Dyesol is positioning itself to revolutionise the solar photovoltaics (PV) industry by making available an innovative but still largely uncommercialised PV technology: the Dye Solar Cell (DSC). DSC is a 3rd generation solar PV technology that uses a ‘sandwich’ of materials to mimic the photosynthetic process of plants in order to create electricity from sunlight. It has numerous applications, including Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) and portable PV.

Non silicon-based solar power?

Silicon PV cell structure and the photovoltaic effect. (Image: Creative Commons via Wikipedia.)

Conventional solar PV

Although dominated by conventional silicon-based solar panels, there are also a number of non-silicon solar PV technologies (usually used in thin-film PV) available on the market, but most function in a way similar to silicon-based modules: light strikes a semiconductor substrate with contains a positive-negative (p-n) junction, and electrons are jostled into moving through it, then flowing into an electroconductive material (such as aluminium) to produce harnessable DC electricity.

DSC Solar Cell Technology Diagram (Image Via Dyesol)

Dyesol’s Dye-based solar PV

DSC technology, on the other hand, in the place of a dense film or substrate semiconductor, incorporates a triple layer of nano-particulate titania (Titanium Dioxide, used as a pigment in paints and, rather oddly, toothpaste), a long-life dye, and an electrolyte. The first layer is a nanotechnology material, while the latter two work to emulate the natural photosynthetic process that occurs in the leaves of plants. The end result is that sunlight is converted into electricity as opposed to being trapped in sugars, as happens in plants. The ‘bread’ of Dyesol’s material sandwich takes the form of two electroconductive materials–one transparent on the light-facing surface, and another acting as a substrate behind the cell. These lead the electricity out of the cell to whatever its end use may be.

Key Advantages of Dyesol solar PV technologies

-Simpler production processes mean lower cost than conventional silicon-based PV technologies, as well as lower embodied energy in manufacture

-Can be applied like a film to the surface of a number of different substrates, including conventional building materials

-Can replace conventional glass panels and windows in buildings instead of taking up roof space

-Can be produced in a variety of different colours, for flexibility in building design

-Produces electricity even in low-light, real world conditions including cloudy and hazy days, dappled lights, dawn and dusk

-Avoids the use of expensive raw materials and has no toxic emissions

-In 2008 saw peak conversion efficiencies of up to 11% (sunlight to electricity) in laboratory conditions (comparable or greater than peak efficiencies for many other thin-film solar PV materials)

To whom are Dyesol materials and technology available?

Dyesol’s DSC materials are available for purchase in the Dyesol online shop for academics and others learning about the technology. Concurrently, Dyesol is working with key multinational companies to bring DSC integrated products to the mass market in a variety of applications, including in steel roofing and glass windows. Projects are currently underway with Tata Steel, one of the world’s largest steel producers and with Pilkington North America, one of the world’s largest glass makers. Dyesol is a truly global company with headquarters, laboratory and engineering facilities in Queanbeyan, NSW (recently visited by Australian PM Julia Gillard) and operations in Italy, the UK, Japan, and South Korea, among other countries.

Dyesol’s bold vision: grid price parity in the UK

At least for the near-term future, it seems that conventional solar PV modules are likely to remain the most readily available and cost-effective option for roof-top retrofit residential solar installations. Meanwhile, however, Dysol is pushing the envelope in its efforts to commercialise DSC, and in a joint demonstration project with Tata Steel in the UK, has made an explicit goal of ensuring that the electricity produced by its modules is competitive with that produced by the electrical grid, thereby eliminating reliance on the UK’s feed-in tariff for economic viability.

This is an impressive goal, especially considering that most solar PV installation companies in the UK are trying to come to grips with the recent, premature slashing of these very government incentives–many forecasting a kind of solar Armageddon. Should Dyesol achieve its goal, there will likely be repercussions for the entire solar PV industry. As the whole point of subsidisation of renewables is to enable competitiveness with fossil fuel generation, solar electricity at grid prices could completely transform the way that solar PV is seen as a renewable energy source, and possibly even shape the future trajectory of subsidisation for solar PV–doubtless much to the ire of Dyesol’s competitors.

© 2011 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

Solarwatt is a solar photovoltaic (solar PV) module maker based in Dresden, Germany. In addition to standard solar modules, the company also provides off-grid solar and building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) solutions.

What are the advantages of building-integrated photovoltaics?

Solarwatt BIPV Easy-In Roofing solar panels on a commercial building in Germany. (Photo via Solarwatt.)

