Solar panels, given their importance in a solar energy solution, are efficient at generating electricity with solar energy. A lot of technological research and scientific ingenuity goes into manufacturing solar panels and should one of them malfunction or fail to perform as advertised, the warranty is always present to help soften the financial burden and allow a system to continue performing with a new panel on board. In this blog post, we’ll be looking at a few reasons that may cause solar panels to underperform, and how you can troubleshoot those problems to ensure that your solar energy solution keeps performing at its optimal and keeps your home energized.

For the best Canadian Solar panels in UAE, Beacon Energy is the solar equipment supplier that boasts an amazing portfolio of a wide range of solar energy equipment. From SOFAR Solar inverters to Soluna batteries, Beacon Energy is the best solar equipment supplier in UAE. Lets start by looking at some of the reasons your solar panels might be underperforming and how you can troubleshoot the problem.

Solar panel underperformance: The possible factors

These following factors are usually responsible for underperforming solar panels. Lets look at the issue and how it can be resolved.

i. Shading

One of the most common reasons why you might notice a sudden drop in the performance of your solar panels is shading. As the name suggests, shading occurs when nearby structures or trees around the solar panels start casting shadows on the solar panels during the day. This severs the sunlight that would otherwise be hitting the surface of the solar panel, allowing it to generate energy. Shading is common because throughout the day, as the sun changes its position relative to the solar panels, nearby structures may cast shadows, decimating the energy generation potential of the panels and causing severe solar panel underperformance.

ii. Soiling

Soiling is also a very common issue with solar panels, especially in places where humidity is high, or sandstorms are frequently experienced.

Soiling, in simple terms, is the accumulation of dust that gets caked on the surface of the solar panel, thereby severing the access of sunlight to the PV cells on the surface. Since sunlight cant reach the PV cells, the solar panel stops generating energy, resulting in reduced performance.

The solution for soiling solar panels is simple: Routine maintenance and a cleaning regimen every now and then can help you negate the effects of solar panel soiling completely.

iii. Lack of maintenance

Solar panels, despite their robust construction and their longevity, still require maintenance for optimal functioning. Aside from the regular wipedowns that can help clean the panel and avoid issues like debris accumulation and soiling, a lack of maintenance will also cause the solar panel to lose its efficiency, thereby decimating the power generation potential of the entire system. Regular maintenance is imperative for the best functioning of solar panels, and if you personally aren’t able to do it, its better to have a professional service do it for you.

iv. Hotspots

Solar panel hotspots occur when a singular cell in the entire array heats up and gets damaged. When this happens, instead of generating energy, this damaged PV cell will start to consume the energy generated, necessitating a quick solar panel repair or replacement. While hotspots on solar panels are not common, they can be problematic if they surface, which is why it is advisable to always invest in good quality solar panels that have a lesser risk of developing hotspots and have good structural integrity and manufacturing quality. If one of your solar panels does develop a hotspot and this affects the overall generation of the system, consider replacing the panel with a more sturdy, robust one.

v. PID

PID, or potential induced degradation, is a phenomenon wherein the high potential difference between the PV cells and the module frame allows for the overall solar panel performance to degrade. The more considerable the difference between these two, the more pronounced the negative effect of the PID effect will be on the solar panel, once again reducing the efficiency as well as the power generation potential of the solar panel. While PID can have many underlying factors that can cause a solar panel to lose its efficiency and its power generation potential, PID isn’t a resolvable issue, and usually when a panel has too much PID, it needs to be replaced.

The best solar panels in UAE with Beacon Energy

Beacon Energy has the best selection of CanadianSolar panels in UAE, from bifacial modules to high-efficiency modules designed to give you the most use out of the sunlight. Aside from solar panels, Beacon Energy, the best solar equipment supplier in UAE, also has a large selection of other solar energy equipment from reputed manufacturers like Soluna, SOFAR Solar and many others. Check us out at Beacon Energy UAE to learn more.