Top 10 Solar Panels Guide to Latest Technology

12/14/2018 Top 10 Solar Panels - Latest Technology 2018 — Clean Energy Reviews
This site uses cookies to monitor traffic and help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more ×
Home Solar Panels Inverters Battery Systems Forum
Top 10 Solar Panels - Latest Technology

2018
April 20, 2018 · Jason Svarc
Quality Solar Panels

With hundreds of different solar panels on the market it is difficult for those not
in the industry to identify quality panels which will perform over the expected 25
year life of a solar photovoltaic (PV) system. Here we highlight the best quality
solar panel manufacturers using the latest solar cell innovations to develop the
most efficient and reliable panels with the longest life and highest performance.
VISIT THE FORUM
What is a Tier 1 Solar Panel?

A common term that sales companies and manufacturers use is the 'Tier 1' rating.
The Tier rating was developed by Bloomberg New Energy Finance Corporation
and is basically used to rate solar panel manufacturers in terms of financial
https://www.cleanenergyreviews.info/blog/2017/9/11/best-solar-panels-top-modules-review 1/15
stability. Unfortunately a Tier 1 ranking does not mean a panel offers the
highest performance or quality. With most established panel manufacturers now
rated as Tier 1, it is more important than ever to know how to distinguish a high
quality and reliable panel by other means which we explain in more detail in our
solar panel quality review.
Canadian Solar 275 Poly - Nagykereskedelmi árak NYIT

Az igényeihez megfelelően választunk napelemet Önnek. pvtrade.eu/Canadian/Solar
LG Neon 2 Monocrystalline panels use high performance N-type cells with 12 wire busbars
Top 10 Solar Panels

Below is our list of the best solar panels available in Australia based on quality,
performance, innovation and value, along with feedback from solar industry
professionals. See our detailed solar panel quality review here. In summary
SunPower, LG and Winaico are generally regarded the best quality solar panel
manufacturers with longest warranties, highest efficiency and lowest
degradation over the life of the panel.
1. LG energy
2. SunPower
3. Winaico
4. REC
5. Q cells
6. Trina Solar
7. Jinko Solar
8. JA Solar
9. Seraphim
10. Canadian Solar
There are several other highly regarded panel manufacturers popular in the US,
Japan, and across the world which are either not available, have limited supply
or are very new to Australia. Here is a short list of some other renowned quality
panel manufacturers.
Panasonic Phono Solar SunTech
Hyundai Solar LONGi Solar Tindo Solar
Solar professionals feedback

In addition to continuous feedback from our solar specialists the clean energy
reviews team invite all solar industry professionals and installers to give your
feedback (positive or negative) from experience with any modules.
Latest Solar Technology

Here we highlight many of the latest solar panel and PV technologies offered
by the leading manufacturers, plus we list some of the more popular panels
available on the market using these innovative features.
Panels using the latest innovations

Most panel manufacturers offer a range of models including mono and poly (aka
multi) varieties with various power ratings and warranty conditions. Solar panel
efficiency has increased substantially over the last few years due to many
advances in PV cell technology including:
• PERC - Passivated Emitter Rear Cell
• Bifacial - Dual sided panels and cells
• Multi Busbar - Multi ribbon and wire busbars
• Split panels - using half cut cells
• Dual Glass - Frameless double glass
• IBC - Interdigitated Back Contact cells
• HJT - Heterojunction cells
These innovations and more explained in detail below offer various efficiency
improvements, shade tolerance and increased reliability, with several
manufacturers now offering up to 30 year performance warranties.
With all the new panel varieties

available it is worth doing some
research before you invest in a solar
installation. In our complete solar
panel review article we explain how
to select a reliable solar panel and
further highlight the best quality
manufacturers on the market.
From the well regarded panel

manufacturers there are several
modules which have become very
popular among Australian solar
installers due to high performance,
Q cells Q.Peak Duo G5 uses
quality, support and value for money,
Mono PERC 6BB half-cut cells
below is a list of the most popular,
highly regarded panels.
• LG Neon 2 panels - Mono N-type with multi-wire busbars
• REC N-Peak panels - Mono N-type PERC with half-cut cells
• Winaico M6 panels - Mono P-type PERC cells
• Trina Solar Honey panels - Mono P-type PERC cells
• Q cells Q.peak Duo G5 panels - Mono P-type PERC half-cut cells
• Sunpower E series - Mono N-type IBC cells (Popular in US)
• Panasonic HIT Series - Mono N-type HJT cells (Big in Japan)
Open and Closed Circuit