BIPV is a fast-growing section of the solar photovoltaics (PV) industry in both Australia and around the world. In addition to the power generation benefits that standard solar PV arrays afford those who install them, high-quality BIPV installations also improve the overall energy efficiency of a building, and the associated cost savings.

Although initially more expensive than ordinary roof-mounted solar panel arrays, for those who were considering installing solar anyhow, BIPV modules can reduce construction and renovation costs; BIPV acts as a seamless substitute for conventional building materials, as well as cutting down on the labour costs associated with solar system installation and roof construction/replacement. More benefits may be found in a well-designed BIPV component’s potential to reduce a building’s operational costs by acting as a form of insulation. For all these reasons, when considering going solar in the context of the entire working lifespan of a building, BIPV can be an attractive option and a good investment for your home.

Solarwatt Easy-In BIPV modules

Solarwatt BIPV Easy-In Solar Panels (black) blend seamlessly into a standard roof. (Photo via Solarwatt.)

Solarwatt’s Easy-In modules are high-performance monocrystalline solar panels (up to 19% efficiency using the most tried-and-tested solar PV technology commercial available) that also serve as a weather-proof roofing material. Installation is simple and intuitive–they attach directly to roof battens, slot together with tongue-and-groove joints, and no additional mounting system is required. A passive ventilation system behind the panels means that heat build-up is minimised, allowing for better performance than conventional frame-mounted panels. Easy-In modules are available with either natural-coloured aluminium or sleek, all-black frames (top image).

Interested in BIPV? Although Solarwatt Easy-In modules are not yet available in Australia, other BIPV solutions are. Request a Solar Quote Comparison by filling out the form to the right of the screen. Solar Choice provides free, impartial advice and comparisons of solar PV system prices, components, and installers Australia-wide.

Resources and links:

Solarwatt Website (All images via Solarwatt)

Solar Choice now has its own electric vehicle–the first of its kind ordered and purchased in Australia. The Mitsubishi i MiEV (“Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle”), will be parked and charging its batteries in the evening in Manly, NSW when it is not being used on official Solar Choice business. Those living in Sydney will be able to see Solar Choice’s new wheels cruising around the city. In addition to being CO2 emissions-free, the i MiEV is also noise-free: Although its decals and odd shape make it hard to miss when it drives past on the street, the vehicle makes virtually no sound while in operation, proving disconcerting for driver and pedestrians alike.

The first 100% Electric Vehicle in Australia produced for the mass market

Solar Choice Mitsubishi i Miev

The above claim to having ‘Australia’s first 100% electric vehicle’ does come with some qualification: Solar Choice’s i MiEV is the first volume-produced Electric Vehicle (EV) ordered and sold on Australian soil. Although other models of EVs (such as the high-end Tesla roadster) have already arrived in Australia, the i MiEV is the first EV on the Australian market that has been mass produced and is relatively affordable. At around $50k AUD, it isn’t as cost-competitive as a many cars on the market (although the price will doubtless come down as EVs become more common), but the car offers significant savings on the cost of fuel. i-MiEV owners will save hundreds or thousands of dollars in petrol per year, as the vehicle can be charged overnight on off-peak rates of 6c/kWh, totalling less than $1, on which the vehicle can be driven for up to 160km.

Features of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Solar Choice EV at Ocean Care Day 2011 in Manly, NSW. (Photo credit: Robynne Millward of Manly Environment Centre.)

The i MiEV has a number of features that make it innovative and allow it to be emissions-free while driving. The most vaunted of these features are the following:

-High-capacity, high-energy density litium-ion batteries means versatility in fuel sources. Having batteries instead of a fuel tank means that electricity is drawn from the electrical grid. In Australia, this of course means that power is ultimately sourced from fossil fuels (i.e. coal), but even taking this into account, the i MiEV only produces 30% of the emissions of a standard petrol-powered car of the same size. What’s more the electricity that charges its batteries need not necessarily come from the grid–if the car is charged using only a solar car port, or during the day at a home with large solar power array, for instance, then the electricity powering the car will be totally CO2 emissions-free.

Mitsubishi i MiEV electric vehicle charging station. (Image from http://global.ev-life.com/.)

-A 3-way battery charging system: two slow-charge modes (100V and 200V, 7-14 hours charge time) which can be accessed via any conventional home or car park power point, and one fast-charge mode which can have the ‘tank’ 80% full in 30 minutes using a specialised EV charger not yet widely available in Australia.

