Sean Si, Author at Solar Panels Philippines

How Grid Tie Solar Works

Having a solar panel installation in the Philippines is one of the best decisions you can do for your home. Have you ever wondered how the technology behind the solar energy system works? Then, you have come to the right article.

How solar power works is fairly easy to understand and the grid tie solar component is one of the components that you should utilize. A grid tie solar electric system is also referred to as grid-tied and utility intertied photovoltaic system. This is different from an off-grid or standalone solar system, where your structure is not hooked up to a utility power.

If you are a homeowner or a business establishment owner in the Philippines, solar panel installations should be on top of your list of investments. Many case studies that utilize the solar system has spoken about the benefits that they have harvested from having them installed in their properties. Turning sunlight into electricity is a sustainable solution for your home and the environment.

Get to know how grid tie solar works and learn how it can help you in the future; just continue reading below.

Source: Pinterest

How do Grid Tie Solar Inverters Work?

Learning how solar grid tie inverters work is a great opportunity to see how solar panel installations help you on a daily basis. Sizing up your grid-tie solar system will be a great way to know if it is working properly and it will help you in maintaining its performance all throughout the duration of its installation.

Here is how solar grid tie inverters work:

The solar panels collect the sunlight that shines on them and produces a direct current (DC).
The DC is then converted into alternating current (AC) so your home can use the electricity that is harnessed. This conversion happens through the power inverter that you installed.
If there is any excess use of power that is produced in your home, the excess is sent back out into the utility grid.
This will send your meter backward and will significantly lower your electric bill.
Now you can use clean and efficient solar power.

All of these processes happen quietly and automatically, these are just many of the wonders of having a solar tie inverter system. This process of sending back renewable energy is called net metering and it is an efficient way to save electricity.

What are the Benefits of Having a Solar Grid Tie Solar?

A Solar Grid Tie Inverter is an electric system that helps turn sunlight into electricity by using solar panels and a power inverter, along with other small components. This happens while your home or a solar-powered building remains dependent on the local grid or utility. What makes it different from off-grid systems is that your power is not hooked up or dependent on any other utility power.

Many people rely on this installation because it allows them to save money on energy costs. Having solar panels really makes it possible to save money but using a solar grid tie inverter doubles that potential. It is also notable that solar grid tie solar systems are able to keep the energy as renewable as possible. Which means that any excess power produced is pushed back into the grid which will result in your meter turning backward.

This translates into significant results that can lower your electric bills. Not to mention that having solar grid tie inverters installed in your property increases its value significantly. It raises the value of your home or commercial establishment which will attract potential buyers if ever you put it up for sale.

It is also a great source of solar energy which is a green and clean source of power all around. Having this installation allows you to help and protect the environment as efficiently as possible.

Knowing the Proper Equipment to Setup a Solar Grid Inverter System

Having an efficient and economical solar grid inverter system would bring many benefits to you but first you need to have the proper equipment installed and ready for your use.

These items include:

Rooftop Solar Panels
Solar Panel Mounts
Solar Panel Trackers
Power Inverters
Grid Disconnect
Combiner Box
DC Disconnect

Make sure that you have these tools so you can have a reliable solar system in your home.

Key Takeaway

Having a solar grid tie inverter in your home will pose many benefits. Plus, it will enable you to save more money through net metering. Knowing how the solar grid tie solar system works is a great opportunity to utilize it properly.

With these installations, you can become energy self-sufficient and it is worth more than saving the money for electric costs especially when you know that you are doing a part in saving the environment.

Consider having a solar panel system installation in your home today to know firsthand the many benefits it will provide for you and your family.

How to Start Living a Sustainable Life

People have a preconceived notion that living a sustainable life is a difficult task that is not worth the time and effort, but it is completely the opposite. One reason for this judgment may come from their personal idea of sustainable living.

Some people think going green means opting for solar panel installation in the Philippines; others think it entails giving up meat and going vegan. These two are examples of behaviors you can adopt in order to live a sustainable life. They’re just that – examples.

Going green is not limited to these two things so if you really want to live a sustainable life, then check out the infographic below. We’ll be giving you some ideas on how to do so and you’ll see how easy it actually is!

