Most Efficient Solar Panels Of 2023 (Guide). Sunpower maxeon 3 425 * KYOKUSHO.COM

Most Efficient Solar Panels Of 2023 (Guide)

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Installing the solar panels for your home is an excellent way to conserve energy and lower utility bills. However, it’s important to understand the differences in the fabrication of solar panels in order to choose the most efficient solar panels for your commercial or residential installation. For those looking to install solar at home, we’ve searched for and found the best solar companies for consideration.

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How Efficient Are Solar Panels?

The efficiency of solar panels is determined by the amount of sunlight reflected on the panels’ surface, which is then transformed into electrical or thermal energy. Previously, the average efficiency was around 15%, but thanks to advancements in photovoltaic technology, the efficiency of solar panels is currently between 15% and 22%. High-efficiency panels can even reach nearly 23%. As a result, 370W is the typical power rating of a panel, an improvement from 250W. Two factors go into determining solar panel efficiency: photovoltaic (PV) cell efficiency and total panel efficiency.

Panel Efficiency

PV cell efficiency comes as the result of the cell design and silicon type, while cell layout and configuration along with the solar panel size are the basis for total panel efficiency.

Cell Efficiency

Total panel efficiency is determined by the maximum power rating under standard test conditions divided by the total area of the panels (in meters).

Most Efficient Solar Panels

While the most efficient readily available panels all share efficiency percentages above 20%, Canadian Solar’s HiHero series panels are tied with SunPower for the highest efficiency rating at 22.80% under optimal conditions.

However, the Canadian Solar HiHero 445 H-AG solar panel has a temperature coefficient of 0.26%. Compared to SunPower’s coefficient of 0.29%, the HiHero edges out its competition when the temperature rises over 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

Canadian Solar	HiHero High Efficiency Heterojunction (HJT) Cell Module	445H-AG	-0.26	22.80%
SunPower	420-440W Residential AC Module	M-Series: M440	-0.29	22.80%
Q Cells	Q.Peak Duo Blk ML-G10	£410.00	-0.27	20.90%
REC Solar	REC Alpha Pure-R	REC430AA PURE-R	-0.26	22.30%
Panasonic Solar	EverVolt™ Series	EVPV410H	-0.26	22.20%
Silfab	SILFAB Elite	SIL. 380 BK	0.38	21.40%
Residential panels with data correct as of April 2023

Canadian Solar

Canadian Solar offers consumers ten solar panel model series. Its lineup of HiKu Mono PERC panels on one end of the spectrum provides up to 425 watts at 20.9% efficiency, while at the other end, the company’s BiHiKu7 models start at 580 watts and continue through six more wattages to reach a whopping 610 watts.

However, the company’s most efficient solar panel is its HiHero 445 H-AG model, which features a 445-watt capacity at a 22.8% efficiency rating and a 0.26% coefficient rating.

SunPower

SunPower offers three lines of residential panels along with components and energy storage systems. The company’s M series solar panels consist of five models that range in efficiency from 21.7% in the M420 model to the highest in our review, the M440, with a 22.8% rating.

SunPower’s two other series are the X and U lines. The X lineup uses the company’s own Maxeon technology and ranges from 21.2% to 22.7% in efficiency. The U series is SunPower’s most recent budget-friendly addition that steers away from using Maxeon panels but still comes with similar warranty protections.

Q Cells

Q Cell’s residential panel selection includes several models in the Q-Peak Duo BLK ML-G10 and the Q-Peak Duo BLK-G10 lines. The BLK-G10 series features panels that range from 350W to 370W with efficiency ratings from 19.5% to 20.6%.

The ML-G10 is Q Cell’s most recent lineup featuring higher watt ratings and slightly higher efficiency. Panels in the series include a 385W model with 19.6% efficiency and five more models. The most powerful one in the series is a 410-watt panel with 20.9% maximum efficiency and a temperature coefficient of 0.27%.

REC Solar

REC Solar provides five solar panel series to choose from—Starting with its 360W to 375W N-Peak 2 series and increasing in wattage capacity through each series. Its most powerful and efficient panel is the company’s Alpha Pure-R, featuring 430 watts of power rated at 22.3% efficiency with a coefficiency percentage of 0.26.

Panasonic Solar

Among numerous industries that Panasonic is involved in, the company offers a selection of 15-panel models in six series variations in its solar energy sector. The collection, called Evervolt, consists of residential solar panels with watt ratings from 350 to 410.

The highest wattage Evervolt H Series Solar Module offers 410 watts with a 22.20% efficiency rating and a 0.26% temperature coefficient.

Silfab Solar

Silfab’s solar panel offerings include two residential series, Silfab Prime and Silfab Elite. Models available in both series have efficiency ratings topping out at 21.4%. The company’s most powerful panel, the SIL-410 BG churns out up to 410 watts with a coefficiency rating of 0.377%

How You Can Check Solar Panel Efficiency

Monitoring your solar panels’ performance and efficiencies allows you to compare calculations to keep an eye out for panel degradation, or notice sudden drops in efficiency that could indicate a problem with the system.

To calculate the efficiency of an individual panel, you’ll need to measure the surface dimensions and determine the total production area in meters squared. You’ll also need the current power production amount in kilowatts.

There are several ways to determine the kilowatt output. If you’re looking for the panel’s potential, simply use the panel watt rating for the calculation and divide by 1,000. For more accurate testing, take the wattage number from your solar meter or use a multimeter to measure volts and amps. Multiply the two results to arrive at the total watts. Divide the watts by 1,000 to reach the kW measurement.

With those two numbers, divide the panel output by the total area of the solar panel surface in square meters. Multiply the result by 100. The total is your current efficiency rating of the panels you’re testing.

For example, a solar panel that measures 182 cm by 106 cm has a surface area of 1.82 m x 1.06 m or 1.93 square meters. If the panel is producing 400 watts or 0.40 kW. Dividing 0.40 by 1.93 equals 0.207. Multiply by 100 for an efficiency reading of 20.7%.

Efficiency by Solar Panel Type

There are three types of solar panels that are most often used in commercial or residential installations: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film. Here is a brief explanation of each, as well as for what applications they are most useful:

Monocrystalline

Monocrystalline panels are often touted as the most efficient option and are often installed for larger energy systems in commercial and residential properties. However, panel sizes do vary; therefore, monocrystalline can be used in smaller installations as well.

Pros

Made out of silicon with a high purity rating, boosting their efficiency to 15% to 23%
Don’t require as much space as polycrystalline and thin-film panels
Monocrystalline panels can last upwards of 25 years due to the stable and inert properties of the silicon

Cons

Price point is high because of their complex construction
Not a good choice for cold-weather climates, as snowfall can damage the solar cells and cause the system to fail.

Monocrystalline brands: SunPower, LG, and Panasonic

Polycrystalline

Like the name suggests, polycrystalline panels are constructed from multiple pure silicon crystals that are melted together. crystals aren’t always better, though. Polycrystalline panels are actually less efficient than their monocrystalline counterparts. They are, however, made in a variety of power settings ranging from 5W to 250W and higher, making them a good choice for both small and large-scale installations.