-Unusual chassis layout: The i MiEV is the 100% electricity-powered version of the Mitsubishi i, the company’s innovative and popular ‘minicar’ with an unusual ‘rear-midship’ design–its engine sits underneath the rear seat of the car, as opposed to in the front under the bonnet. This feature of the i’s design made it ideal for the placement of the batteries required to power the EV version’s electric engine. The fact that the i MiEV’s engine is powered by its battery as opposed to petrol allows it to be much smaller than it would be with otherwise–conveniently leaving room for all the parts that cannot be found in conventional automobiles–an inverter, a charger, and the battery bank.

-A small, high-efficiency motor that takes up much less space–and provides more torque–than a petrol-fired engine of comparable size. The i MiEV has surprisingly good pick-up for car with such a small engine!

A dial above the spedometer on the i MiEV's dashboard indicates when the car is using deceleration power to charge the engine. (Image from http://global.ev-life.com/.)

-Regenerative charging: The i MiEV’s re-channels the power produced in rolling downhill and braking to charge the car’s battery. The energy produced during long descents, for instance, can be seen on a ‘power meter’ on the car’s dashboard.

Are Electric Vehicles the future of personal transportation?

Solar Choice’s EV may be one of the first of its kind on the road in Australia, but as production capacity and demand for similar vehicles increases globally, they will undoubtedly cease to garner much attention. Much like the Toyota Prius petrol-electric hybrid went from head-turner to commonplace since its introduction in 1997, emission-free cars like the i MiEV, in an ideal world, will become a common sight. In fact, Chevrolet/Holden, Ford, and Nissan, plus a handful of other companies all have EV models in their product lines.

City of Sydney Solar Powered Electric Car (Photo: Minnie Bye)

In addition to replacing fossil fuel-based automobiles from the road, EVs could potentially revolutionise the way that electricity is stored and distributed in the grid, and make the relatively erratic nature of renewable energy production harnessable–if there were thousands or millions of EVs in operation in a nation, resting cars’ batteries could be used as a repository for electricity produced from solar power systems, and owners could be paid for the electricity drawn from their cars’ batteries into the grid at peak demand times. Technology like this is still a long way off, and will require a fair amount of forward-planning by governments and/or private grid owners–so let’s not hold our breath. Some private enterprises are already looking into ways to make this vision a reality: as we have written previously, developing grid infrastructure to accommodate renewables is one of the aims of companies like Better Place.

The Solar Choice team around the new i MiEV electric vehicle

Written by James Martin

Solar Choice Analyst

© 2011 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

Resources and Links:

Mitsubishi’s i MiEV portal page

See the article about Solar Choice’s new ride in the Manly Daily.

Related Solar Choice blog articles: Ford and Sunpower team up for Solar EV charging stations, Better Place: Electric Vehicle Charging Stations : Solar-Powered Carports

SMA Sunny Boy 2100TL inverters, part of SMA’s transformerless inverter range, are now available in Australia. The vast majority of the solar installers in the Solar Choice installer network offer SMA products as a primary or standard option in their installations, and the addition of the 200TL will allow increased flexibility and options in system design. What are the features and specs of the SMA Sunny Boy 2100TL?

SMA Sunny Boy 2100TL transformerless inverters for 2kW solar systems

With a maximum input wattage of 2200W (Watt, or 2.2 kilowatt (kW)), the Sunny Boy 2100TL is a great option for those who are looking to install a 2kW solar panel array with all the benefits of a transformerless inverter. What are the features of the features of the Sunny Boy 2100TL?

Benefits of 2100TL solar inverters

-Peak (maximum) efficiency of 96%–ranked highest efficiency and most competitive among solar inverters in the 2.0-2.1kW power class. This higher efficiency means faster payback periods on your solar system.

-Designed and developed in Germany especially for the Australian market in response to demand for small residential solar power systems across the country.

-Broad input voltage range–between 125 and 600V, offering more flexibility in solar panel arrangement. The input voltage is the voltage that comes out of your solar panel array. Your array’s output voltage will vary depending on the arrangement of ‘strings’ of panels in the array.

-Optional communication interfaces (wireless or via cables), so that you can monitor the performance of your system and identify and deal with issues quickly.

-Flexibility in choice of solar panels and system size.

-Sunclix DC connection system for easy, safe installation. Using Sunclix also means that fewer cables required in each installation.

-Lightweight and easy to install.

Is the Sunny Boy 2100TL right for you? Contact a Solar Choice Solar Energy Broker to discuss your needs and options–we have a network of installers across Australia who offer a range of components for solar power systems. Solar Choice offers impartial advice on solar power systems, at no cost to the customer. 

