SOLAR PANEL COMPARISONS

Solar Panels and Kilowatt Hour Productions

Consumers interested in going solar often wonder which solar panels are the “best” and also which panels represent the best “value”
A lot of emphasis will be placed on the financial stability, years in business, and warranty differences by solar sales people. So, which solar panels are the best value???
Below is a list of solar panels that compare eleven different solar panels. The calculations are targeting the total annual kilowatt hours produced as per the state’s solar production calculator.

These calculations are based on:

1. 8.10 Kw DC system
2. SMA SB8000US inverter
3. Solar panels facing south
4. 22 degree slope

Solar Panels---------- Annual Kilowatt Production


Talesun 240 660P-----------12,454 kWh
Schuco 225 PS09 ------------12,446 kWh
Centro Solar E225-----------12,382 kWh
Mage Solar 225/6PH -------12,375 kWh
SunPower 230M------------- 12,350 kWh
Sun Tec 225 W-20/Wd-----12,325 kWh
Mitsubishi -------------------12,325 kWh
BP 3225-T------------------- 12,320 kWh
Kyocera KD 2256X-LPB----- 12,310 kWh
Solar World 225P -----------12,291 kWh
Sharp 224 ND-U224C1 ------12,158 kWh

It is interesting to note that three of the top four manufacturers are all German engineered panels. All four are well established, have very heavy aluminum frames, and offer top industry warranties. Talesun benefits by being the newest plant with state of the art manufacturing equipment. It incorporates all German robotic equipment, and enjoys the highest efficiency rating of the panels listed and is the largest solar manufacturing facility in the world.

Right under the Talesun are the German panels. Talesun and Schuco are the top performing panels as per the EPBB State calculator. These are both very good panels and have a higher efficiency rating than all the other panels. A lot to do is made of panel efficiency. Higher efficiency allows the contractor to install the same size KW system as competitors only in a smaller area. This is usually only one panel on an average system. However, pricing is typically lower for ground mounted systems due to the smaller footprint of these higher efficiency panels. Warranties are similar with the Top Five Solar Panels.

At Nova West Solar, we are committed to high quality solar panels and inverters. We offer Schuco, Centro Solar, Talesun, and Mage Solar panels. Our experience is that all four overproduce what the calculators say. On my Schuco solar system, the EPBB calculator estimated my system should produce 13,469 KWH per year. I recently reached a one year true up period. My system produced over 15,500 KwH’s!!!

Needless to say I will truly enjoy receiving the overproduction check PG&E is sending me. With utilizing our advice on time of use times, cleaning solar panels, as well as owning an energy efficient home, my rebate check will be in the $290 range. I am going to let PG&E help subsidize MY retirement by not having a utility bill. As I plan on investing these monies every year, PG&E will help add to my 401K.

It is also our belief that contractors that support and install high quality equipment are in the industry for the long haul and are most likely to back up the best equipment with quality installs and service.