Weighing Out Solar Storage Batteries: Lithium vs. Lead Battery

What factors should you consider when choosing between lithium and lead battery to use for your solar storage?

Depth of Discharge
Installation
Safety
Cost

If you stumbled upon this article, then chances are you’re thinking of having a solar system in the Philippines installed to your home. Or you could just be someone who’s interested in solar power and wants to know everything about the technology.

Either way, we’re sure you’ve heard of the lithium vs lead battery debate. This is an ongoing discussion in the solar power industry and no one has yet to determine the clear winner. Typically, solar batteries are made using lead-acid technology. But recently, big companies have opted to use Lithium-Ion.

You’d think that with companies switching sides, lithium would immediately be the winner, but that’s not quite the case. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages.

In this article, we won’t be telling you which of the two is better – you will be the one to decide that. What we’re going to give you is a fair comparison of the two battery types, so you can do the judging yourself.

Depth of Discharge

The depth of discharge (DOD) refers to how deep you can drain the battery during every cycle. The deeper the DOD, the fewer discharge cycles and the shorter the service life. Lithium batteries can be discharged up to 95% and lead batteries are limited to 50%.

What this means is that you can typically use lead batteries for a few hundred cycles and lithium batteries can be used for 6,000 to 10,000+ cycles. To put it simply, lead batteries will have to be replaced up to 10 times more often as compared to lithium batteries. This also signifies that lithium batteries have much longer lifespans than lead batteries.

Installation

Lead batteries are difficult to transport and install because of their sheer weight. There is no way to change this as the materials used to make lead solar batteries are heavy. Because of this, people are turning to a lighter alternative which is lithium solar batteries.

Lithium batteries are significantly lighter and can lower shipping costs by 80%. They also help cut installation costs by large amounts. The low shipping and installation costs make lithium batteries much more appealing than lead batteries.

Safety

In terms of safety, both types are harmful to the human body and the environment, but lithium has a slight advantage. Although lithium, in its purest form, is more harmful, technologies and safety mechanisms are employed to increase its safety. At the moment, it is considered to be one of the safest batteries in the market.

Lead batteries, on the other hand, continuously produce electrolytes and they also produce hydrogen when overcharged. On top of this, lead acid is a very dangerous substance. Despite being equipped with safety mechanisms to reduce risks, lead batteries still lose to the lithium batteries in terms of safety.

Cost

We now tackle the final aspect to consider which is cost. Judging from how lithium batteries came out on top, it’s safe to say that they’re the most expensive option. All its advantages and benefits don’t come for free, after all. Lithium batteries cost 3 to 4 times more than any average lead battery. Moreover, lead battery prices are expected to continuously decrease in the coming years.

Key Takeaway

If we’re keeping score, then lithium batteries would be the clear winner as it beat lead batteries 3 times out of 4. However, it isn’t as easy as tallying up scores. Choosing the best solar storage battery still depends on several things like intended use and purpose.

There are other things you need to take into account before you have your Philippine solar systems installed. If you still can’t decide between the two, then don’t hesitate to discuss it with your provider. We’re sure they’ll be able to give you proper advice!

The Different Appliances that Contribute to Your Baseload

What are the different appliances that contribute to your household’s baseload power?

Refrigerator
Lights
Air conditioning units
Pool pumps

There’s a myth that renewable energy, like the one you gain from installing panels from solar systems in the Philippines, isn’t capable of providing baseload power. But before we can discuss said myth, we first have to understand what baseload power is and the different appliances that contribute to your home’s baseload.

In order to properly explain baseload power, we have to look at it in terms of electricity demand. Electricity demand can be classified into two categories – average and peak. Peak demand or peak load is achieved during times of high electricity demand. Often, this happens during hot days when you need to turn your A/Cs on for longer periods. It only happens in short burst and in even shorter periods.

Average demand, on the other hand, is the lowest level of electricity demand needed over a 24-hour period. In simpler terms, it is the amount of electricity needed to meet the demands of occupying your house—this is your baseload power. With that out of the way, we can now tackle the different appliances that contribute to your baseload power.

Refrigerators

Refrigerators are the single biggest contributor to your baseload power. In order to keep your food cold and fresh, your fridge has to be running 24/7. Even though refrigerators have been made more energy efficient, they still use a lot of energy.