Written by James Martin

Solar Choice Analyst

© 2011 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

Sources and Links:

SMA Australia

Previous related Solar Choice blog entries: Transformerless vs conventional inverters - Sunny Boy visits Solar Choice

The world record for solar panel efficiency goes to SunPower‘s solar panels: 24% cell efficiency (sunlight  –> usable electricity in laboratory conditions) and 19.6% conversion efficiency (sunlight –> usable electricity in real-life conditions) with the SunPower E19 / 320W solar modules. SunPower prides itself in its hard-earned reputation for world-leading technology and excellent customer service. SunPower panels are commonly used in residential solar, building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV), commercial solar, and utility-scale solar installations.

(Interested in finding out more about SunPower solar modules? Get a free comparison of solar quotes from installers in your area, anywhere in Australia and talk to one of our brokers about whether SunPower is the best option for you.)

SunPower Solar Panels: World-leading 19-20% efficiency

-SunPower monocrystalline solar panels: E19 and E20 series-

Monocrystalline solar cells have a reputation as the most efficient kind of solar photovoltaic (PV) cell, and the first query from many Solar Choice and Solar Selections customers is, “Are monocrystalline solar panels better than polycrystalline solar panels?” In the Solar Choice blog we have previously discussed the issue of efficiency and solar technology, and pointed out that more important than efficiency or technology type is the quality of the brand of solar PV panel in question. The question of durability, quality, and the credibility of the manufacturer trump nominal efficiency every time. (Solar Selections also has an excellent article about the importance of efficiency in choosing your solar panels.) The technology utilised in SunPower’s monocrystalline solar panels does indeed enable high efficiencies, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that all monocrystalline panels can reach such high efficiencies–in fact, the average is more in the range of 14-16%.

E19 and E20 are SunPower’s signature lines of solar panels use monocrystalline silicon technology. Their names stand for their nominal efficiencies–19% and 20%, respectively. These numbers are the highest that can be found on the solar panel market, and it is only with care and precision in design and engineering that SunPower was able to achieve these impressive figures. The company takes pride in its accomplishments, and has a reputation that is hard-won and well-earned.

-SunPower E19 and E20: Key Attributes and Points of Difference-

-SunPower E19 and E20 lines for solar and residential solar power-

SunPower E19 series - Industry-leading 19% efficiency

SunPower’s E19 series solar panels 238 watt (W), 72-cell panels, while the E20 series is available in either a 327-W, 72-cell panel, or a 333W, 96-cell panel. The 72-cell panels are generally used in residential solar applications, while the 96-cell panels are more likely to be used in large-scale commercial applications.

-As noted above, SunPower panels have the highest efficiencies of any solar photovoltaic panels on the market. This means up to 50% more power per unit area than you would expect to get from conventional designs. This in turn means reduced installation costs because fewer panels are required to get the same amount of power.

-Dependable, sturdy design means you can count on your panels continuing to operate over the years through all types of weather. Tempered front glass over the PV cells and an anodised alloy frame mean that the units will be slow to corrode or degrade.

-Transformerless inverter compatibility means that SunPower panels can be used with the solar inverters with the highest efficiency: A winning combination.

-Positive Power Tolerance of +5% for E20 modules: Some solar panels have a power tolerance of +3%/-3%, which means that the panels you install may actually have a lower output than their nameplate capacity. With SunPower’s E20 series, the nominal capacity is guaranteed to be met or exceeded. (E19 panels have a tolerance of +5%/-3%.)

-10 year limited product warranty, 25 year limited performance warranty.

-Product Specifications/Electrical Characteristics-

SunPower E20 series solar panel datasheet (pdf)

SunPower E19 318W solar panel datasheet (pdf)

SunPower E19 238W solar panel datasheet (pdf)

You can see how SunPower panels compare to a number of other name brand panels on the Desert Knowledge Australia website, an invaluable resource for those shopping around for solar panels.

-SunPower Technology: What is Maxeon cell technology?-

SunPower Maxeon solar cell technology. Unlike conventional cells (which use busbars), electricity is collected at the rear of each cell, thereby maximising surface area for sunlight collection.

Maxeon is SunPower’s patented solar cell technology that enables the company’s reputation for world-leading efficiency. Most crystalline solar cell technologies have metal busbars–strips of electronically conductive material–that sit on the face of each solar cell. Instead of having such busbars, electricity generated when SunPower panels capture photons from the sun is transferred to a conductive plate at the rear of each cell. This means that more of each cell’s surface area is used in the capture of sunlight, which in turn means higher efficiency.