Pros

Process to create them is simpler, so they are less expensive than monocrystalline
Less waste after the melting process, making them better for the environment
Durable and long-lasting, just like monocrystalline solar panels, so they are a good choice for budget-minded homeowners

Cons

Lower efficiency (13% to 17%) because the silicon used to make them is lower in purity.
Take up more space to produce the same level of power as that of monocrystalline cells.

Polycrystalline brands: TrinaSolar and YingliSolar

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Thin-Film

Though they are lightweight and easy to move, thin-film PV cells—which are not made of silicon—are the least efficient type of solar panel. Use them only for installation that won’t need to produce too much power; flexibility and portability are the two top factors with these.

Pros

Easier and less expensive to produce
Excellent for solar transportation applications, such as panels that are installed on bus rooftops and refrigeration for cold-storage trucks

Cons

Not a good choice for rooftops, as they require a large space to harness enough solar power for energy output.
Weaker so they break down more quickly than crystalline panels. Only short warranties are available for thin-film panel installations, which is something homeowners especially should consider depending on how long they plan to stay in their homes.

Thin-film brands: Stion and Solopower

Factors That Impact Solar Efficiency

Several things can affect panels’ efficiencies, such as the type of solar panel, the inverter efficiency, thermal cycling, etc. Here are some factors to consider before purchasing a solar panel system:

Solar Panel Types

When figuring out which type of solar panel is right for your home, the first thing to do is to get acquainted with each type, its construction and its efficiency:

Monocrystalline: The most popular and most efficient type of panels, monocrystalline solar panels, are popular amongst residences and businesses. They are made of individual pure silicon crystal and can generate between 300 and 400 (sometimes even more) watts of power each.
Polycrystalline: Polycrystalline panels are made from several pieces of silicon that are separated into fragments and melted together. They are slightly less expensive but also less efficient than monocrystalline solar panels.
Thin-Film: Thin-film solar panels can be made of three different materials: Amorphous Silicon (a-Si), Cadium Telluride (CdTe) and Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS). Each type of thin-film solar panel is less expensive than both crystalline panels but is also less efficient.

Sunlight Hours

While solar panels can generate electricity in various light conditions, even on cloudy days, their efficiency rates drop dramatically during hours with little light available. Generally, about four hours per day of direct sunlight is necessary to achieve the optimum performance of your solar panel array.

However, during the remaining daylight hours, when sunshine is present but not direct, your solar panels can still generate substantial electrical power. The same is true of overcast days.

The total number of hours of any kind of sunlight per day directly affects the overall efficiency of your panels in the short term. There are no long-term effects to solar panels that don’t receive an optimal amount of sunlight daily.

Inverter Efficiency

The inverter is what converts general Direct Current (DC) to Alternating Current (AC) electricity, which is what your home runs on. Most inverter’s conversion efficiency is around 97% to 99%, so the energy loss is relatively minor.

Temperature Coefficient

Solar panel efficiency ratings are measured and recorded under laboratory conditions called Standard Test Conditions or STC. The lab conditions include measurements taken at 25 degrees Celsius (77F). The temperature coefficient rating for solar panels measures the percentage of the panel’s efficiency loss when its surface rises above that temperature.

For each degree Celcius that the panel’s temperature rises above 25, the panel’s efficiency will lessen by the coefficient rating percentage.

For example, SunPower’s most powerful solar panel, the M440 produces a maximum output of 440 watts under ideal conditions at 25 degrees Celsius. Its efficiency rating at that temperature is 22.8%. The panel has a temperature coefficient rating of 0.29%.

When the panel temperature increases by 10 degrees Celsius (50F), which isn’t uncommon under hot sunlight, its efficiency will decrease by 2.9%, meaning its overall efficiency drops below 20%. Essentially, it produces less power when it’s hot.

Damp Heat

Solar panel damp heat testing puts a subject solar panel through a rigorous test in which it’s sealed in a chamber kept at 85 degrees Celsius and 85% humidity for 1,000 hours. The test aims to recreate and accelerate the harsh conditions that the product will experience over several years of direct exposure to the elements.

While damp heat testing doesn’t directly measure the effects of weather on a panel’s efficiency, the process tests the unit’s integrity related to delamination and corrosion, which, in turn, affect the panel’s overall efficiency.

Thermal Cycling

Thermal cycling tests your solar panel to see if it can withstand a wide temperature range. Solar panel components can expand and contract during Thermal Cycling, which may affect their efficiency.

Solar Panel Orientation

South-facing roofs are ideal for generating electricity with solar panels. West-facing roofs are the next best option, and east-facing roofs are next. If you have a north-facing roof, you may want to reconsider. West and east-facing panels will generate up to 15% less energy than a south-facing array while north-facing panels can lose as much as 20%.

Identifying the prime installation angle towards the sun is essential to optimize solar panel performance. The exact angle degree varies based on latitude but generally lands between 30 and 45 degrees. The installation angle affects how much time per day the panel receives direct sunlight.

The installation angle is most impactful during winter when the sun is lower on the horizon. Correct orientation and angle during winter can yield around 50% more energy than panels installed without the same consideration.

Environmental Factors That Impact Solar Efficiency

In addition to the typical factors, your environment is also something to consider before purchasing a solar panel system. Environmental factors such as average temperature, weather conditions and even dust and dirt build-up also impact solar efficiency.

Temperature

Solar panels work best at about 77°F, with peak efficiency between 59°F and 95°F. However, when the surface temperature of your solar panels gets higher than 149°F, solar panel efficiency can decline.

Color

The color of the back sheet that protects the panels can also affect efficiency. For example, while black might look more attractive for a protective back sheet, the color absorbs more heat. This results in higher temperatures and, therefore, a reduction in the total conversion efficiency, so other colors like dark blue, green or even patterns might be a better option for your solar panels.

Extreme Weather Conditions

Anything that stands between the sun and your solar panels reduces the amount of solar energy your system produces. Therefore, extreme weather conditions such as snow, wind, rain and hail can potentially affect your solar panel’s efficiency.

Since snow accumulates onto the surface of your solar panels, the sun cannot penetrate the panels, which will ultimately affect the efficiency of your system.

Since the wind could potentially cool your solar panels down, the wind can make them more efficient as long as the sun is still shining on them.

Rain does not affect your solar panel efficiency; however, rain clouds could affect how much sun reaches them. However, constant rainstorms help keep layers of dirt and dust from covering the panels and blocking the light, which could decrease solar energy production.

Unlike snow and rain, a hail storm can present slight problems for your solar panels. Although solar panels have been tested to withstand hail-like conditions, there is a chance of solar panel damage from a hail storm.

Dust and Grime Build Up

As time passes, your solar panels are bound to have some dust and grime build up due to the elements. If there is a layer of dust and grime on your solar panels, the sun will not be able to effectively reach the panels, causing a lapse in efficiency until the panels are cleaned.

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Why Is Solar Panel Efficiency Important?

Solar panel efficiency is measured by the percentage of sunlight that hits your panel and is converted into usable electricity. Therefore, efficiency is most important when roof space is limited.