For the people who have multiple fridges or freezers, it is recommended that you unplug unused ones in order to lower your baseload. You should also store food in as few appliances as possible.

Lights

Another contributor to your baseload is your home’s lighting. Though it doesn’t take up as much as your fridge and freezers, it doesn’t hurt to lower the cost to illuminate your home.

You can do this by replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs. They’re more available now than before and are quite affordable. You can also make use of sensors, timers, and occupancy based devices and adopt task lighting rather than whole-room lighting.

Air Conditioning Units

Air conditioners are usually considered peak load contributors, but not when you have a home office or when its summer and the kids are at home.

Admit it, you wouldn’t want your kids to suffer through the intense summer days, which for us Filipinos mean 40° degrees of heat, so you’d be more than happy to turn your A/Cs on. If this is the case and the unit is running from morning ‘till night, then it automatically becomes a baseload contributor.

The same thing can be said when you cool down your home office during the entirety of the day. Even if you turn it off after 8 hours of work, it is still part of your baseload and will cause your monthly bill to skyrocket.

Pool Pumps

Studies have actually found that homes with pools consume almost 50% more electricity per year. Although this is partly because these homes are usually bigger than average and have more occupants, it cannot be denied that a huge percentage of their electricity bill is because of the pool. On average, pool operation and management account for at least 17% of your bill.

Now, if you want this lowered, then you can set your pool pumps to function during the morning when your solar panels are in use. That way, they won’t be using up much energy and you can save a few extra pesos on your electricity.

Key Takeaway

The appliances listed above are the main contributors to your house’s baseload power. And though these tips may seem too simple, they are guaranteed to be effective.

As for the myth mentioned, you can just ignore it as it is not true. If you’re planning to install solar panels from solar systems in the Philippines, then go for it. Renewable energy can and will provide enough energy for your baseload and more!

4 Intangible Benefits of Solar Energy

What are the intangible benefits of solar energy?

Solar energy reduces pollution.
Solar energy can mitigate climate changes.
Solar energy helps preserve our resources.
Solar energy leads to better health outcomes.

Many have looked into solar panel installation in the Philippines and many more have considered switching to solar energy. The reason for this is the many financial benefits it offers.

Solar energy has been known to reduce a single household’s electric bill by a significant amount. There are also instances when a property’s value increased due to it being equipped with panels. When you factor these benefits in with the current price of solar panels, you can see why they’re worth the investment. Not only does it save you money, it also helps you profit in the long run.

However, solar energy has more benefits beyond these monetary ones. Benefits that people rarely talk about because they’re hard to quantify and no one can put a price on them. If you wish to know about these intangible benefits, then we suggest you continue reading.

Solar Energy Prevents Pollution

The energy sector is responsible for emitting a ton of harmful gases in the atmosphere. These emissions occur when they burn fossil fuels to generate electricity. A lot of these gases are key air pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrous oxide, and Sulphur dioxide. Solar energy, on the other hand, can produce sufficient energy with practically zero emissions.

Another type of pollution that solar energy can prevent is water pollution. The ability to lessen and prevent water pollution is one of the biggest environmental benefits that solar energy has to offer. Unfortunately, it is also the one people talk about the least. Solar energy, unlike traditional biomass and geothermal power plants, does not pollute local water supplies resources nor does it strain local water supplies.

Solar Energy Can Mitigate Climate Change

As said before, greenhouse gases and air pollutants aren’t produced when solar energy is used to generate electricity. Although small amounts are emitted during the installation and manufacture of solar energy systems, it is ten times less than what standard coal-fueled power plants emit.

Studies have also indicated that switching to solar energy could cut 100 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions yearly. And you can only imagine how good this would be for our ecosystem and how big of a weapon it is in our fight against climate change.

Solar Energy Helps Preserve Our Resources

Our natural resources are slowly but surely depleting; that is the reality we are facing today. It may look like we have an abundance of fossil fuels, which are non-renewable, but we will eventually run out. And by the time we’ve run out, we’ve damaged our environment and financial infrastructures beyond repair.

