In Dimatech Costa del Sol we also install solar panels, we are a company of electricians who also install and want to offer this type of product in high demand and booming at a good price and with a product quality at the highest level. Today I want to share some information with all our followers to have a better idea of how this world works, what kind of solar panels are better, what brands are the most leading, what guarantees offer different brands and what kind of savings we can get with the installation of solar panels. Today where prices are skyrocketing due to the war and rising prices of Gas and Oil is more than ever ideal for this type of investment, which, although it requires an initial investment, is ultimately a great benefit in the bill and a complete amortization of the investment in 3-5 years on average with an average cost of about 7000 € per installation for about 4kw.

For everyone to understand us, installing solar panels is similar to installing LED lights, in principle you have to make an investment, but then it is very profitable and pays for itself very quickly.

Main certifications that the best solar panels must have by 2022

When choosing photovoltaic panels for a self-consumption installation, the quality certifications obtained are one of the most valued aspects. Below, we will give a brief overview of the main standards applied to solar panels to demonstrate their power, durability and safety. These are part of the seals that the best solar panels must have in 2022.

IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission)

The IEC, or International Electrotechnical Commission, is a global, not-for-profit organization whose function is to maintain the quality infrastructure and international trade in electrical and electronic products. IEC has advocates in more than 170 countries and provides a global, neutral and independent standardization platform for 20,000 experts worldwide. IEC International Standards cover the entire energy chain, from generation to use. It includes the evaluation of electrical and electronic devices, equipment and systems used in industry as well as in the public and private sectors.

In particular, IEC standards verify the technical and electrical qualities of solar panels and other components of photovoltaic systems. For this verification, their certifications are based on identical technical standards for all manufacturers. It should be noted that the IEC does not directly certify equipment, but establishes the standards to be applied by certification bodies when assessing the quality of a given product. The IEC standards for solar panels are:

IEC 61215

This standard establishes the requirements for assessing the design and approval of crystalline silicon flat photovoltaic modules for terrestrial use. That is, those that are suitable for operation in outdoor environments for a long time, both monocrystalline and polycrystalline.

IEC 61701

This is the standard applied to photovoltaic panels to test their resistance to salt spray corrosion. For this purpose, the standard establishes six levels and, to obtain the sixth level, the panels must pass tests in the most extreme conditions. This is particularly important for installations located in coastal areas.

IEC 62716

This is the test category to determine the degree of resistance to corrosion by dissolved ammonia (NH3) in humid environments. Specifically, it is a standard applied to panels for poultry and livestock facilities.

IEC 61730

IEC 61730 sets out the IEC requirements for terrestrial photovoltaic modules limited to a maximum direct current system voltage of 1,500 V. More specifically, to those of crystalline silicon or thin film. The standard provides for the evaluation of the quality of the panel construction. But it also provides for the assessment of its electrical, mechanical, thermal and fire resistance safety.

CE marking

The CE mark is an indispensable and very necessary requirement for all types of photovoltaic components that want to be marketed in the 27 countries of the European Union. This also includes Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Norway and Turkey, which are part of the European Economic Area. In reality, this seal is a generic designation applied to almost all products sold in Europe. When an article displays the Conformité Européenne (CE) certification, it indicates that its design and manufacture comply with European Union directives and regulations.

In this regard, for a solar panel brand to receive the CE mark, its modules must pass an intensive program of electrical and mechanical tests. These tests include electromagnetic interference with other electrical devices. Other consumer-oriented requirements must also be met: labeling, translation of technical documentation into the local language, etc. All this, in order to comply with EU quality, safety and environmental regulations. Seen in this way, the best solar panels in 2022 must have the CE mark.

TÜV Rheinland certification for the best solar panels in 2022

In certain cases, certifications such as the CE mark may require the support of independent institutions with the capacity to guarantee that a brand of photovoltaic panels complies with European regulations. This is where entities such as TÜV Rheinland come in. The latter brings together a group of independent laboratories, companies and institutions specialized in quality processes for technological equipment. However, the German Technical Inspection Organization (TÜV) also provides its own quality certification on an individual basis. Today, this is one of the most prestigious endorsements in the market among equipment manufacturers and distributors.