System, 100L-300L System,
Pressurized Solar Water…
Ad Jiangsu GMO Hi-Tech
Learn more
Mono Vs Poly Silicon Cells

There is a long ongoing debate about the superior PV cell technology between
monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon cells. Monocrystalline cells (mono) are
cut from a single crystal ingot are more efficient but more expensive to
manufacture. The higher cost lead the way for polycrystalline technology to
become the preferred cell type used; however very recently (within the last 12
months) the cost of mono wafers has declined significantly and many
manufacturers are shifting back to mono cells due to the higher efficiency.
Polycrystalline cells, also known as multicrystalline or 'multi' cells, are grown

from multifaceted crystalline material (grown in multiple directions) which is
cheaper to produce but offers slightly lower efficiency. Both are still widely
manufactured and very reliable but mono cells are considered the the superior
technology in regards to efficiency. Mono cells offer slightly improved
performance with a lower temperature co-efficient and a slightly lower rate light
induced degradation (LID) over time.
Monocrystalline cells are generally dark black/blue in colour with diamond pattern, while poly or
multicrystalline cells are square edged, appear blue in colour and slightly textured.
Why mono is more e cient

The inherent benefits of monocrystalline silicon are due to the uniform crystalline
structure free of grain boundaries and lower impurities through the unique
czochralski manufacturing process. In comparison poly or mulitcrystalline cells
have very small but defined crystal boundaries which can act as minute barriers
and can be more susceptible to forming micro-cracks after several years due to
cyclic stress and thermal expansion.
The Future Is PERC

Over the last two years PERC cells have emerged as the premium technology for
many manufacturers in both mono and poly crystalline cells. PERC stands for
'Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell' which is a more advanced cell architecture.
Put simply PERC uses additional layer/s on the rear side of the cell to improve
'quantum efficiency' which means more of the light photons which pass through
the cell are able to be absorbed, thus increasing total efficiency. A common
PERC technology is the local Al-BSF or local Aluminium Back Surface Field (see
diagram below) but several other variations have been developed such as PERT
(passivated emitter rear totally diffused) and PERL (Passivated Emitter and Rear
Locally-diffused).
The director of the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics at UNSW,

Professor Martin Green invented the PERC concept which is now widely used by
many of the leading PV cell manufacturers around the world.
The PERC rear layer local AI-BSF (Aluminium Back Surface Field) used by Trina Solar
Q cells were the first in incorporate PERC technology into mulitcrystalline cells
but use the name Q.antum for their range of PERC modules. Jinko solar recently
broke the solar efficiency record with 22.04% recorded from a standard size
multicrystalline p-type silicon cell. PERC technology has been available for a few
years and is advancing rapidly with most leading manufacturers developing their
next generation panels using variations of PERC technology. It is predicted that
Mono PERC cells will become the most popular and efficient cell type over the
next few years with most manufacturers including Winaico, Trina Solar, Q cells,
LONGi Solar, Jinko and JA solar now using mono PERC cell architeture.
Multiple / Wire Busbars
Small silver metallic fingers across each cell transfer current to the 5 ribbon busbars.
Busbars are thin wires or ribbons which run down each cell and carry the
electrons (current) through the solar module. As PV cells have become more
efficient they in turn generate more current thus over recent years most
manufacturers have moved from 3 busbars to 5 or 6 busbars. A few
manufactures such as LG energy have gone one step further and developed
multi-wire systems using up to 12 very thin round wires rather than flat busbars,
explained in more detail below. The compromise is that the busbars actually
shade part of the cell and so can slightly reduce performance if they are too
large, so they need to be carefully designed. On the other hand multiple busbars
provide lower resistance and a shorter path for the electrons to travel resulting
in higher performance.
If a cell micro-crack occurs due to impact, heavy loads or people