Another feature which has enabled SunPower to make the headway that it has with its panel efficiency is the way that individual cells are shaped. They can be tiled closely within the solar module frames, which means a greater number in a smaller area. SunPower panels also employ an anti-reflective glass which helps to trap in sunlight and maximise power output.

-Other Information about SunPower Panels-

-Other products by SunPower-

SunPower also has an E18 series panel, which has efficiencies of around 18%.

Ford Motor Co and SunPower recently formed a strategic partnership to offer photovoltaic carport charging stations for electric vehicles.

-Component standards met/awards-

-All E19 series SunPower solar panels are certified by the Clean Energy Council (CEC) of Australia, and are on the list of CEC-approved components

-PV Cycle– SunPower participates in PV Cycle’s voluntary take-back PV recycling program

-CE mark– SunPower panels are compliant with European Union regulations

-TUV Certification means that claims made by SunPower about their solar panel specs have been independently verified by TUVRhineland

-Warranty-

25 year solar cell performance warranty

10 year workmanship warranty

(Your installer may also offer additional warranties for the entire system.)

Read about solar panel and solar system warranties.

-About SunPower-

-Company Headquarters-

Global Head Office: San Jose, California, USA

Australian Head Office: Belmont, Western Australia

-Factory locations-

Malaysia and the Phillipines

-History in the Solar Industry-

SunPower is one of the oldest players in the solar power industry, starting around 25 years ago. Founder Dr Richard Swanson first conceived of the company during the 1970s oil crisis. Later, in the mid-1980s, when a professor of electrical engineering at Stanford University, SunPower was incorporated after Swanson won grants from the US Department of Energy to research solar power and secured financial backing from venture capitalists. By the mid-1990s, SunPower had installed 10 megawatts of capacity in various locations through the US and Europe. SunPower panels can now be found around the world.

Written by James Martin

Solar Energy Analyst for Solar Choice

© 2011 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

Sources and links:

SunPower Australia Homepage (Images and brochures from here)

Previous related Solar Choice articles: SunPower and Ford form strategic partnership: Electric Vehicles and Solar-Powered Car Ports - Solar Panels and Solar Modules - Questions to ask when considering buying a solar power system - Which solar panels are right for you? - Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) - Desert Knowledge Solar Centre solar panel comparisons - Solar Panel Tilt and Orientation in Australia

Nev and Linda Sweeney have been living on their 500-square-meter suburban plot in Sydney’s St Clair Suburb since the early 1980s, and have been trying to live sustainably using the resources on their land for almost just as long. Their approach includes innovative energy generation and efficiency strategies (including off-grid as well as grid-connected solar panel arrays), a permaculture-style integrated food production system, and an army of low- or zero- energy input cooking devices including at least 2 different types of solar ovens.

I visited the Sweeney’s residence for Sustainable House Day 2011 ostensibly as a volunteer, although,  due to the irregular flow of visitors throughout the day, I felt more like a guest. Through talking to them and seeing their home in action, I gained an understanding of some of the challenges and successes that they have experienced  in their drive to transition to self-reliance over the past 3 decades. Their adventure has required a lot of innovation, experimentation, and trial-and-error, but the home has through this process reached its own equilibrium of inputs and outputs, and the couple has become something of a model for how sustainability can work in practice on a suburban plot.

Chokoes are vigorously-growing vine fruits that taste like cucumbers but have the texture of carrots. They grow like mad over the Sweeneys' orange tree.

Harnessing the power of the sun: solar panels and solar cookers

The property is a showcase of innovations related to resource flow–most notably the Sweeney’s impressively well-integrated food production system which produces, among broad beans, eggs and many other edibles, 40 to 50 kilograms of chokoes per year. The most interesting aspects of the home for the purposes of this article, however, are the parts that utilise the power of the sun to reduce the home’s energy use–solar panels and solar cookers.

Solar Panel Arrays: Off-grid solar and Grid-connected solar

The Sweeneys' 1kW grid-connected solar array, visible on their roof above their fruit trees in the back yard.

Nev and Linda have probably one of the only homes in Sydney that has both a grid-connected solar array as well as an off-grid array. The older of the two is the off-grid system, which Nev installed to power only certain appliances in the home–most notably a number of re-wired lights that run directly off the DC electricity produced by photovoltaics (PV) array and its associated battery bank (which has now been replaced twice). It began 25 years ago when Nev installed a round-celled BP Solarex solar panel and the first set of batteries. The next addition to the system came 17 years ago when Nev added another panel to the array, and the last addition when Nev inherited 4 x 80W panels from his brother. The overall output isn’t easily quantifiable in watts, but the voltage of the array is 12V, which is enough to keep the battery bank charged and operating. The batteries supply a good part of the electrical needs of the house.