This is where solar energy comes in. Solar energy, unlike fossil fuels, is a renewable resource, meaning we have an infinite supply. The sun produces 173,000 terawatts of solar energy every second and that is ten thousand times the amount of the world’s total energy use.

Solar Energy Leads to Better Health Outcomes

When you combine all the previous points, it results in a better, less polluted environment, which will undoubtedly improve the health of each and every individual. We’ll have fresher air to breathe, safer water to drink, and on overall healthier environment.

Additionally, by using solar energy, we can stop depending on fossil fuels which is the root cause of most types of pollution.

Key Takeaway

When you’re considering solar panel installation in the Philippines, it’s so easy to think about its tangible benefits and use that to weigh things out. In fact, your first thought is probably how solar energy can ease your finances and how can you make your money back after switching to solar energy?

While that’s all good and wise, solar energy offers far greater benefits than that. Beyond these tangible and quantifiable benefits are intangible ones that most people fail to recognize. And most of it affects our environment and health—things that are far more important than money.

Solar-Powered Crafts You Can Do with Your Kids This Summer

What are solar-powered crafts you can do with your kids this summer?

Solar light
Solar oven
Solar updraft tower

The relationship between the solar system and the Philippines is interesting, particularly during the months of March and April, when people experience a sudden rise in the temperature. It’s amazing how the Earth comes just a bit closer (relatively) to the Sun during these months, yet the effects on us humans are extremely palpable.

With that being said, the summer season is regarded as a time for vacations, when families or friends come together and go on beaches, resorts, and other tourist spots to make the most out of their summer breaks or simply to beat the heat.

However, some prefer to stay indoors with their families and just enjoy the summer together. Parents, especially, make the most of this time of the year when their kids aren’t at school for five days a week.

If you’re looking for activities you can do with your children while they’re on vacation, you’ve come to the right place—continue reading to find out about solar-powered crafts that you can do with your kids this summer so you could make the most out of the Sun and the summer break.

Source: varunaweb.com

Solar Light

Have you ever wondered how amazing it would be if you were somehow able to acquire a small portion of the Sun’s light and use it as your own personal source of illumination? If you have, then there is good news for you: it’s completely possible and you can do it with your kids.

Materials:

Mason jars
Solar path lights (be sure that they fit the top of the mason jars)
Etching cream

Instructions:

Place the jar on a piece of cardboard or a covered table.
With gloves on, thickly coat the outside of the jar with etching cream and leave it for 60 seconds.
Wash the etching cream off.

After you have finished assembling, all that’s left is to leave it out in the sun for a full day to generate energy before you can finally use your very own solar light.

Solar Oven

The solar oven is perfect for parents and children who enjoy baking. While it isn’t as powerful as electric types, solar ovens are more fun to use and the process of building it is enjoyable just as well.

Materials:

An empty pizza box
Aluminum foil
Plastic wrap
Tape
Scissors
Ruler
A paper plate

Instructions:

Cut a flap in the top of the pizza box leaving a 2″ border on the sides and front.
Wrap the bottom side of the flap and the interior side of the box with aluminum foil. Make sure that the shiny side is out and then tape in place.
Cover the opening created by the flap with plastic wrap, then tape in place.
Place food inside and leave under the sun to cook.

Solar ovens are a new way to make food and they won’t add to your electricity bill at all.

Source: almostunschoolers.blogspot.com

Solar Updraft Tower

Solar updraft towers are powered by simple and easy-to-obtain materials as well as basic physics. Just imagine a vertical windmill and you’ll get the general idea.

Materials:

3 clean and empty tin cans (tops and bottoms removed)
Tape
An unbent paper clip
A thumbtack or a straight pin
A paper pinwheel
2 books

Instructions:

Stack the 3 tin cans together and tape the points where they meet.
Tape the two ends of the paper clip on opposite sides of the top can, like an arch.
Tape the thumbtack to the center of the arch, facing up.
Place the stack of cans on top of two books with a space in between.
Place the paper pinwheel on the center of the thumbtack.
Place under the sun.

What happens next will amaze you. You will see the pinwheel spin—this is because the sunlight heats the inside of the cans and creates a convective updraft. This will teach your kids that solar power and physics are awesome!

