With solar panels and solar energy, there are a lot of factors that come into play during energy generation. For example, even something as trivial and unimportant as trees and their shade can become a major impediment in the generation of electricity via solar power. So, needless to say, a lot of factors can positively or negatively affect the power generation and efficiency of solar panels. The locality and the regional climate can also affect the efficiency, like how solar panels in Dubai may affect to environmental conditions. But first, lets look at what an average solar panel boasts in efficiency.

While solar panels are very efficient, residential and commercial solar panels only go up to 30 per cent efficiency, which means that out of the total solar energy that hits the solar panels, 30 per cent of it is converted into electricity. However, with recent advancements made in the field of solar energy, it is now possible that up to 50 per cent of energy efficiency be reached with solar panels, which is a huge leap forward. Of course, the same set of factors will continue governing the efficiency of the equipment, like how extreme temperatures in UAE might affect solar panels in Dubai.

Now, lets look at some of the more significant factors which determine the efficiency of solar panels.

Factors affecting solar panel efficiency

It might not sound logical that temperatures do affect the efficiency of solar panels, like extreme temperatures might do for solar panels in Dubai, however, temperatures do affect the efficiency of PV modules. Let’s start with this point and go on to the other factors.

i. Temperature

With extreme temperatures, efficiency can decline, but only temporarily. For instance, solar panels in Dubai and anywhere where mercury usually soars, a drop in solar energy generation is common and pretty much anticipated. That is because extreme temperatures disrupt the normal functioning of the solar cells or rather the PV cells in the panel, which causes them to drop the efficiency rate. However, the good part is that the efficiency drop is not all that much. An average drop of about 5 per cent is usually monitored, and that too on temperatures exceeding 40°C, which tend to disrupt a lot more than just solar efficiency and generation.

ii. Installation angle, orientation

Another one of the factors for solar panel efficiency that might generally be known as rather unimportant and trivial is the installation angle and the orientation of the solar panels. For one, installation angle is key: once oriented at such an angle that it receives the most solar energy during noon, which is the peak time, will obviously get you more out of the PV equipment.

Whereas an angle that is poor and an orientation that robs the solar panel of peak sun time will perform likewise, when it comes to solar energy generation.

iii. Shade/plantation in vicinity

For solar panels to reach their peak efficiency, there needs to be an unabridged access to sunlight. Of course. However, many environmental factors can prevent that from happening. One of the most common is shade from the trees that might be growing in a residential setting, which seems plausible. This shade can block sunlight from getting to the PV modules, and consequently, you might notice a drop in the solar energy generation of the equipment.

Which is why, for residential PV equipment users, it is recommended that growth around the solar panels be monitored to make sure no such thing is hampering the efficiency of the solar panels.

iv. Lack of maintenance

Lack of maintenance will also adversely affect the solar energy generation potential. Even something like dust will negatively affect the solar panel efficiency, and as such, a simple wipe down or maintenance through a qualified maintenance service will bring the solar panels back to their original efficiency. More than that, if annual maintenances are skimped out on, this will significantly affect the power generation potential, and sometimes irreversible damage can also occur. Which means that as much as solar panels are essentially trouble free items, maintenance is something that is crucial for them.

v. Quality of PV equipment

The final and often overlooked factor is the quality of the PV equipment itself. No two solar panels are made the same, and as such, the best solar panels are going to be the ones with maximum efficiency and little requirement for upkeep and maintenance. For specific situations like solar panels in Dubai, quality is all that matters, as the probability of all these factors somehow affecting energy generation potential goes low once you have quality equipment on your hands.

Quality solar panels in Dubai: Beacon Energy

For the best solar panels in Dubai, manufactured by some of the highly-sought after brands for solar equipment like Canadian Solar, Beacon Energy should be your go-to. With an excellent supply chain network and delivery timelines, they are the most prominent company in the Middle Eastern landscape for solar and are poised for new, even greater heights.