Best Solar Panels 2020
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. Out of all the companies currently making solar panels, here are some of the top names most often associated with the best solar panels on the market:
What makes a good solar panel?
Warranties:
A solar panel has 2 warranties, a product and performance warranty that protects the customer for panel reliability and production output. A solar panel’s product warranty insurance covers the integrity of the panel itself and protects you against problems such as manufacturing defects, environmental issues, premature wear and tear etc. The performance warranty guarantees the total solar production of your system. If the system as a whole isn’t producing as it should, due to poor installation, poor placement of the system, or abnormal weather conditions during that time frame, the performance warranty kicks in.
Based only on the longest equipment warranties available from solar companies, here are the best solar panel manufacturers:
- LG (25 years)
- Panasonic (25 years)
- Silfab (25 years)
- Solaria (25 years)
- SunPower (25 years)
- Q CELLS (25 years)
- REC Group (25 years)
- Mission Solar (25 years)
- Axitec (25 years)
- Certainteed Solar (25 years)
Efficiency:
A solar panel’s efficiency rating refers to the amount of sunlight the panel can convert into usable energy. 14-22% is an acceptable efficiency range for panels produced by major manufacturers. Based only on maximum module efficiency, here are the top five manufacturers that make the best solar panels:
- SunPower (22.8%)
- LG (22.0%)
- REC Solar (21.7%)
- CSUN (21.2%)
- Solaria (20.5%)
Temperature Coefficient:
The impact temperature has on true panel output is the temperature coefficient. The coefficient measures how much efficiency is lost for each degree above or below ideal test conditions. Based only on the lowest temperature coefficient available in a panel, here are the top four best solar panel manufacturers:
- Panasonic (-0.26)
- REC Group (-0.26)
- Solartech Universal (-0.26)
- SunPower (-0.29)
- LG (-0.30)
What are the best solar panels on the market in 2020?
There are many solar panels available to purchase and install. Out of all the companies currently making solar panels, here are some of the top names most often associated with the best solar panels on the market:
- SunPower
- LG
- Panasonic
- Silfab
- Q CELLS
- Canadian Solar
- JinkoSolar
- Trina Solar
- REC Solar
But how can you determine which of the top companies’ panel models offer the right combination of price and quality for your needs? You will need to consider your own unique needs and budgets. Choose the company that is trustworthy and compare the quotes from multiple pros to get the best price possible.
As like other big purchases, shopping for solar panel installation takes a lot of research and consideration, including a thorough review of the companies in your area. A recent report by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recommended that consumers compare as many solar options as possible to avoid paying inflated prices offered by the large installers in the solar industry. Finding the right contractors could lower your installation cost by as high as 10%. Try to make sure you get at least 3 quotes from different contractors before you decide to begin your project.