Key Takeaway

Solar power isn’t a complicated concept and there’s no better way to explain it to your kids than doing solar powered DIY crafts which are easy to make with them. With just basic materials and some sunlight, you can have fun with your children this summer, while learning with them at the same time.

Why You Should Only Get Solar from a Legit Seller

Why should you buy solar panels from legit sellers only?

Solar panels can be costly to maintain
Environmental factors are always unpredictable
Your home’s electricity depends on it

It is common knowledge that solar panel prices in the Philippines are quite high. They can be costly on average, but better solar panel efficiency usually translates to a higher price. While they are expensive, they are also an effective means of saving money on electricity expenses and are thus utilized in many houses in the Philippines.

With all the benefits solar panels offer, it can certainly be difficult to say no when you stumble upon a good deal. However, you should keep in mind that “good” isn’t just about the price. You must also consider other factors such as the quality of the solar panels you’re about to buy as well as the reliability and the reputation of the seller.

Nowadays, scammers are lurking practically everywhere. There isn’t a single market that is free of them, so regardless of what you’re going to buy, you should always maintain a high level of awareness when interacting with the seller.

In this article, you will be reading about why you should only buy solar panels from legit sellers.

Solar Panels can be Costly to Maintain

If you thought that solar panels are a one-time purchase, think again. Like everything else, they wear and tear as time goes along; their maintenance is a must if you want to keep them in top condition.

Solar panels are already expensive enough on their own, and for good reason: they serve their purpose very well and are sufficiently durable. Now, imagine having to have your solar panels checked on and repaired more than once a month simply because it just won’t stop malfunctioning. Frustrating, right?

This is a likely scenario if you bought your solar panels from a non-legit seller. You may have saved some cash when you bought them, but in the long run, you will be spending more than you originally would have had you opted to buy from a trusted seller instead.

Environmental Factors are Always Unpredictable

One major concern about solar panels is that they are always exposed to the environment, no matter how serene or chaotic it is. Sunny day or raging typhoon, it’s up there on your roof and you can only hope that it holds well.

Solar panels from untrusted sellers aren’t as tough as the ones from real ones. While an original solar panel can withstand violent winds and debris, a fake one may break from just a fallen branch. The thing is, you never really know what could hit it, so just to be on the safe side, don’t buy these solar panels—they can and they will break.

Your Home’s Electricity Depends on It

With fake solar panels, weak energy generation is the least of your worries. One of these days, your solar panels could malfunction so bad or stop working altogether—leaving your home completely devoid of electricity.

No fans to circulate the air, no refrigerator to keep your food fresh, and no lights at night to help you move around the house. All these are possibilities if you buy your solar panels from scammers. The money you will be saving by buying fake solar panels isn’t worth it, considering the risk and the inconvenience you’ll be bringing to your home’s electric system.

Key Takeaway

The price of solar panels may initially be intimidating, but they are that way because of the way they work and what they are made of. While low prices may be attractive, they aren’t advisable, as there is a pretty good likelihood that the seller isn’t legit. The products they offer may be cheaper, but they’re usually of less quality and should therefore be avoided.

Celebrate Earth Day by Doing These Simple Things

What are simple ways to celebrate Earth Day?

Plant a tree
Go on a bicycle ride
Take time to read about the Earth

The Earth—our planet—has been around for billions of years, and after all this time, it still hasn’t run out of ways to marvel us. Without it, we would have an incomplete solar system and the Philippines would simply not exist.

However, the Earth isn’t getting any younger and the resources it provides us aren’t going to last for eternity. The planet has provided us the opportunity to experience life and thousands of places to create unforgettable moments in and it certainly deserves something in return.

Earth Day, a worldwide event that is dedicated to the planet, is held annually on the 22nd of April. It is during this day that everyone is encouraged to do what they can to help in preserving the planet, from switching off unnecessary lights to helping in getting rid of plastic products.

Anyone can celebrate Earth Day, including you. You don’t have to shut off everything in your home completely or avoid gadgets altogether. In fact, Earth Day can be quite an enjoyable experience. In this article, you will read about simple ways you can celebrate the occasion.