For instance, if you have limited roof space and cannot fit as many solar panels on your roof as you would like, it may make sense to pay more to install higher-efficiency panels to absorb as much sunlight as possible.

However, lower-efficiency panels will produce the same energy as high-efficiency ones, but they’ll require more to do so and more space. Therefore, lower-efficiency panels can cover your electricity use and help you save money if you have the space to house them.

The amount of power a panel with 15% efficiency can create can be as much as 100 watts less than a panel of the same size that can achieve 22% efficiency. In an average residential solar setup, the home could require up to eight additional 15% solar panels to generate the same power as 20 units at 22%.

Why Aren’t Solar Panels 100% Efficient?

A panel with 100% efficiency can transform all the light that hits the panel into electrical energy. However, since solar panels cannot absorb energy from the entire solar spectrum, they cannot convert sunlight into electricity with 100% efficiency. Specific wavelengths of light are reflected off the solar panels or lost altogether.

What to Consider When Installing Solar Power Panels

Cost

Solar panels can be costly upfront, which is why many homeowners do not take the decision to go solar lightly. The Center for Sustainable Energy reports that the installation can cost, on average, between 15,000 and 25,000. Polycrystalline solar panels are considered the most cost-effective choice in solar panel installations, but it depends on the type of panels and how many are needed for installation.

While your initial investment in solar panels can be recouped over the years, it might take longer for you to see back your money based on a number of factors, including energy usage and weather conditions; the latter might affect solar panel functionality.

Location

Solar-powered energy, not surprisingly, is more efficient in places where there is more sun exposure. Residential and commercial buildings in Southern California, for example, would likely reap the benefits of solar power more so than those in the cloudy Pacific Northwest. Still, even places that aren’t the sunniest can benefit from solar power, as cooler temperatures will cause the panels to create more power.

Energy Usage

If your energy bills are high, then it makes sense to install solar panels to reduce costs and to earn back the initial investment over time. However, if your energy usage is minimal, solar panel installation might not be worth the expense. It is also important to note that top efficiency is only achieved in top conditions and only at the beginning of the panel’s lifetime of use. As the solar panels age and are exposed to the elements, they will begin to perform less efficiently.

Solar Installation Companies

The company you choose to install your solar energy system is a crucial decision. While some installers use several solar panel and component manufacturers, many install just one or two brands. Ensure the installation company you choose is willing to install the solar panel brand of your choice and can service the system when necessary.

Solar Incentives

The federal residential solar tax credit allows homeowners to deduct 30% of the cost of their installed solar energy system from their taxable income for the year. However, that’s just one of several incentives that may be available depending on your location. Look for local, state and regional incentives as well. Your solar installation company should be well-versed in helping you discover these benefits.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the highest efficiency solar panel?

Currently, the highest recorded solar panel efficiency rating took place in a lab and is rumored to have reached over 40% efficiency. However, in more practical conditions, the most highly efficient solar panels available to homeowners is Canadian Solar’s HiHero 445 H-AG model.

What is the most efficient type of solar panel?

Monocrystalline solar panels are often considered the most efficient solar panel option. Therefore, they are typically installed for larger energy systems in commercial and residential properties.

How does increased energy efficiency benefit you?

Increased energy efficiency in solar panels has several benefits for homeowners.

Potentially fewer solar panels to purchase and maintain
Highly efficient solar panels produce more power in direct and indirect sunlight.

What solar panel type has the highest efficiency?

Monocrystalline solar panels are often considered the most efficient solar panel option. Therefore, they are typically installed for larger energy systems in commercial and residential properties.

How many solar panels do you need?

With a home of roughly 1500 square feet, it is estimated that 15 to 18 solar panels will be needed.

Can you DIY a solar panel installation?

It’s tempting to save money and install solar panels yourself, especially if you have numerous successful DIY projects under your belt. But installing solar panels is a project that is best left to the pros. Depending on the type of panel you choose, installation might require complex configurations that are otherwise difficult to install correctly without the training experience.

Additionally, professional installation might be required to uphold the warranty. As with many projects, getting a professional to install a solar energy system means that it will be done right the first time so that you can begin reaping the benefits of it immediately.

How long will it take to recoup the cost of solar panels?

This answer will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the initial expense of the solar panel system, the amount of energy incentives and electricity usage. On average, though, it takes homeowners six to 10 years to recoup their initial investment.

How long do solar panels last?

Solar panels have an average lifespan of 25 to 30 years. However, they can last as many as 50 years. The longevity of solar panels depends on the weather conditions where they are installed, as snow, wind and debris from storms can affect their operation.

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Que valent les panneaux solaires Maxeon Sunpower ?

Les panneaux solaires Maxeon Sunpower promettent tout un tas de performances inégalées. Dans ce guide, découvrez tous les détails sur cette gamme.

Maxeon Sunpower : des panneaux solaires ultraperformants

En lisant ce guide, vous saurez quel panneau Maxeon correspond à ce qu’il vous faut.

Mais commençons tout de suite par comprendre d’où vient cette marque Sunpower.

Sunpower : Une marque innovante depuis toujours

Dans les années 70, Richard Swanson, professeur d’université, est très intrigué par le prototype de cellules photovoltaïques de la Nasa.

Il entame alors des années de recherche sur le sujet. Son objectif était simple : faire de l’énergie solaire une alternative pérenne et accessible au pétrole. Et c’est chose faite, puisque 15 ans après, en 1985, il obtient des cellules photovoltaïques à faible coût de production. Il lance alors son entreprise SunPower à la Silicon Valley pour commercialiser cette technologie.

En 2007, la marque lance la gamme Maxeon avec le rendement le plus élevé du secteur. Ce sont d’ailleurs les premiers modules à dépasser les 20%.

Aujourd’hui, SunPower ne cessent d’innover et de rendre leurs modules toujours plus performants en diversifiant leurs différentes gammes. Ils sont d’ailleurs arrivés, après 5 générations de cellules Maxeon, aux deux modèles actuels : Le maxeon 3 DC et 6 AC. Je vous en parle tout de suite.

Les panneaux solaires Maxeon Sunpower

Comme je vous le disais, les panneaux solaires Maxeon sont un concentré d’innovation :

En éliminant la plupart des causes de défaillance des cellules classiques, ces panneaux restent performants tout au long de leur vie.

Avec le meilleur rendement du marché, les modules procurent 30% d’énergie supplémentaire par rapport aux panneaux conventionnels (à surface égale).
Ils offrent une fiabilité 4 fois supérieure à celle de panneaux classiques grâce au taux de dégradation le plus faible du marché. Le classement 2021 PVEL PV Module Reliability Scorecard les a d’ailleurs reconnus comme les plus fiables du marché.

Ils bénéficient d’une durée de vie utile de 40 ans avec une garantie de 40 ans également, soit la plus longue du marché.

Voyons en détail la performance des deux modèles.

Maxeon 3 DC

Idéales pour une installation solaire résidentielle, les panneaux Maxeon 3 DC promettent jusqu’à 22,7% de rendement.

Ils sont constitués d’une technologie de verre trempé haute transmission avec une couche antireflet.