The Sweeneys' off-grid solar system, located on garage roof. The batteries and inverter are kept in the garage.

In addition to Nev’s hand-assembled array, the roof of the house is also home to a professionally-installed 1kW grid-connected solar power array. This array was installed on the roof of the house when Australia’s solar power incentives were at the height of the frenzy–a high ($40) REC/STC price from the federal government and a 60c/kWh gross solar feed-in tariff from the NSW government under the now defunct Solar Bonus Scheme. Although the Sweeneys saw little actual need for the array, especially with one of their own already up and functioning, the decision to have the panels installed was a financially obvious one, and the up-front cost was relatively insubstantial for the returns they can expect from it over the life of its operation.

Cooking with the sun: Solar ovens and more

Cooking a lamb roast in one of the solar ovens in the Sweeney's back yard. It needs to be rotated to point towards the sun, but can work even on cool days.

In addition to using the sun to generate electricity, the Sweeneys also use solar energy to cook their food. On Sustainable house day, their yard was full of different models of home-made solar cookers, one of which was quite impressively in the process of preparing a lamb roast for

'No-tech' Solar power oven, made out of cardboard, aluminium foil, and other household materials.

dinner. The oven works even on cold days, albeit slightly more slowly than on hot ones. There are about five different ovens and other cooking and food-drying devices that Nev and Linda have assembled and use regularly in preparing their meals. For those interested in assembling their own solar ovens, you can learn more on SolarCooking.org.

———–

Are you a New South Wales resident interested in going solar to offset your electricity bills? Solar Choice offers free, impartial advice and Solar Quote Comparisons: Our goal is to help you find the system that best suits your needs. 

Want to know more about Solar Power in New South Wales first? The following articles might be of interest to you:

- 30c/kWh Feed-in Tariff offered to NSW customers through a Solar Choice Network Installers

- Is solar right for you in NSW?

- Solar Power reaching grid price parity in parts of NSW

Written by James Martin

You’re interesting in bringing your home into the 21st century by going solar. Great. This is not likely a decision that you’ll make lightly. Calculating what size solar system your household needs and deciding which type of panels are right for you will at some point involve looking at what electricity pricing and billing options are available to you through the different retailers that operate in your area. Not only do they charge different rates for the electricity that you consume; retailers also offer different feed-in tariff rates for the solar-generated electricity that you feed back into the grid. What resources are available to you?

(Get a free solar power quote comparison from installers in your state or territory!)

Electricity prices are rising! How can you save money at home?

Electricity prices are on the rise across Australia, for a number of reasons. Recently, in NSW, for example the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal made a recommendation to the state government to increase the price of electricity by up to 18.1%–these price rises have already come into effect and are being felt throughout the state. Ordinary ratepayers are looking for ways to trim their bills, from cutting back on electricity usage, using more electricity on off-peak periods, or by finding retailers that charge them less money per kilowatt hour used. Solar power systems, whose prices have come down significantly in the past 3 years, are also being eyed more and more frequently as viable means of saving money by generating one’s own power.

Retail electricity price comparison services throughout Australia

Solar Choice helps customers by providing free, impartial advice about solar power systems and installers. Similarly, a number of electricity price comparison services have appeared online to help ratepayers decide on an electricity retailer. Below is a list of some of these sites:

Energywatch.com.au

GoSwitch.com.au

MakeItCheaper.com.au

ShopAround.com.au

Lower rates or change your behaviour?

Remember that changing your behaviour to try to reduce your electricity consumption is usually the smartest–although admittedly the hardest–way to save money on electricity.

Q-Cells solar modules are some of the most innovative and reliable solar systems in the world; the Germany company believes that “Claiming Leadership Means Proving It”, and the “Q” in the company’s name boldly stands for ‘quality’. A number of features of Q-Cells’ solar panels (including their Q.Pro G-2 and Q.Smart panels) support their claim to leadership, most notably the fact that they produce the most efficient thin-film solar cells (Q.Smart cells) in the world, and among the most efficient polycrystalline cells in the world.

(Get a free comparison of solar quotes from installers in your area, anywhere in Australia.)