Plant a Tree

There aren’t enough words in any dictionary to describe how important trees are. They are our primary source of oxygen, they help keep the planet cool, and they are a source of food. Sadly, trees are being cut down every day and they take decades to fully grow. It is said that the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago and the next best time is now—and this is nothing but the absolute truth.

Planting a tree is simple and it doesn’t take a lot of time. One tree may not look like much when compared to the sheer vastness of the planet, but it makes a difference, and it can inspire the people near you to plant their own trees.

Go on a Bicycle Ride

Before there were automobiles and planes, people traversed the world on foot or on horseback—or camelback. The travel time back then was exponentially longer, but people didn’t mind as the environment was beautiful and refreshing.

Going to places on a bicycle this Earth Day is a great way to celebrate it. It doesn’t even have to be far places—a few laps around your local area is fine, as you’re contributing in your own little way to lessening carbon emissions, even if it’s just for a few hours. If you have plans with your friends, meet together on your bikes—it’s going to be a fun experience.

Take Time to Read About the Earth

If you don’t feel like leaving the house or getting soil on your hands, that’s fine. You can still show your commitment to the Earth by taking a few minutes of your time to read about the planet—it doesn’t matter if you’re reading a textbook or your tablet.

Reading about the Earth isn’t boring by any means. It is filled with thousands of wonders and mysteries that are sure to keep you curious. There is more to our planet than continents and oceans, and if you found out about how amazing it really is, you would surely want to protect it too.

Key Takeaway

Earth Day reminds us that we only have one planet and that we shouldn’t abuse it. While it isn’t a requirement, taking part can be fun and contributing to the preservation of the planet is surely worth your time. Caring for the Earth ensures that it can continue providing us shelter and resources, and you will be doing future generations a huge favor by doing so.

Solar Home Economics 101

Every day, we get the question“How Much?” or “HM?” This is a very easy question and often is asked without the use of a vowel to solve a once inescapable problem of paying high electric bills. “HM po?” goes through a systematic process for a proper answer. There is no such thing as an ordinary house or a typical bungalow, so bear with us if we are makulit. We just want to make sure we give you the right answers in regards to solar panel installation in your Philippine home.

Here is the step-by-step process on how we figure out the answer to “HM?”

Consumption

What is your consumption? The kWh used per month or the monthly bill would give you the gross consumption. We profile how much energy or kuryente is used during daytime hours vs. nighttime hours. Of course, solar is very effective during daytime hours because it can directly displace utility or “kuntador kuryente”.

Second is nighttime consumption. What appliances do you turn on during the night, how many air cons are on, etc.? For ethical reasons, we would not suggest using your air con on lead acid batteries at night, since it is a false economy build;unless, of course, if you live on an off-grid location or the Spratley Islands.

We then take this into account and start crunching numbers. For the old school people out there, we use Net Metering vs. batteries to offset night consumption since it’s 3x cheaper to generate energy from solar than to store it. Batteries last a fraction as long as a solar panel so we do not even use it for savings. We’d rather opt for banking surplus production during daytime hours via Net Metering.

Net Metering

It is a special meter that the Utility Provider has to install to comply with National Law, specifically RA 9513 Sec 10. If your house has surplus solar energy, the utility has to purchase the excess energy. The net metering process is complex for the average homeowner to process, and even smaller solar outfits have a hard time on its documentary and rigid technical standards. Solaric handles the Net Metering process and advises you on estimated costs as your home has to be updated to latest electrical codes. Each job is wired differently, so costs vary.

We do not disconnect the Utility as they are there to give you power at night and buy your surplus power at day. We simply integrate solar power with existing wiring. Solaric customers become Prosumers of grid power—consumers who also produce and sell back their excess power.

Sizing

We look at the roof of your house, factory, or facility, either through Google maps or site survey; the only actual limiting factors for solar are the amount of unshaded roof space and budget.

From our online tech survey or actual field visit, we can see how many solar panels we can fit and determine the best yielding sides of your roof.

Our default strategy is to install enough solar to offset normal daytime loads (sub 5 year ROI) and if the client wants more aggressive bill reduction, we can put more solar to cover night time loads. This will ZERO out the bill or result in a negative electric bill—so you can buy that Tesla.