En plus de ça, les modules Maxeon 3 DC sont les premiers panneaux solaires à avoir été labellisés et certifiés environnementalement pour :

Pour aller plus loin, voici les caractéristiques de la gamme 3 DC :

Maxeon 6 AC

Le produit Maxeon 6 AC va encore un peu plus loin niveau performance avec un rendement allant jusqu’à 22,8%.

Le petit plus de ce produit est qu’il intègre un micro-onduleur Enphase à ses panneaux. Chaque panneau fonctionne donc indépendamment les uns des autres.

Garantis25 ans
Équipés d’une enveloppe double isolation et d’un boîtier polymère résistant à la corrosion.

Dernière petite particularité, ces panneaux 6 AC peuvent supporter des grêlons de 25 mm de diamètre.

Je vous laisse maintenant avec leurs caractéristiques :

Ça y est, ce guide touche à sa fin et vous savez maintenant tout sur les panneaux solaires Maxeon Sunpower.

Faisons maintenant un rapide récapitulatif de ces deux modèles.

Panneaux solaires Maxeon Sunpower : Lequel choisir ?

Les panneaux solaires Maxeon sont les panneaux solaires les plus puissants du marché. Ils sont donc un très bon choix pour votre installation photovoltaïque.

Concernant les performances, les deux modèles ne sont pas si différents que ça. Les principales différences entre les deux modèles résident dans :

La présence du micro-onduleur intégré dans le Maxeon 6 AC
La taille et le poids : Le Maxeon 6 un peu plus lourd et plus grand que le Maxeon 3
Les cellules : Le Maxeon 6 possède moins de cellules mais elles plus sont puissantes (6ème génération)
La puissance proposée : Si vous souhaitez un panneau de moins de 400w, seul le Maxeon 6 est disponible
Le prix : Le Maxeon 6 est évidemment plus cher.

Vous pouvez donc faire votre choix en fonction de vos besoins (plus de puissance, plus de budget, …).

Ce guide est maintenant terminé. Si vous avez une question sur un projet d’installation photovoltaïque ou autre, n’hésitez pas à me la poser en commentaire. J’y répondrai avec plaisir.

SunPower zonnepanelen

SunPower is een Amerikaanse producent van zonnepanelen en zonnecellen, met hoofdkantoor in San Jose, Californië. Het werd opgericht in 1985, en speelt al vele jaren een pioniersrol op de markt van de zonne-energie. Als leverancier voor ondermeer de NASA heeft het door de jaren heen een sterke reputatie opgebouwd bij zowel particulieren als bedrijven.

SunPower brengt voornamelijk zonnepanelen op de markt op basis van monokristallijne zonnecellen. De zonnepanelen behalen een rendement die tot de hoogste op de markt behoort. Sommige van SunPowers zonnepanelen kunnen zelfs een rendement boven 20% halen, wat geen enkele andere producent op de zonnepanelenmarkt hen nadoet.

De zonnepanelen die SunPower maakt behoren tot de beste die momenteel op de markt te verkrijgen zijn. Enkel SpectroLab schiet geregeld nog efficiëntere zonnepanelen de ruimte in, maar indien je op zoek bent naar zonnepanelen om op je dak te leggen, dan is SunPower nauwelijks te kloppen.

De prijs van SunPower zonnepanelen

SunPower zonnepanelen zijn dus onder de beste die op de markt te verkrijgen zijn, maar zeker niet de goedkoopste. De modules van SunPower zijn merkelijk duurder, zelfs veel duurder dan andere Tier 1 zonnepanelen.

Het is misschien wel het enige grote nadeel van SunPower zonnepanelen: de hoge prijs.

Laten we eens uitzoeken of SunPower zonnepanelen die hoge prijs wel waard zijn.

SunPower is één van de 30-tal merken die zich onder de Tier 1 merken mag rekenen. Tier 1 merken zijn de Champions League onder de zonnepanelen, de topmerken die hun producten van start tot finish zelf produceren aan een hoge kwaliteit. Zo’n 80% van de Tier 1 zonnepanelen wordt geproduceerd in China, en wordt verkocht in Europa aan een relatief gelijke prijs per wattpiek. Dit zijn de ‘Standard Tier 1’ zonnepanelen. Voorbeelden van Tier 1 merken zijn Trina Solar, Renesola, Jinko Solar, JA Solar en Canadian Solar.

Wil je nog een trapje hoger qua kwaliteit en duurzaamheid, dan kom je bij de ‘Premium Tier 1’ zonnepanelen uit. Hier zitten merken als LG, Q-Cells, Solarworld, REC en Winaico. Hun prijs ligt zo’n 30% hoger dan de Standard Tier 1 merken.

Nog een trapje hoger staat SunPower, helemaal alleen aan de top. SunPower zonnepanelen zijn zo’n 75% tot 100% duurder dan Standard Tier 1 zonnepanelen.

Indien je zonnepanelen van topkwaliteit wil, dan moet je er inderdaad voor betalen. Maar waarom zijn er zoveel consumenten die er toch de nodige centen voor neerleggen?

Nooit meer betalen voor je elektriciteit!

Vergelijk offertes, en ontdek hoeveel je kan besparen!

Van plan om een zonnepanelen installatie op je dak te plaatsen, maar geen idee hoe je moet beginnen? Laat je bijstaan door een professionele installateur. Vraag snel meerdere offertes aan, en vergelijk prijzen.

Vergelijk tot 4 offertes 100% Gratis Geen aankoopverplichting Bespaar tot duizenden euro’s

Oorsprong in de ruimtevaart

Laten we even teruggaan in de geschiedenis om meer te weten te komen over SunPower.

SunPower is een Amerikaans bedrijf, opgericht in 1985 door Richard Swanson. Swanson was gefascineerd door zonnepanelen, en meer bepaald de toepassing ervan in de ruimtevaart. SunPower heeft lange tijd de concurrentie aangegaan met Spectrolab, en heeft in de loop der jaren maar liefst 6 miljoen dollar geïnvesteerd in het vervaardigen van zonnecellen voor de ruimtevaartindustrie. Spectrolab heeft die concurrentiestrijd uiteindelijk gewonnen.

SunPower is zich dan gaan toeleggen op de ‘aardse’ markt, het vervaardigen van zonnepanelen voor particulieren en bedrijf. Maar de drang om zonnepanelen met hoge efficiëntie te vervaardigen is bij SunPower steeds aanwezig gebleven.

Zonnepanelen van SunPower hebben de hoogste efficiëntie op de markt, met rendementen die kunnen stijgen tot 21,5%. Het is één van de voornaamste redenen waarom veel consumenten voor dit merk kiezen.

Uitzonderlijk hogere rendementen dus, maar er is meer.

Garantie van 25 jaar

SunPower biedt op haar zonnepanelen een garantie aan van 25 jaar. Wanneer je even rondkijkt op internet, dan zal het je waarschijnlijk opvallen dat er nog andere merken zijn met een garantie van 25 jaar. Niets speciaals dus.

