Are Solar Panels Efficient

The graphic below shows how dramatically solar panel performance has improved over time.

Are solar panels efficient.

Solar panel efficiency is a measure of how much sunlight that hits the surface area of a solar panel is converted into usable electricity. Most solar panels are between 15 and 20 efficient with outliers on either side of the range. Due to the many recent advances in solar cell technology over the last 5 years average panel conversion efficiency has increased from 15 to 20. So if a solar panel has an efficiency rating of 15 that means 15 of the sunlight that hits the solar panels will be converted into electricity.

In this case it may seem that 800 watts are being wasted and solar panels often get criticism for their low efficiency. High quality solar panels can exceed 22 efficiency in some cases and almost reach 23 but the majority of photovoltaic panels available are not above 20 efficiency. The average efficiency of solar panels falls between the 17 to 19 percent efficiency range. The highest efficiency solar panels on the market today can reach almost 23 percent efficiency.

The solar panel efficiencydescribes how much sunlight is converted into electricity. For example if you place a panel that is 20 efficient under 1 000 watts of sunshine it will produce 200 watts of electricity. The most efficient solar panels commercially available today have solar panel efficiency just under 23.