walking on panels, more busbars help reduce the chance of the
crack/s developing into a hot spot as they provide alternative
paths for current to flow.
The LG Neon 2 modules where the

first to use 12 small round wire
busbars which LG refer to as 'Cello'
technology which stands for 'cell
connection, electrically low loss, low
stress and optical absorption
enhancement'. It's a bit of a mouth full
but basically the Cello multi-wire
technology lowers electrical
resistance and further increases
efficiency.
LG Neon 2 cells with 12 round wire busbars.
Trina solar have also recently started

offering thin round wire busbar cells
under the name multi busbar (MBB)
as an option on a range of modules
for 2018. As explained earlier another
benefit of having more busbars is if
micro-cracking does occur in a cell
due to external stresses there is less
chance of this forming a hotspot as
the electrons have many alternative Multi-busbar compared to a standard ribbon
busbars to flow along. This is shown busbar - Image credit Trina Solar (click to enlarge)
in the diagram opposite.
See the complete Trina Solar panel and technology review here
Split Modules And Half Cut Cells
Another recent innovation is using

half cut or half size cells rather than
full size square cells and moving the
junction box to the center of the
module. This effectively splits the
solar panel into 2 smaller panels of
50% capacity each which work in
parallel. This has multiple benefits
including increased performance due
to lower resistive losses through the
bus bars (current collectors). Since
each cell is half size it produces half
the current at the same voltage which means the width of the busbar can be
reduced by half in turn reducing cell shading and losses. The lower current also
translates to lower cell temperatures which in turn reduces the potential
formation and severity of hot spots due to localised shading, dirt or cell damage.
In addition the shorter distance to the

center of the panel from the top and
bottom improves efficiency overall
can boost power output of a similar
sized panel by up to 20W. Another
benefit is that it allows partial shading
on the upper or lower part of the
panel to not effect the entire power REC Twin Peak panels were some of the first
available with half-cut cells (click to enlarge)
output of the panel.
The REC twin peak 2 range of split panels have been available for some time
and now many other manufacturers are following suit with split panels being
released by Trina Solar, Q-cells, Canadian Solar, LONGi Solar, JA Solar, Risen
and Jinko solar.
Hanwha Q Cells have now gone one step further and introduced the Q.Peak Duo
G5 series of split panels using half-cut mono PERC cells with 6 round wire
busbars. This combination of cell technology improves efficiency, shade
tolerance, lowers degradation and reduces the potential of hot spot formation.
Hanwha Q Cells Q.Peak Duo G5 panel uses half cut mono PERC cells with 6 busbars
BiFacial Solar Modules
Bifacial solar technology has been

available for several years but is
starting to become popular as the
cost to manufacture the very high
quality monocrystalline cells required
continues to decrease. Bifacial cells
absorb light from both sides of the
panel and in the right location and
conditions can produce up to 27%
more energy than traditional
monofacial panels. Bifacial solar
panels typically use a glass front and
clear rear polymer backsheet to
encapsulate the cells which allows
reflected light to enter from the rear
side of the panel. Bifacial modules
can also use a glass rear side which
lasts longer and can significantly Rear side of a LG Neon 2 bifacial module
reduce the risk of failure, with some

manufacturers now offering 30 year
performance warranties on bifacial panel models.
Bifacial solar modules also absorb reflected light energy on the rear side of the cells -
Image credit LG energy
Traditionally bi-facial solar panels were only used in ground mounted

installations in unique locations where the sunlight is easily bounced or reflected
off the surrounding surfaces, in particular snow-prone regions and extreme
latitudes. Although they have been proven to work well when ground mounted
over light sandy surfaces and are also able to achieve up to 10% higher output
even on light coloured rooftops when tilted. Manufacturers producing bifacial
solar panels include LG energy, Trina solar, Jinko Solar and Yingli Solar.
Dual Glass Panels
Many manufacturers are now