Wat andere merken aanbieden, is een performantiegarantie van 25 jaar. Dit wil dus zeggen dat de zonnepanelen aangeboden door deze merken een levensduur hebben van minstens 25 jaar. Als de module niet defect raakt tenminste… Want indien je module defect raakt, zal de performantiegarantie dit niet dekken.

Hier maakt SunPower een groot verschil met andere merken. SunPower biedt naast een performantiegarantie van 25 jaar ook een productgarantie van 25 jaar. Defecte modules zullen bij SunPower gedekt worden door deze productgarantie van 25 jaar. Een eenvoudig telefoontje volstaat, en SunPower stuurt iemand langs om je module te herstellen of te vervangen. Een service die weinig andere merken aanbieden.

25 jaar is ook een uitzonderlijk lange garantieperiode. Bij andere merken bedraagt de productgarantie vaak slechts 10 jaar.

De reden waarom SunPower zo’n lange garantieperiode kan aanbieden? Heel eenvoudig. De zonnepanelen van SunPower zijn dermate betrouwbaar dat ze nauwelijks defect raken. Sunpowers zogenaamde “failure rate” bedraagt 27 op 1 miljoen. Dat betekent dat slechts 1 zonnepaneel op 37.000 defect raakt, en vervangen moet worden. Een onwaarschijnlijk aantal. Heb je een installatie van ongeveer 5.000 kWh met 15 panelen, dan heb je slechts 1 kans op 2.500 dat je te maken krijgt met een defect zonnepaneel dat vervangen moet worden.

Hoe komt het toch dat SunPowers zonnepanelen nauwelijks defect raken?

Wel, één van de belangrijkste oorzaken waarom zonnepanelen defect raken is thermische uitzetting. Door temperatuurverschillen kunnen materialen in verschillende mate uitzetten of inkrimpen. Deze interne bewegingen zetten een druk op de verbindingen tussen deze verschillende materialen, wat uiteindelijk kan leiden tot scheurtjes of vervormingen van de dunne metalen draadjes die uiteindelijk de elektriciteit zullen opwekken.

Wanneer deze draadjes scheuren en de stroomtoevoer onderbreken, kunnen ze een zogenaamde hot spot gaan vormen die geleidelijk aan ook door de beschermingslaag kan branden. Dit kan leiden tot corrosie en het uiteindelijke defect van het hele zonnepaneel.

SunPower claimt een oplossing voor het probleem van thermische uitzetting gevonden te hebben, tenminste toch voor de eerste 25 jaar van de totale levensduur van een zonnepaneel. Ze hebben de metalen draadjes die verantwoordelijk zijn voor het opwekken van energie op zo’n manier ontworpen dat ze samen een soort van gaas gaan vormen, waardoor ze op die manier geen negatieve impact ondervinden van thermische uitzetting.

Ze hebben ook het overlevingsvermogen van verbindingen tussen zonnecellen onderling sterk verbeterd, door er meer te ontwerpen en op die manier minder hinder te ondervinden van thermisch uitzetting.

De panelen hebben ook een dunne koperen backing. Koper is een zacht, kneedbaar metaal, voorkomt beschadiging door thermische uitzetting en is ook uitstekend in het tegengaan van corrosie. Koper is helaas wel een duur materiaal, waardoor ze bij SunPower misschien beter hadden gekozen voor een ander materiaal. Maar ook andere geschikte materialen, zoals goud en zilver, zijn uiteraard heel duur. Dus is koper misschien nog wel de beste keuze die gemaakt kon worden door SunPower.

Eén van SunPowers concurrenten, Q-Cells, heeft net een zonnecel ontworpen die geïnspireerd lijkt op de zonnecellen van SunPower. Maar in plaats van koper gebruikt Q-Cells het veel goedkopere aluminium. Een interessant experiment, waarbij het uitkijken is naar de performantie, duurzaamheid en prijs.

Een hogere elektriciteitsproductie per watt

SunPower zonnepanelen zijn extreem betrouwbaar, en claimen gedurende hun levensduur ook meer elektriciteit per watt te produceren dan de meeste andere zonnepanelen. Dit doen ze op verschillende manieren.

Positieve tolerantie

De output van zonnepanelen varieert. Geen enkel productieproces is zo gesofisticeerd dat het twee perfect identieke zonnepanelen kan maken. Zelfs SunPower kan dit niet. Maar als je bij SunPower een zonnepaneel van 345 Watt koopt, dan zal je ook een zonnepaneel krijgen dat 345 Watt produceert, plus 0% tot 5%. Dat wil dus zeggen dat 345 Watt het absolute minimum is. Elke variantie in productieoutput zal dus steeds in je voordeel zijn.

Positieve tolerantie is niet zo’n zeldzaam fenomeen bij zonnepanelen van hoge kwaliteit. Maar er zijn toch nog vele zonnepanelen waar de output zowel in je voordeel als in je nadeel kan variëren. Bij zulke zonnepanelen kan je module dus meer produceren dan zijn theoretische vermogen, maar kan je module evengoed minder produceren.

Let ook op met weinig betrouwbare zonnepanelen die zeggen dat ze een positieve tolerantie hebben, maar waar de werkelijke output alle kanten kan opgaan.

Volledig onbedekte oppervlakte

De zonnecellen van SunPower zijn volledig onbedekt. Er is niets dat het zonlicht belemmert om tot bij het silicium te geraken. Heel veel producenten, maar zeker niet alle, hebben aan de oppervlakte van hun zonnecellen fijne draadjes, de busbar genaamd, die de elektriciteit opvangen en verzamelen. Bij zonnecellen van SunPower lopen de draadjes niet bovenop de zonnecellen, maar worden ze aan de achterkant geplaatst.

Producenten die de draadjes bovenop de zonnecellen plaatsen, doen dit vooral omdat dit een goedkopere productiemethode is. En daar is uiteraard niets mis mee. Het zal uiteindelijk ook goedkopere zonnepanelen voor de consument opleveren. Maar puur vanuit een efficiëntieopzicht is het beter om de draadjes aan de achterkant te plaatsen, zodat ze op die manier geen schaduw werpen op het silicium.

Het design van de draadjes aan de voorzijde zal een nog negatiever effect hebben tijdens perioden wanneer de zon laag staat, zoals de lente en herfst, de ochtenduren en de vooravond. Tijdens deze momenten veroorzaken de draadjes door de laagstaande zon nog meer schaduw, wat een negatief effect heeft op de energieoutput. Van dit alles hebben SunPower zonnepanelen dus geen last.

SunPower zonnepanelen en schaduw

Zonnepanelen en schaduw zijn geen te beste vrienden. Hoe minder zonlicht er op het zonnepaneel valt, hoe minder energie wordt opgewekt, daar kan geen enkel ingenieus design iets aan veranderen. Maar dat is niet het enige probleem.

Een klein stukje zonnepaneel dat in de schaduw valt kan een negatieve impact hebben op de output van het hele zonnepaneel. En als alle zonnepanelen geconnecteerd zijn met één enkele omvormer, wat meestal zo is, dat zal de output van één zonnepaneel de output van de hele installatie beïnvloeden. Het systeem van de zwakste schakel. Eén zonnepaneel in de schaduw kan dus de output van je hele installatie om zeep helpen.