Q-Cells: high-efficiency solar panels

-Q-Cells Q.Smart CIGS thin-film and Q.Pro G-2 polycrystalline solar panels-

Thin-film solar cells are generally known as the less-efficient cousin of crystalline silicon cells. Typically, crystalline modules have module efficiencies (input sunlight to output electricity) ranging  between 12 and 15% (although a few companies have achieved significantly higher.) Crystalline silicon solar cells are therefore the technology that is used in most frequently in residential solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. 

Although Q-Cells also manufactures some of the highest-efficiency polycrystalline solar panels in the world (at up to 15% module efficiency) in their Q.Pro series, their achievement in managing to manufacture Q.Smart CIGS thin-film modules with efficiencies of up to 13%–where the industry average for thin-film cells tends to be around 9 – 11%.

-Q.Smart and Q.Pro G-2: Key Attributes and Points of Difference-

-Q.Pro G-2 230-250 Solar Panels for residential solar-

Q-Cells Q.Pro polycrystalline solar panels

Q-Cells QPro Anti Hotspotting protection

Efficiency is not the only or necessarily even the most important factor in when deciding which solar panels are right for you, but perhaps because it is the easiest number to point to, it understandably tends to be the first figure that gets a potential solar owner’s attention. There are in fact a number of questions to ask when considering buying a solar power system, and ‘How efficient is this solar panel?’ is just one of them. First of all, nameplate efficiency may not reflect the efficiency of the system over the course of its lifetime, and secondly, provided you’ve got plentiful space in which to mount your panels, efficiency is almost always trumped by dependability. It’s therefore also integral to consider what sort of solar warranty is on offer, the size and reputability of the manufacturer, the panel’s performance in the climatic conditions of your area (e.g. is it hot? often cloudy?) What makes Q-Cells’ technologies stand out?

The ‘G-2′ in the Q.Pro name stands for ‘Generation 2′. These polycrystalline solar panels have a number of characteristics that make them stand out in the extremely competitive Australian market.

-Q.Pro panels utilise Anti-PID (Potential-induced Degradation) technology, which eliminates efficiency losses that typically occur in the first few months of operation of a solar array due to voltage differences between active layer of the cells and the frame.

Q-Cells Q.Pro Performance Warranty

-Q-Cells’ Hot-Spot Protect (HSP) quality control measures ensure high levels of performance and safety. Invisible defects in solar cells can result in a ‘hot-spotting’ effect, in which the cells heat up in partial shading conditions, causing power loss and potentially even module fires.

-The first traceable and forgery-proof solar modules available on the market. Q-Cells’ Tra.Q technology also enables detailed monitoring and analysis of solar module performance; this makes for effective troubleshooting as well as solar system integration and design.

-25-year performance warranty that guarantees output of no less than 83% the nominal capacity of the module at the 25 year mark, with no more than 0.6% module performance decrease per year. No other companies offer such a specific performance assurance.

-Q.Smart Solar Panels for residential, commercial, facade, and BIPV applications-

Q-Cells Q.Smart thin-film solar panels (available with or without frames)

-Thin-film CIGS solar cell technology integrated into modules in such a way as to guarantee some of the highest efficiencies in the thin-film solar PV industry–up to 15%.

-360-degree efficiency for high efficiency on all roof orientations. Thanks to the nature of the CIGS technology and Q-Cells engineering, Q.Smart panels perform well even at sub-optimal tilt angles and orientations, unlike most crystalline modules, which suffer significant efficiency reductions as their angles

QCells QSmart Thin Film Solar Module Warranty Structure

-Relatively small module size, in combination with the 360-degree efficiency mentioned above, make Q.Smart panels a great choice for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV).

-Aesthetically appealing, uniform black colour. Modules are available with or without frames.

-One of the best warranties in the industry. Graduated warranties extend of 25 years, guaranteeing no more than 0.7% productivity decreases per year, bottoming out at 85% nameplate capacity by year 25.

-Positive power sorting and the light-soaking effect mean that Q.Smart panels can provide an additional power output of up to 15% once the solar array is installed.

-Manufactured at Q-Cell’s manufacturing facility in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany.

 

-Product Specifications/Electrical Characteristics-

Q.Smart Datasheet

Q.Pro Datasheet

You can compare how Q-cells Q.Pro and Q.Smart panels compare to a number of other name brand panels on the Desert Knowledge Australia website, an invaluable resource for those shopping around for solar panels.

 

-Other products by Q-Cells-

Q-Cells offers a wide range of solar panels beyond just the Q.Pro and Q.Smart lines, for residential, commercial solar, and building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) applications. You can see the full catalogue of Q-Cells solar module products on the Q-Cells module profile page.