producing what is known as glass-
glass, dual glass or double glass
solar panels which should not be
confused with bifacial technology.
The rear glass replaces the traditional
white EVA (plastic) backsheet and
creates a glass-glass sandwich which
is considered superior as glass is very
stable, non reactive and does not LONGi solar dual glass panels with 30yr warranty
deteriorate over time or suffer from
UV degradation. Due to the longer
life of glass-glass panels some manufacturers such as Trina solar are now
offering 30 year performance warranties.
Frameless Panels
Many double glass panels are also frameless having no aluminium frame which
can complicate the mounting of panels as special clamping systems are
required. However frameless modules offer several advantages especially in
regards to cleaning, with no frame to catch dirt and dust the frameless modules
when tilted or flat are much easier to clean and are more inclined to aid from
wind and rain to self-clean which results in greater solar output. However
without the strength of an aluminium frame double glass panels, although more
durable, are not as stiff and can appear to flex or bow, especially when mounted
flat or horizontal.
Manufacturers producing dual glass solar panels include Jinko solar, LONGi
Solar, Trina Solar, Yingli Solar and JA solar.
Smart Panels And Optimisers
A new technology which is slowly

becoming popular is the addition of
integrated power (DC) optimisers
within the solar panel. Optimsers are
basically small chipsets which have
the ability to bypass shaded or dirty
cells that would otherwise reduce the
total output of the solar array.
Shading and dirt can generate hot
spots over time in turn reducing the life of the panel. Separate power optimisers
from companies such as Tigo and SolarEdge have been available as an add-on
component for many years but now a few manufacturers are developing panels
with inbuilt optimisers within the junction box on the back of the panel. Tigo
energy TS4 optimisers are available as panel-integrated options or Smart panels
from Jinko and Trina Solar. These can be also be added to any existing panel as
an add-on optimiser with various options available. See full Tigo specifications
here.
A big advantage of 'add-on' optimisers such as those from Tigo

and SolarEdge is the ability to monitor each solar panel
individually. Micro-Inverters also have this advantage over
common string inverters.
Jinko Solar have introduced the Eagle MX range of solar panels using the
Maxim Integrated optimiser chips. These smart chips from Maxim Integrated go
beyond the traditional add-on optimiser and separate the panel into 3 strings of
cells which enables the panel to operate at the optimum MPPT voltage even
when partially shaded or dirty. It is worth noting that some installers have
reported customers having RFI interference issues (TV & radio) using this new
technology however the next generation Maxim chips are claimed to have
resolved the RFI problem.
Maxim Integrated solar optimisers greatly improve performance when individual cells are shaded.
Panel And Cell Strength

Along with the many cell advancements to improve efficiency there are also new
technologies to increase reliability and performance over the expected 25 year
life of a solar module. Solar panels can be put under extreme stress due to wind
lift forces, vibrations, extreme heat and freezing cold causing expansion and
contraction. These can develop micro-cracks, hot spots and PID (potential
induced degradation) within the cells leading to reduced performance and
accelerated failure.
Manufacturers such as Winaico and

LG energy have engineered
extremely strong aluminium frames to
help reduce cell and module stresses.
Winaico's parent company Win Win
Technology have gone one step
further and developed what is known
as 'HeatCap' Technology which is
essentially a cell reinforcement
Closeup of a Winaico HeatCap PV cell
structure that helps prevent micro
cracks and hot spots developing
when cells are under extreme stresses and loading. This technology also has the
added benefit of improved performance at higher cell temperatures. Read more
about HeatCap technology here.
IBC cells - High strength and durability

IBC silicon cells explained in detail below are not only more efficient but also
much stronger than conventional cells as the rear layers reinforce the whole cell
and help prevent micro-cracking which can eventually lead to failure.
Sunpower use a high grade solid copper IBC rear foundation layer on their
patented 'Maxeon' cell design along with a highly reflective metal mirror like
surface to reflect any light which passes through back into the cell. The rear side
of the 'Maxeon' IBC cell shown below is extremely tolerant to stress and bending
unlike conventional cells which are relatively brittle in comparison.
The rear side of a Sunpower 'Maxeon' IBC cell showing the fine metal grid conductors which improves
efficiency, helps reinforce the cell and prevents micro-cracking.
High E ciency N-Type Solar Cells