Dit probleem kan enigszins verholpen worden door het systeem van diodes, die de installatie meestal in drie verdelen. Dus wanneer één paneel onderpresteert, dan kunnen deze diodes een bypass voorzien, waardoor de output van de installatie met slechts een derde vermindert.

SunPower verdeelt hun installaties niet in drie, ze hebben een diode in elke zonnecel …

Betere temperatuurcoëfficient

Hoe warmer een zonnepaneel wordt, hoe minder elektriciteit ze uiteindelijk zullen produceren. Zeker op warme en zonnige zomerdagen kan de output bizar genoeg sterk dalen als gevolg van te warme zonnepanelen.

Hoge rendementspanelen hebben echter een ingenieus systeem om dit probleem te verhelpen. Hoe meer zonlicht ze kunnen omzetten in elektriciteit, hoe minder warmte er overschiet om de zonnepanelen op te warmen. Samen met de koperen achterplaat zorgt dit ervoor dat deze zonnepanelen tot 3 graden koeler kunnen blijven dan standaard zonnepanelen.

Opgelet, dit zorgt dus niet voor een hoger vermogen, maar zorgt er enkel voor dat deze zonnepanelen minder snel output zullen verliezen bij hogere temperaturen.

Ook zonnepanelen van SunPower hebben dus deze eigenschap. Al varieert het vermogen om te weerstaan aan de hitte van paneel tot paneel. Standaard zonnepanelen zien hun output met zo’n 0,4% dalen bij elke temperatuurstijging met 1° Celsius. De SunPower E Series zonnepanelen zien hun output dalen met 0,38%, wat dus iets minder is dan bij een standaard zonnepaneel. De SunPower E Series zonnepanelen zien hun output dalen met 0,30%, wat zeer goed is.

Sunpower zonnepanelen degraderen minder snel

Omdat SunPower zonnepanelen zo’n hoge performantie hebben, en ze koeler blijven in warme omstandigheden, zullen ze ook minder snel degraderen en verliezen ze dus slechts zeer geleidelijk hun output.

De garantie van SunPower dekt een daling in productieoutput van 0,4% per jaar. Dus als je een zonnepaneel van 345 Watt koopt, dan zal deze na 10 jaar nog steeds 331 Watt produceren. Zoniet, dan wordt dit zonepaneel vervangen.

De kans dat het zover komt is klein. In werkelijkheid is de daling in output veel minder groot. Volgens recente statistieken is de gemiddelde daling in output van SunPower zonnepanelen slechts 0,12% per jaar. Dat betekent dat je zonnepaneel van 345 Watt na 10 jaar nog steeds een output rond 341 Watt zal hebben. Niet slecht!

SunPower assortiment

Laten we eens kijken naar het assortiment van SunPower. Er worden momenteel twee series op de markt gebracht: De E-series en de X-series.

SunPower™ E-Series

De SunPower™ E-Series zonnepanelen is een serie monokristallijne zonnepanelen die 72 tot 128 zonnecellen kunnen bevatten. Dankzij dit hoge aantal zonnecellen kunnen ze een piekvermogen tot 435 W behalen, wat uitzonderlijk hoog is. Deze zonnepanelen zijn dan ook voornamelijk gericht op commerciële en industriële toepassingen. Toch zijn er in de SunPower™ E-Series ook zonnepanelen voor residentiële toepassingen terug te vinden. Deze zonnepanelen zijn voornamelijk interessant voor kleinere daken, aangezien ze een relatief groot vermogen kunnen opwekken op een kleine oppervlakte. Ook het rendement van deze zonnepanelen ligt bijzonder hoog. Zo zijn er enkele zonnepanelen in deze serie die een rendement van meer dan 20% behalen.

SunPower™ X-Series

De SunPower™ X-Series is de nieuwere generatie zonnepanelen uit het Sunpower assortiment, en bevat modules met 96 zonnecellen. Ook deze zonnepanelen behalen een uitzonderlijk hoog piekvermogen, waardoor ze zowel voor residentiële als voor industriële toepassingen gebruikt kunnen worden. De SunPower™ X-Series kunnen een rendement behalen tot 21,5% waarmee ze beter doen dan elke andere module op de markt.

Zijn Sunpower zonnepanelen hun hoge prijs waard?

Eindigen doen we met de vraag waarmee dit artikel begon: zijn SunPower zonnepanelen hun hoge prijs waard? Wel, zoals steeds hangt dit af van wat je belangrijk vindt. Indien je kwaliteit wil, dan moet je er een hoge prijs voor betalen. Maar je krijgt er dan wel veel voor in de plaats. Indien je zonnepanelen 20% meer elektriciteit genereren over 25 jaar, dan zijn ze inderdaad hun 20% hogere prijs ook waard.

Ook de goede service is zijn prijs waard. Dat SunPower iemand langs stuurt om je defecte zonnepaneel te vervangen is uiteraard ook zijn geld waard. Bovendien stopt de levensduur van SunPower zonnepanelen niet op 25 jaar, maar zullen veel van je panelen zelfs de 50 jaar halen, waardoor ze zelfs een veelvoud van hun hoge prijs zullen terugverdienen.

Gratis offertes : Vergelijk prijzen voor het plaatsen van zonnepanelen

Graag je elektriciteitsfactuur verlagen door zonnepanelen te plaatsen? Prima zo! Wij helpen je hierbij! Door gratis en vrijblijvend meerdere offertes aan te vragen, kan je prijzen vergelijken, en zo je installatie aan de goedkoopste prijs laten plaatsen.

Alle offertes zijn volledig gratis en vrijblijvend.

Vergelijk tot 4 offertes 100% Gratis Geen aankoopverplichting Bespaar tot 35%

Tesla Powerwall

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FOUR YEARS SINCE AUSTRALIA’S FIRST TESLA POWERWALL INSTALLATION REVEALED

How this landmark piece of technology has stacked up over time

Tesla Powerwall Home Battery

Natural Solar installed the world’s very first Tesla Powerwall in January of 2016 in Sydney which was a defining moment in Australia’s solar battery boom. Since then, Natural Solar has installed over 10,000 Solar Batteries Australia-wide and is the largest installer of solar batteries in Australia, making us the natural choice for home solar and battery needs to Australian households.

The next evolution in home energy storage is here! The second generation of Tesla Powerwall (still referred to as Tesla Powerwall or just Powerwall) is the newest home solar Tesla battery. Installs have already begun!

What makes this solar battery so significant? Tesla Powerwall 2 has an incredible 13.5kWh of solar battery storage, double that of its predecessor, in a smaller unit!

The solar battery stores your excess solar power and/or cheap off peak power from the grid to allow you to supply your home with cheap, environmentally friendly power during the night and early hours of the morning. In other words, it’s purely designed to save you money.

Tesla Powerwall is a battery primarily designed to store power generated from solar panels. When it’s needed it will feed the stored energy into your home, so it’s perfect for night-time, power blackouts or even when it’s cloudy and your solar system is not performing to maximum capacity.