Consequently, TÜV Rheinland applies quality assurance measures on photovoltaic panels that cover a very broad spectrum. Often, its standards are stricter than those of the aforementioned IEC

PERC technology (Passivated Emitter Rear Cell)

To be precise, PERC is not a certification but a technology used to improve the efficiency of solar cells. It consists of capturing additional photons without modifying the normal operation of a solar cell. We should try to install this type of technology.

To make a PERC solar panel, the manufacturer uses standard monocrystalline silicon cells and adds a passivation layer on the back side. This area is designed to reflect photons through the silicon layer. The cells then go through a micro-etching process, either with lasers or chemicals, to cut the passivation layer. In this way, subsequent contacts will be able to reach it. Finally, a dielectric protection layer is placed on top of the passivation layer in order to insulate the solar cell.

PERC technology allows each cell to produce slightly more electricity than conventional cells. The maximum efficiency of PERC panels is around 23%, compared to 21% for common monocrystalline silicon panels.

That said, the mastery of the described technology and its inclusion in the characteristics of its solar panels is an endorsement of the companies that develop it.

Tier-1 solar panels

Surprisingly, Tier-1 or Level 1 is not exactly a certification based on technical tests such as those of IEC or TÜV Rheinland. It is merely a designation awarded by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) to companies with a long track record and recognition. As pragmatic as it may sound, the key condition considered by BNEF for its ranking of PV companies is their ability to pay. Other strict inclusion criteria follow from this:

Key features that the best solar panels should offer in 2022

Apart from certifications and rankings there are other basic criteria to identify a good brand of solar panels. For your convenience, you can access such data in the product specifications on the websites of the different brands. These aspects are:

Power rating

First of all, you will see the rated power of the plate expressed in Watts or watts. The number of watts indicates the maximum power output that the module could produce under ideal sunlight and temperature conditions. The most common panels offer power ratings between 250 and 550 watts.

Of course, higher power panels would be the most convenient options. Not only because you would need fewer modules to cover the energy demand of a house, building or business, but also because they offer higher efficiency. However, higher power modules also tend to be relatively more expensive.

Efficiency

When we talk about the efficiency of a photovoltaic module, we refer to the percentage of solar irradiation received by the surface of a panel that is effectively converted into electricity. In this aspect, the most recent technological advances have allowed an increase in the conversion efficiency of a panel from 15% to more than 20%.

This made it possible to increase the power rating of a standard module from 250 W to 370 W, and then up to ranges exceeding 550 W.

The efficiency of the solar panel is influenced by several factors, the most important of which are:

-The design of the cell and the type of silicon used in its manufacture (monocrystalline or polycrystalline).

-The overall efficiency of the module, which is variable according to its design, electrical configuration and size.

There are three technologies for the manufacture of solar panels, based on the type of silicon used:

a-Monocrystalline, high purity, which provides the highest efficiency rates in solar panels, up to 21% and slightly higher.

b-Polycrystalline, i.e., composed of different fragments of the fused silicon crystal. The efficiency of panels made with this silicon is around 15%.

c-Thin film, which combines silicon with other materials such as copper selenide, cadmium telluride (CdTe), amorphous silicon (a-Si), indium and gallium (CIGS). These types of plates are flexible and adaptable to different surfaces, but do not provide more than 7% efficiency.

A fourth technology would be PERC, which we explained earlier.

Warranties

The best solar panel brands in 2022 are able to guarantee their products in several aspects. The most common ones are:

Maintenance of efficiency and production for at least 25 years.

Replacement of the panel in case of failure or damage attributable to the manufacturer.

You should keep in mind that most solar panels are very durable. Even so, you should verify that the ones you select for your photovoltaic installation are adapted to the climatic conditions of the place where you live. At this point, make sure you choose modules that meet the IEC 61215 standard, which involves passing an accelerated outdoor stress test, as we explained.

Top 10 Best Solar Panel Brands in 2022 (Tier 1)

According to the most recent Tier 1 ranking, of the top ten solar panel brands, eight are Asian and two are North American. As mentioned above, the BNEF Tier 1 is a financially focused index. Without detracting from this, we will briefly review the profile of the companies in its Top 10 to learn about some of the products and values that support their leadership.