While PERC and bifacial are the talk of the solar world the most efficient and
reliable technology is still the N-type monocrystalline cell. The first type of solar
cell developed in 1954 by Bell labs used an N-type doped silicon wafer but over
time the more cost effective P-type silicon became the dominant cell type with
over 80% of the global market in 2017 using P-type cells. With high volume and
low cost being the main driving factor behind P-type it is expected that N-type
will become more popular as the manufacturing costs reduce further and
efficiency increases.
SunPower IBC N-type cells with solid copper backing achieve ultra-high efficiencies close to 22%
IBC Cell Technology

IBC or Interdigitated Back Contact cells have a grid of 30 or more conductors
integrated into the rear side of the cell, unlike standard cells which typically have
4 to 6 large visible ribbon busbars and multiple fingers on the front side of the
cell. The most obvious problem with the more common front exposed busbar
design is they partially shade the cell and reflect some of the light photons which
reduces efficiency, while IBC cells don't suffer this problem and as a bonus look
much 'cleaner' with no exposed busbars.
The most e cient solar panels - IBC N-type

The world's most efficient and best performing solar panels are manufactured
using IBC N-type monocrystalline silicon cells and although they are the most
expensive, they are without doubt the most reliable, highest quality panels
available. As of 2018 SunPower and LG are the only two manufacturers who
produce solar panels with IBC N-type cells.
• SunPower - X series - 21.5% efficiency
• LG energy - Neon R - 21.4% efficiency
For many the higher cost of the these premium N-type solar panels ($1 or more
per W) is outweighed by the higher efficiency which ranges from 20 to 22%,
improved performance at higher temperatures and minimal light induced
degradation (LID), which means much higher energy yield over the life of the
panel with up to 92% power output warranted after 25 years.
The industry leading warranty is offered on both the SunPower E and X series
panels (up to 92%). As of May 2018 both the LG Neon R and Neon 2 panels are
also covered by a 25 year product warranty and minimum 88% power output
warranty after 25 years.
The LG Neon R solar modules with high efficiency IBC N-type cells - up to 370W (60 cell)
Heterojunction - HJT Cells

HJT technology is being explored by many solar manufacturers but at present
Panasonic is the only company to mass-produce panels using heterojunction
cells. Following from the initial HJC development work done by UNSW and
Sanyo, Panasonic created the efficient 'HIT' range of panels to become the
leaders in HJT cell technology.
HJT cells use a base of common crystalline silicon with additional thin film layers
of amorphous silicon on either side of the cell forming what is known as the
heterojunction. As opposed to the common P-N junction cells the multi-layer
heterojunction cells have the potential to drastically increase efficiency with lab
testing achieving efficiencies up to 26.5% when combined with IBC technology.
Panasonic HiT (HJT) cell construction - Image credit Panasonic Corporation
Panasonic developed the HIT cell using a high performance N-type silicon base
to produce panels with an efficiency of 19.7% and excellent high temperature
performance. The N-type silicon cells also offer exceptional long term
performance guaranteeing 90.76% output after 25 years, the second highest
available behind SunPower. See full specification – Panasonic HIT N330W.
HJT world leading high temperature performance
The most impressive characteristic of

the Panasonic HIT cells is the
incredibly low temperature co-
efficient which is around a 40%
improvement over common multi and
mono crystalline cells. Panel output is
rated at a cell temperature of 25
degree Celcius STC (Standard Test
Conditions) and every degree above
this slightly reduces power output.
Temperature co-efficient refers to

the measure of power reduction as
cell temperature increases.
In common multi and mono cells this

Panasonic HIT N330 96 cell module
is 0.39 to 0.42% per degree C which
can add up to reduce total output by
25% or more during very hot windless days. In comparison Panasonic's HIT cells
have an very low 0.26% per degC temperature co-efficient which is the lowest of
any cell manufactured today.
Note panel and cell temperature is also effected by roof colour,

tilt angle and wind speed, so mounting panels flat on a very
dark rooftop will usually reduce panel performance compared to
lighter coloured rooftops.
The unique Panasonic HIT panels are only available in Japan and North America,
and unfortunately not currently available in Australia. Considering the high
average temperatures in Australia they would be a great choice for rooftops and
large scale commercial applications… hint!
More information
Solar Panel Construction

