The latest Suntech 250W Solar panels are excellent value.
They have a panel tolerance of + 0 - 5%, compared with 0 - 10% for the Sanyo HITS.
They are well made, have an excellent warranty, outperform Sanyo Hits in low light conditions but not bright sunlight, where Sanyo hits outperform Suntechs by 12-25% dependent on conditions. If your roof is small, money is no object and you want to optimise generation capacity and pay a 40-55% premium on your system installation costs go for Sanyo Hits.
If your roof can accomodate larger solar panels and generate sufficient capacity for your requirements, go for a cheaper high quality alternative i.e Suntech, Samsung, Rec, Bosch or alternative.
Sanyo HIT's come into their own on clear bright blue sky sunny days.
Then they kick the preverbial a**, outperforming Suntechs by 20-25%.
When cloudy or partially cloudy days return and the light conditions are less favourable, Suntechs come into their own and outperform the Sanyo Hit's clawing back their numerical gains obtained in favourable conditions.
Early research has shown that Sanyo Hit's are likely to generate 15-20% more energy than Suntechs in many parts of mainland UK. If I lived in Scotland, I wouldn't be buying Sanyo HIT's unless my roof was small and I wanted to maximise annual generation capacity by 15-20%.
Conversly, if I lived in Cornwall would I buy Sanyo HIT's?.
Yes, If I was happy paying a 40-55% premium on my system for a 15-20% gain in power on current market prices.
The only time to do that would be on a small roof with limited space when you absolutely need to generate extra energy.
Economically it doesn't make sense to buy Sanyo HITS over a 25 year period if space isn't limited.
Hopefully in future the solar markets obsession with Sanyo HIT's will diminish and their price will reduce to more sensible levels. I personally would buy Sanyo HITS in the UK if roof space wasn't limited, if their panel prices reduced by 20 - 25 % on current market levels because they are a good product.
Hopefully Panasonics recent aquisition of Sanyo will make their Solar business more efficient and price competitive.
Suntech are the largest solar manufacturer in the world who make 1 in 10 of every solar panels sold.
Suntech Solar Panel Manufacturing Facility:
Suntech Power: How Suntech Photovoltaic Cells and Modules are Made (English Version) - YouTube
Video On How Solar Panels Are Made:
h**p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CT2mHD53wqQ
Before people get hung up on what panels they buy, they should be asking more important questions like?
What orientation is my house- how close to due South am I and if I am not how will that affect the generation output I can achieve?
What is the inclination of my roof?
30 Degrees is ideal. If your roof is shallower or steeper, your ability to generate energy will be affected.
How does shading affect my roof?
If your system is affected by shade you need to make sure your system is properly designed with the right inverters, accomodating the correct number of solar strings etc.
Shade on a few panels can cause the whole system to generate less average power unless the system is designed
to optimise overall generation.
Solar edge with individual microinverters under the solar panels is effective in shady conditions, as well as roofs
with multiple orientations and strings.
How efficient is the Solar Inverter when combined with the Solar Panels chosen and the specific design of the system?
Is it Transformerless and more efficient at 96- 97% or less efficient and a high frequency transformer at 94% with the benefit of galvanic isolation (AC and DC are permanently isolated from one another by the transformer).
% quoted above are for SMA inverters.
How much power does your chosen Solar Inverter use at night while on standby? 0.5W or 1W or more.
Will your chosen inverters be easy to monitor using the internet or will you have to buy expensive monitors
to keep an eye on its performance?
How good a warranty will the inverter have?
Solar Edge - 12 years.
SMA - 5 years.
Their are many questions to ask depending on your individual requirements before taking the solar plunge.
Dont rush into any decision you make, do your homework before getting a solar salesman round.
Get quotes from many solar installers.
Do research on the company you've chosen- Are they a member of REA, so when you hand them a deposit and they go bankrupt you will get it back.
If you cant afford to loose the deposit or any money paid to the company if they went bankrupt, pay for the installation on your credit card at a 2.5% charge. Your credit card insurance will cover you.
NB: Before the Scaffolders arrive to install your solar system, have you checked with your Home insurers regarding liability for any accidents?
Are the Solar installers MCS acredited-- No Fits if they are not!
Do they have public liability insurance for their workers in case one falls off the roof, or through it?
Once the system is installed- Have you told your House Insurers that you've got a solar system on the roof and asked them to include it in your Buildings insurance?
Hope the above is of some use to anyone considering solar out there.