Tesla Powerwall supports:

In the event of a blackout, the Tesla battery will feed the power stored in the battery back into the home until it’s depleted. When paired with an appropriately sized solar system, there should be enough charge in the battery to get you through the blackout until the morning. No more food going to waste as the refrigerator stays on!

For those who get semi-frequent brownouts, with the addition of the Tesla Powerwall Backup Gateway, your solar system will still operate during a brownout, providing power to the home loads first, then storing any excess in the solar battery with any shortfalls in power required by the home not being generated by the solar system being covered by the battery itself!

Boasting a generous 10 year warranty, Tesla Powerwall home battery has been designed and the warranty set out for the battery to be cycled daily (the process of charging and discharging) and with its generous 13.5kWh of battery storage has enough energy storage capacity to power a typical family home with a little left over. Homeowners can virtually go off-grid, paying mere peanuts to their energy retailers for the little power, if any, which might be required. With a single Powerwall, you could power a typical two bedroom home for the entire day, free from grid power, utilising your own environmentally friendly power.

Tesla solar battery is available as an AC-coupled unit with its own battery inverter.

What this means for homes without solar – You don’t need to purchase an expensive hybrid solar and battery inverter. You are able to choose any inverter you like. Power optimisers, micro inverters or standard inverters (we sell them all too!).

What this means for homes with existing solar – You don’t need to throw out your existing inverter and have it replaced to take advantage Tesla Powerwall. Even better, you can add additional solar at any time and this will still be able to flow into Tesla Powerwall before any energy is exported to the grid.

The Tesla battery is also sleek, compact and stackable (up to 10 units), can be floor or wall mounted, indoors or outdoors. Finally, it can be added to an existing solar system as a ‘retrofit’ unit or as part of a brand new solar system and battery combination.

Based on data from the Australian Bureau of statistics, 2014. Avg National household uses 5,817kWh per year. Using trend of energy use reduction of 12.5% per year, average daily use in 2016 is 12kWh per day.

The Tesla battery saves you money by reducing your usage of power from the grid, even when the sun isn’t shining!

13.5kWh usable in each battery and scalable – stack up to 10 units for a huge 135kWh of storage!

Solar produced is used by the home first, with any excess charging the battery.

When your battery is full, excess solar not used by the home is exported to the grid to get a FiT (Feed-in Tariff).

Use the stored power at night or as your home needs a boost to reduce power drawn from the grid.

Backup power functionality – Keep the lights, TV and refrigerator on!

When your battery has been fully drained your home will be powered from the grid.

10 year limited warranty – covers 10 years of daily cycling or 3, 650 cycles, whichever comes first.

Monitor the status of the battery via the App or online monitoring portal.

No maintenance required. Add to an existing or a new solar system seamlessly.

The battery will get regular software and firmware updates directly from Tesla as needed.

The battery is built for daily use – daily cycling of the battery is expected and covered by warranty.

At end of life, Tesla is accepting the batteries for recycling at its Gigafactory.

Become a green household by reducing your reliance on dirty grid power.

Achieve total energy independence and go off-grid using the battery or virtually off-grid by drawing next to nothing from the grid.

Natural Solar Tesla Powerwall Case Studies

Read the case study

The first Tesla Powerwall battery system to be installed in Australia is impressive enough, a 90% saving on the power bills is even more impressive. That’s just what Nick Pfitzner from Sydney has experienced being the first Tesla Powerwall owner in Australia and saving a massive amount on his electricity bill. And now this has been analysed by the Australian media in great detail – their verdict IMPRESSIVE!

Thoughts from a Powerwall owner His latest electricity bill in the post, Nick Pfitzner was pleased to see the amount to be paid was a mere 50.39 (Incl. GST). Compare this to his previous bill for the same quarter last year and Nick was facing a bill totalling 660.77 (Incl. GST), which means his family had a saving more than 90 per cent.

Nick has kept a blog detailing the various events and findings during his ownership and has some very good advice to other people with or looking to install a Powerwall. Nick says:

“As I’ve learned a bit more about the Powerwall, I’ve also tweaked some of the larger hardware pieces to exist in harmony with each other and the solar system in general.

For example, the pool pump needs to be running for a certain number of hours per day to ensure cleanliness, and takes about 0.8kWh at standard operation. I’ve worked out the pump capacity (Qmax) and rate of flow correctly, to ensure I use only the minimum hours per day. I also figured out that running it later in the day allows the battery to top up earlier as the panels start cranking up the flow mid-morning.

In partnership with this, the timer on both our washing machine and dishwasher are set for the early afternoon, when the sun is at its highest. I leave a gap in the pool timer of 2 hours in the middle of the day so both these devices can run without issue, even when the sun isn’t so bright.

As always, a solidly overcast day can throw some of these plans out of alignment, and that’s why a grid connection is a must. Beyond keeping the warranty of the Powerwall at 10 years (off-grid is only 4), in suburbia there is simply no reason to disconnect, with the grid as your reserve.”

Read the case study

Brian Gillespie lives in a part of South Australia close to Adelaide. The area is an energy blackout zone with regular outages to the electricity network. Having already had a solar system installed Brian wanted to add a Powerwall home battery as an addition to his solar. Natural Solar were able to provide the technical skill to install the Tesla Powerwall in an AC coupled backup configuration.

Background With the ever present threat of Blackouts becoming more frequent throughout Australia it is a good to know that a solution has been tried and tested. For Natural Solar customer Brian Gillespie from South Australia it was a complete shock to find out that for the previous three hours the rest of his neighbours had been in complete darkness. Why … because Brian has a Tesla Powerwall and whilst everyone else was suffering from the lack of power he was lighting his home and watching TV as normal. In fact Brian has stated that his Powerwall can stay off-grid for 10 hours without any issues supplying his home with useful energy to run lights and the television.

Adding a Powerwall to a system One of the main reasons Brian came to Natural Solar was to purchase a Powerwall, his reasons were to beat the many blackouts experienced in and around the area he lives. However, the state wide blackout was very severe and many 1000’s of South Australian’s were left without power for a considerable time.

Backup Circuit Brian’s backup circuit in his home is used exclusively for when the power fails and contains his house lights and a few power points for the TV and other smaller electrical appliances. Brian only discovered that there was a power outage whilst watching the news, he said he opened the oven door to see that the light wasn’t working.

Read the case study

At the time of installation, in 2016, this was a World record for the most Tesla Powerwall home batteries installed in one property. At 42kWh of energy storage the media described the install at this Gold Coast property as a ‘mini power station’. In reality the installation was the culmination of many months’ hard work and clever electrical engineering to ensure that this system provided the calculated returns.

Project outline The main solar system features 93 Phono 255W panels and 3 SolarEdge inverters. The home has 3 phase power so each phase was connected to 2 Powerwall batteries each providing a total capacity, when fully charged, of 14kWh per phase. Discharging can be made from one battery at a time, per phase, however, the phases can work together with three batteries in total being discharged simultaneously.