Solar panels are made using a series of PV cells protected by glass, EVA and a
protective back sheet housed in a tough aluminium frame. The components must
be engineered to withstand years of extreme weather temperatures and high
wind forces. Here we explain each component in detail and why it is vital to the
long term performance of a solar panel.
Questions and Comments
VISIT THE FORUM
12 Likes · Share
categories / Review
tags / Solar Modules, solar panel technology, Solar Power, Solar power system, solar
panel review, best solar panels, Tier 1 solar panel, Solar Panels, top 5 solar panels,
Trina solar panel review, Jinko Solar, LG energy Neon solar panel review, Top
← →
Top Search Information Solar Installers Solar Quote Reviews

+ About Us

Top 10 Solar Panels Guide to Latest Technology

Transféré par

Informations du document

Description originale:

Titre original

Copyright

Formats disponibles

Partager ce document

Partager ou intégrer le document

Options de partage

Avez-vous trouvé ce document utile ?

Ce contenu est-il inapproprié ?

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

Top 10 Solar Panels Guide to Latest Technology

Transféré par

Droits d'auteur :

Formats disponibles

12/14/2018 Top 10 Solar Panels - Latest Technology 2018 — Clean Energy Reviews

Home Solar Panels Inverters Battery Systems Forum

Top 10 Solar Panels - Latest Technology

April 20, 2018 · Jason Svarc

Quality Solar Panels

VISIT THE FORUM

What is a Tier 1 Solar Panel?

Canadian Solar 275 Poly - Nagykereskedelmi árak NYIT

Top 10 Solar Panels

10. Canadian Solar

Panasonic Phono Solar SunTech

Solar professionals feedback

Latest Solar Technology

Panels using the latest innovations

• PERC - Passivated Emitter Rear Cell

• Bifacial - Dual sided panels and cells

• Multi Busbar - Multi ribbon and wire busbars

• Split panels - using half cut cells

• Dual Glass - Frameless double glass

• IBC - Interdigitated Back Contact cells

• HJT - Heterojunction cells

With all the new panel varieties

From the well regarded panel

• LG Neon 2 panels - Mono N-type with multi-wire busbars

• REC N-Peak panels - Mono N-type PERC with half-cut cells

• Winaico M6 panels - Mono P-type PERC cells

• Trina Solar Honey panels - Mono P-type PERC cells

• Q cells Q.peak Duo G5 panels - Mono P-type PERC half-cut cells

• Sunpower E series - Mono N-type IBC cells (Popular in US)

• Panasonic HIT Series - Mono N-type HJT cells (Big in Japan)

Open and Closed Circuit

Mono Vs Poly Silicon Cells

Polycrystalline cells, also known as multicrystalline or 'multi' cells, are grown

Why mono is more e cient

The Future Is PERC

The director of the Australian Centre for Advanced Photovoltaics at UNSW,

Multiple / Wire Busbars

If a cell micro-crack occurs due to impact, heavy loads or people

The LG Neon 2 modules where the

Trina solar have also recently started

in the diagram opposite.

Split Modules And Half Cut Cells

Another recent innovation is using

In addition the shorter distance to the

BiFacial Solar Modules

Bifacial solar technology has been

reduce the risk of failure, with some

Traditionally bi-facial solar panels were only used in ground mounted

Dual Glass Panels

Many manufacturers are now

Smart Panels And Optimisers

A new technology which is slowly

A big advantage of 'add-on' optimisers such as those from Tigo

Panel And Cell Strength

Manufacturers such as Winaico and

IBC cells - High strength and durability

High E ciency N-Type Solar Cells

IBC Cell Technology

The most e cient solar panels - IBC N-type

• SunPower - X series - 21.5% efficiency

• LG energy - Neon R - 21.4% efficiency

Heterojunction - HJT Cells