 

-Component standards met/awards-

-All models of Q-Cells solar panels are certified by the Clean Energy Council (CEC) of Australia, and are on the list of CEC-approved components

-PV Cycle– Q-cells participates in PV Cycle’s voluntary take-back PV recycling program

-CE mark– Q-Cells panels are compliant with European Union regulations

 

-Warranty-

25 year linear performance warranty

5 – 10 year workmanship warranty

(Your installer may also offer additional warranties for the entire system.)

Read about solar panel and solar system warranties.

About Q-Cells

-Company Headquarters-

Global head office: Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany

Oceania head office: Level 2, 56 Berry St, Sydney NSW

 

-Factory locations-

Q.Smart panels are manufactured in Bitterfeld-Wolfen, Germany.

Q.Pro G-2 panels are manufactured in Malaysia

 

-History in the Solar Industry-

Q-Cells was formed in 1999 and has been producing solar PV panels since 2001, making it among the most experienced solar PV manufacturers in the world.

Written by James Martin

Solar Choice Analyst

© 2011 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

 

 

Sources and links:

Q-Cells Homepage

Previous related Solar Choice articles: Solar Panels and Solar Modules - Questions to ask when considering buying a solar power system - Which solar panels are right for you? - Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) - Desert Knowledge Solar Centre solar panel comparisons - Solar Panel Tilt and Orientation in Australia

Conergy manufactures 3 lines of monocrystalline solar power modules: PowerPlus, P 170-185M series, and SR05-170. This article will focus mainly the PowerPlus series.

Conergy PowerPlus Series Solar Panels: German-made reliability

Conergy PowerPlus Solar Panels

-PowerPlus Solar Panels-

Conergy PowerPlus panels are manufactured in Germany

German engineering has a reputation for efficiency and precision. Conergy uses PowerPlus solar modules’ German manufacturing origins to their marketing advantage. The manufacturing process is fully automated, using state-of the art technology that ensures high, consistent panel outputs and reduces production costs in a country with one of the highest costs of living in the world.

-PowerPlus Solar Module Key Attributes and Points of Difference-

-Fully automated production line ensures consistently high output from panels

-3 busbars (as opposed to the usual 2) per cell for more usable electricity from captured sunshine

-Special 4mm low reflection structured solar glass means more captured sunlight
+0-2.5% positive power tolerance means reliable production from time of purchase (compared to an industry standard of +/-3%)

-One of very few global manufacturers certified to pass the IEC (61707) Salt Mist Test–PowerPlus panel frames are well-suited for coastal areas where salt corrosion can be a persistent problem.

-Product Specifications/Electrical Characteristics-

Conergy PowerPlus Solar Module Series Specifications

-Component standards met/awards-

All three models of Conergy panels are certified by the Clean Energy Council (CEC) of Australia, and are on the list of CEC-approved components.

-Warranty-

-5 year product warranty (extendable to 10 years on request)
-12 year warranted power output of 92% of nominal power
-25 year warranted power output of 80% of nominal power

-Other products by Conergy-

In addition to the PowerPlus line, Conergy manufactures two lines of solar panels under license and under strict quality control at factories in China.

Conergy P 170/180M

Designed for a wide range of applications, panels from this line are available in rated capacities of 170W, 175W or 180W, with a power tolerance of ± 3%. These panels are physically smaller than PowerPlus panels–1580 x 808 x 45mm, making them slightly more versatile where space is tight.

Conergy SR05-170

These panels may be the most cost-effective Conergy solar panel for large solar PV (photovoltaic) systems. SR05-170 panels are available only in the 170W module, and have a power tolerance of ±5%.

Other solar system components

In addition to solar modules, Conergy also produces a wide array of components for solar power systems, including inverters, batteries for stand-alone power systems, and mounting systems.

About Conergy

-Company Headquarters-

Frankfurt, Germany

-History in the Industry-

Conergy Pty Ltd (founded in 2005) is the Australian subsidiary of Germany’s Conergy AG (founded in 1998). This puts Conergy amongst the oldest players in the world solar power industry.

Solar Choice is a solar installation comparison service: we don’t undertake our own solar array installations, but we do offer free independent solar quote comparisons of what’s on offer from trusted solar system installers nationally. Our installers may use components from different manufacturers, and if you’re new to solar power installations, you will probably want to know what distinguishes one company’s panels, inverters, batteries, and other system parts from those of their competitors. This article is one of a series written to help you make an informed decision about purchasing your solar power system.

Written by James Martin

Analyst

© 2011 Solar Choice Pty Ltd

Sources and Links:

Conergy Solar Australia Homepage