The most common concern is how much solar is needed to run the air con and the usual appliances, such as ref and fan. To answer this question, that would be a 1.62 kWp installation at Php140K. To the industrial installation solar, we put in the Big Boy Solar, the one that wipes out hundreds of thousands of pesos from a colossal electric bill.

Quotation

We do bill analysis of usage patterns: Day vs. night usage and available roof space, then suggest build sizes with approximate savings. Our solar engineers will go over various build options (e.g. Philippines vs. China vs. Korea panels), installation locations, and long term impact of electric bills. Solaric has the widest range of build options and, of course, we offer the best prices. From there, we can come up with Return on Investment calculations. This can range anywhere from 3 to 6 years ROI or even faster if electricity rates increase.

And that is when we can finally tell you “HM?” We will even tell you in great detail, using vowels, numbers, and all that.

Key Takeaway

In the Philippines, solar panels and their installation are not cheap nor are they for the financially impatient, but they will generate returns that are easily 5x more than its initial investment. Solaric DIY packages for less than P30k make it an even better investment than a smartphone.

Solaric has been systematically reducing electric bills and making the Philippines a greener place by enabling thousands of homes and businesses to say no to coal by putting red hot high electric bills on the deep freeze and by showing global warming who the real boss is.

For more information, visit this link or email info@solaric.com.ph. You may also call us at 02 5040092 for seasonal specials or to schedule surveys.

3 Different Kinds of Solar Cells

What are the 3 kinds of solar cells?

Monocrystalline silicon solar cells
Polycrystalline silicon solar cells
Thin-film (TF) solar cells

Solar panels have been an effective and eco-friendly means of manufacturing energy for a while now. While solar panel prices in the Philippines can be quite expensive, solar panels are a great investment and can be a potential source of income.

The effectivity and efficiency of solar panels are determined by the solar cells it is made of. All types of solar cells can absorb sunlight and generate electricity, but each one has its advantages and disadvantages, as well as the ideal situations they should be used in.

Here are the 3 kinds of solar cells:

Monocrystalline Silicon Solar Cells

Monocrystalline (mono-Si) solar cells have been around the longest, and are thus the most developed technology among the three types. They are produced through a process known as the Czochralski method.

Advantages:

Monocrystalline solar panels are made of the highest-grade silicon, resulting in them having the highest efficiency rates (15% to 20%).
They are space efficient. Since they output the most power, fewer panels are needed to generate energy compared to the others.
These solar panels provide a better aesthetic for homes because their cells are darker and evenly colored.

Disadvantages:

Monocrystalline solar panels are the most expensive among the types of solar cells.

Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Cells

Polycrystalline (poly-Si) solar cells were thought to be inferior to monocrystalline, but because they are cheaper to produce, they have become the most commonly used type of solar cell in commercial settings over time.

Advantages:

Polycrystalline silicon costs less and is easier to produce—there is less waste silicon compared to monocrystalline.
Polycrystalline solar panels have slightly lower tolerance than monocrystalline panels. Solar panels generate more energy with more sunlight, but heat can affect the performance of a panel and affect its lifespan.

Disadvantages:

They are not as efficient as monocrystalline solar panels (poly-Si cells have efficiency rates of 13% to 16%). Polycrystalline solar panels have lower silicon purity compared to monocrystalline, which means that a larger area will need to be covered to produce the same amount of power that a smaller number of monocrystalline solar panels can generate.

Thin-Film (TF) Solar Cells

Thin-film solar cells are produced by depositing thin layers of photovoltaic material or thin-film photovoltaic cells (TFPV) onto a substrate. They are commonly used in solar farms.

Advantages:

Mass production of thin-film solar cells is simple.
High temperatures affect them less than mono or polycrystalline solar cells.

Disadvantages:

They aren’t suited for residential situations. Due to having less efficiency (7% to 13%) than both crystalline-type cells, thin-film solar cells require a considerably large area to operate on.
Larger costs on PV equipment such as support structures and cables.
Thin-film solar cells tend to degrade faster than mono or polycrystalline solar cells.

Key Takeaway

Solar panels are excellent in generating energy and cutting down electricity costs, but there is a right type of solar cell for different situations. When buying solar cells, you must make sure to consider all of your concerns, such as budget and location, in order to avoid wasting precious time and resources.