1. LONGi (China)

LONGi is a leader in solar technology, supplying more than 30 GW of solar wafers and panels per year globally. It began operations in 2000 and is headquartered in Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. As of today, it has assets of more than US$14.206 billion. Its P-type PERC technology modules achieved a world record efficiency of 24.06%.

2. Jinko Solar

JinkoSolar (NYSE: JKS) is another of the world's largest solar module leaders. By 2020, its integrated annual capacity reached 20 GW in monocrystalline wafers, 11 GW in solar cells and 25 GW in solar modules. It is headquartered in Shanghai, China, and began operations in 2006. Together with LONGi, Canadian Solar, JA Solar, Trina Solar, Hanwha Q-Cells and Yingli, it forms the Silicon Module Super League, a sextet of major PV module suppliers. The panels in its Tiger line offer the following features:

Model Power Efficiency

Tiger 475 W 21.16% 21.16

3. JA Solar

This company is headquartered in Beijing, China, and was founded in 2005. According to its website, JA SOLAR owns the PERC patent and supplies almost 50% of these modules to industry leaders. It manufactures both monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon panels. Among its recent innovations is the 545 W, 72-cell Deep Blue 3.0 solar panel with an efficiency of more than 23%.

4. Canadian Solar

As its name suggests, this organization is headquartered in Guelph, Canada, and was founded in 2001. Its products reach more than 160 countries. To date, they have delivered the equivalent of more than 63 GW of solar panels. One of their most recent launches is the BiHiKu7 Bifacial dual module with PERC technology. In its two versions it provides a front-end power range of 635 to 660 W and 575 to 600 W, respectively.

5. Risen

Risen Energy Co., Ltd. is a Chinese state-owned company, headquartered in Ningbo and founded in 1986. For this reason, it is considered one of the pioneers in the solar industry. Its products include the monocrystalline PERC module Titan 40, with 120 cells, a power range of 385 to 405 Wp and 21.1% efficiency. It also has low current density technology that effectively reduces internal energy consumption.

   6.Q-Cells (South Korea)

Founded in Germany (1999) Q-Cells is an international company with headquarters in Seoul, South Korea and Thalheim, Germany. Currently, it has production facilities in Korea, Malaysia, China and the USA... One of its product highlights is the Q. PEAK DUO ML-G9, high-density, with a rated power of 370 to 390 Wp and maximum efficiency of 20.8%.

7. Trina Solar

Trina Solar has been operating since 1997 and is headquartered in Changzhou, China. It was the first company to obtain UL Certification for the Test Data Program (CTDP). This has enabled it to conduct cutting-edge research and set several world records in solar panel power output and silicon cell efficiency. In June 2021, its 210 mm Vertex PERC P-type 210 mm module achieved 23.03% aperture efficiency.

8. First Solar

It is the only U.S. company in this top 10. First Solar was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Tempe, Arizona. It also has production facilities in the United States, Germany and Malaysia. In essence, it produces thin-film photovoltaic panels, using less energy, water and semiconductor material. This gives it the best environmental profile in the industry. Incidentally, its 6 Series features modules from 430 to 460 watts and 440 to 470 watts of power, with up to 18.6% and 18.7% efficiency.

9. Talesun

Talesun Solar is a Chinese subsidiary of Zhongli Group, founded in 2010. Its products include BIPRO TD8G66M 12BB, monocrystalline, 132-cell photovoltaic modules with a power range of 645 to 665 W and maximum efficiency of 21.4%.

10. EGing PV

EGing PV was founded in 2003 and is based in Jiangsu, China. Its solar panels have obtained IEC 61215, IEC 61730, CB, CE, TÜV, UL, MCS and JET certifications. They have also achieved other certifications such as SO 9001, ISO 14001, OHSAS 18001 and QC 080000.

Do you need advice for your photovoltaic self-consumption installation? CALL US 624407083

In the next article we will talk about the subsidies offered by the Junta de Andalucía in collaboration with the Spanish government and the European Union. Let's say in advance that having funds available we can get up to 600€ per kw installed, saving approximately 30% of the total cost of installation.

www.dimatech.es we provide electrical installation services of all types in Marbella, San Pedro de Alcántara, Estepona, Riviera, Calahonda and Sotogrande.