained teams that are headed by at least 1 German engineer with over 20 years of solar experience.