Clever by design The system has also been designed so cheaper off peak energy can be used to charge the Powerwall batteries overnight. This is then used to offset the more expensive periods of energy import from retailers, should it be required. Such scenarios may occur in poor energy producing periods or where panel performance has been inhibited for whatever reason and also to boost savings with multiple daily battery cycles. As well as looking impressive the system is designed to provide the complete power requirements for the home and also offer a significant backup facility should a blackout occur Complimenting this is the 3 string array of panels, each 8kW. Each array is connected via a Smart system to control the energy produced.

Return on investment Savings are expected to be in the region of 13,000 per year, with a return on investment expected between 5 – 6 years. The system was also designed to accommodate the advent of new technologies allowing energy to be sold back to the grid on demand. Such systems offer larger incentives for the energy than the traditional Feed in Tariff (FiT).

Read the case study

Footscray Community Arts Centre is the first crowd funded Tesla Powerwall and solar system solution in Victoria. Supplying close to 30% of their energy requirements the 40kW system also includes a 7kW battery storage solution. Predicted savings have been calculated at 14,000 per year with a further total saving of 126,000 by the year 2025, a milestone for the Centre. This in real terms means that money saved can be re-injected into the activities within the centre.

Initial planning Natural Solar worked closely with the board of Footscray Community Arts Centre (FCAC) to get an understanding of how the building uses its energy. Our electrical engineers and energy specialists undertook evaluations and studied the supplied figures details before tailoring a unique solution. The idea of crowdfunding the project was embraced by Natural Solar and technical elements of the project were released to the managers and board members of Footscray to enable them to put together their funding bid.

Installation Installation was assessed and completed by a Clean Energy Council accredited installer and managed by Natural Solar. Calculations made during the design phase of the system suggested that the strings were split into two groups and this was translated onto the roof during the install. To accommodate any upgrade to the system, at a later stage, the panels were laid out in a specific pattern. Measures which had again been included in the electrical design were taken to provide future installers an easy route to add extra panels to the array.

In addition to the solar array and Tesla Powerwall battery, LED lighting will also be installed within the FCAC Performance space which will cut technology and operating costs while enhancing the performance space for artists involved.

A very positive effect The project has been used as an important marketing tool for the Arts Centre and has raised much interest both in the way the project was funded but also for the technology used.

The savings will also help fund FCAC’s ‘Call to Create’ program, which provides in-kind venue and producer support for artists and communities to showcase their work.

Described as a pioneering move – In general, arts organisations have not been able to consider solar because they don’t have sufficient infrastructure budgets. FCAC has shown that this need not be a barrier. With the help of just a part of its community, FCAC will soon be showcasing its own renewable energy achievements as well as contemporary art.

Read the case study

Project outline The main solar system features 93 Phono 255W panels and 3 SolarEdge inverters. The home has 3 phase power so each phase was connected to 2 Powerwall batteries each providing a total capacity, when fully charged, of 14kWh per phase. Discharging can be made from one battery at a time, per phase, however, the phases can work together with three batteries in total being discharged simultaneously.

Australians can now have battery powered pizza delivered to their door?

Natural Solar installs world’s largest commercial Tesla Powerwall 2 array for Domino’s

In a world first, Aussies can now have battery powered pizza, with one Domino’s franchise in Sydney’s West now delivering pizza made using battery power direct to customer’s homes, due to their installation of ten Tesla Powerwall 2 batteries by Natural Solar; the largest commercial Tesla Powerwall installation in the world.

Chris Williams, CEO and Founder of Natural Solar said the Company was proud to have worked on the largest commercial Tesla Powerwall installation in the world.

“Aussies can be assured that when they are biting into a piece of pizza from Domino’s Plumpton, it was cooked using battery power,” said Mr Williams. “We are excited Domino’s has jumped on the battery bandwagon, and are looking forward to seeing more Domino’s Franchises across Australia begin making their own ‘Tesla Powerwall 2 pizzas’.”

Domino’s Plumpton is the first store in Australia to opt into a renewable energy storage solution, having ten functional Tesla Powerwall 2 units installed which power all appliances including ovens, refrigerators, freezers and lights.

The system, which is already functioning, includes 10 Tesla Powerwall 2 units and can store 135kWh in power, which over the course of a year, is enough to cook more than 90,000 pizzas and 27,000 loaves of garlic bread.

The newly installed Powerwall 2 system at Domino’s Plumpton will allow the store to charge their 10 batteries from the grid overnight when the store is not in use. This allow the store to use this extra 135kWh of power during the day, without having to change the infrastructure of the grid, allowing the store to meet high demand for hot fresh pizzas.

First year of Powerwall = 92% saving Nick Pfitzner story

Read The Video Transcript Natural Solar installs world’s largest commercial Tesla Powerwall 2 array for Domino’s

Read the case study Australians can now have battery powered pizza delivered to their door Natural Solar installs world’s largest commercial Tesla Powerwall 2 array for Domino’s In a world first, Aussies can now have battery powered pizza, with one Domino’s franchise in Sydney’s West now delivering pizza made using battery power direct to customer’s homes, due to their installation of ten Tesla Powerwall 2 batteries by Natural Solar; the largest commercial Tesla Powerwall installation in the world.

Chris Williams, CEO and Founder of Natural Solar said the Company was proud to have worked on the largest commercial Tesla Powerwall installation in the world.

08/08/2017. Tesla Powerwall installation at Dominos pizza franchise in Plumpton in Sydney’s Western suburbs, the first installation of its kind. Pic – Britta Campion

“We are seeing more and more businesses Australia-wide looking for ways to add renewable energy solutions, including battery power, to their operations. In the past 12 months, commercial enquiries for Natural Solar increased by more than 1000%. We are only expecting this to grow as the battery storage revolution continues to take hold,” says Mr Williams.

Domino’s CEO Australia/New Zealand Nick Knight said the Company was pleased with the innovative approach used in the new store.

“Partnering with another Australian company Natural Solar, it excites me to see Domino’s stores and Franchisees leap at the opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation and technology to support the everyday running of their stores and businesses.

“We are testing the initiative and if all goes well, we look forward to seeing more Franchisees consider renewable energy solutions in order to power their stores!”

“There is no doubt that customers who order their pizza from Domino’s Plumpton are supporting the future of renewable energy and battery power in Australia. At Natural Solar we are looking forward to the sweet taste of battery powered pizza from many more stores around the country,” concluded Mr Williams.

Media Info: Soraya Calavassy / [email protected] / 0434 612 018

About Natural Solar

Natural Solar is Australia’s largest and leading national solar and home battery installer. Founded in 2012, Natural Solar offers a range of energy storage solutions. A leading authority on the Australian renewable energy industry, Natural Solar installs both residential and commercial solar and battery solutions.

About Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Limited

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises was Australia’s first publicly-listed pizza company and is the master franchisor for the Domino’s brand in Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, The Netherlands, Japan and Germany. Across these seven markets, DPE and its franchisees operate over 2,000 stores.

Sources:

https://www.forbes.com/home-improvement/solar/most-efficient-solar-panels/
https://www.nouvelr-energie.com/pv/maxeon-sunpower
https://www.zonnepanelen-leggen.be/sunpower.html
https://naturalsolar.com.au/residential/solar-batteries/tesla-powerwall-home-battery/