Talk:Solar panel

Business-side info

I had previously added some business information on solar module manufacturers, as well as a link to a global directory of solar module manufacturers, solar module manufacturing equipment suppliers, and solar module installation companies. The information was taken down by someone who hadn't actually reviewed the validity of the information but was deleting based on the fact that I posted up several links to ENF.

On the suggestion of one of the people that removed the information, I am submitting suggested comments/links here in the hope that other editors will evaluate the relevance and resubmit it to the main page:

Photovoltaic Panel (Module) Brands

There are hundreds of photovoltaic panel (module) brands in the world, and numbers are increasing fast due to the low entry barriers. The bare minimum a company needs to become a manufacturers is a laminating machine and some soldering irons (for a manual production line). This has lead to a particularly strong explosion in new panel manufacturers in China, although the majority of Chinese companies do not have the certification most western companies require (in April 2007, only 19 Chinese panel manufacturers held IEC, TUV or UL certification).

A 2007 global survey of photovoltaic installation companies identified the best panel manufacturers to be:

1. - SunPower Corporation (USA)
2. - Schott Solar (Germany)
3. - SolarWorld (Germany)

The company with the best quality panels was identified as Sanyo (Japan) and the best value for money panels was from Suntech Power (China).

Wiki Education assignment: Canada's Response to Global Environmental Wicked Problems

This article was the subject of a Wiki Education Foundation-supported course assignment, between 15 January 2025 and 7 May 2025. Further details are available on the course page. Student editor(s): Agwrld (article contribs).

— Assignment last updated by Greatkingjeff (talk) 19:50, 1 May 2025 (UTC)

Citation Notice for AC Module Definition

“AC modules are defined by Underwriters Laboratories as the smallest and most complete system for harvesting solar energy.” requires a reliable source.

Please ensure that any use of this claim is directly supported by content from official UL documentation. A relevant source is: UL Alternative Energy Guide (2016): https://www.ul.com/sites/default/files/2019-05/AlternativeEnergy_EquipmentandSystemsMarking_AG_2016.pdf — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jaroslav Radomír (talk • contribs) 07:26, 27 May 2025 (UTC)

Citation Notice for Capacity Factor (2019) Statement

The sentence: “Globally, capacity factor for utility-scale PV farms was 16.1% in 2019.”

currently lacks a reliable source.

A review of available data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows that this figure (16.1%) is not supported in their official report Renewable Power Generation Costs in 2019.

According to IRENA, the global weighted average capacity factor for utility-scale solar PV in 2019 was approximately 23%, as shown in Table 3.2 on page 39.

Source: https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2020/Jun/IRENA_Power_Generation_Costs_2019.pdf

Please do not reinsert or cite the 16.1% figure unless a reliable, published source explicitly supports it. Otherwise, consider updating or removing it in accordance with WP:V and WP:NOR. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jaroslav Radomír (talk • contribs) 07:41, 27 May 2025 (UTC)

Added Source to "Performance and Degradation" Section

I added a citation to support content in the Performance and degradation section regarding long-term PV module performance loss.

According to a report by the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), photovoltaic (PV) module power output decreases over time due to exposure to solar radiation and environmental factors. This decline is referred to as the degradation rate, defined as the annual percentage loss in output power. The report emphasizes that accurate quantification of degradation is critical for stakeholders—utilities, system integrators, investors, and researchers—as higher degradation directly reduces energy yield and long-term financial returns.

Studies have shown that not all PV modules degrade at the same rate, and this variation increases over time. Uneven degradation among modules leads to performance mismatch and negatively affects the overall performance of the PV system.

📄 Source: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy12osti/51664.pdf — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jaroslav Radomír (talk • contribs) 13:49, 27 May 2025 (UTC)

Discussion: Updated PV Module Efficiency (21.5% → 24.5%)

I updated the stated commercial photovoltaic (PV) module efficiency from 21.5% to 24.5% to reflect current data as of 2025.

According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the highest efficiency achieved in commercially available PV modules has reached 24.5%, based on verified results from standardized testing conditions.

📄 Source: https://www.nrel.gov/pv/module-efficiency

The previous figure (21.5%) was outdated and marked with “[needs update]”. This revision ensures that the article reflects up-to-date, verifiable information from a neutral and authoritative source. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jaroslav Radomír (talk • contribs) 14:15, 27 May 2025 (UTC)

Discussion: Added Source for Concentrator PV Module Description

Added citation to support the description of concentrator PV modules that use lenses or mirrors to focus sunlight onto smaller, high-efficiency cells.

Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Current Status of Concentrator Photovoltaic (CPV) Technology. NREL/TP-5200-65130, 2015. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy16osti/65130.pdf — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jaroslav Radomír (talk • contribs) 14:40, 27 May 2025 (UTC)

Technical Source Citations Added

Statement 1: Smart modules are different from traditional solar panels because the power electronics embedded in the module offers enhanced functionality such as panel-level maximum power point tracking, monitoring, and enhanced safety.

Source: European Information Technologies Certification Institute (EITCI) – "Smart PV Modules" https://www.eitci.org/technology-certification/sesg/smart-pv

“Smart PV modules contain integrated power electronics, enabling features such as module-level maximum power point tracking (MPPT), real-time monitoring and fault detection, and enhanced fire safety through rapid shutdown capabilities.”

Statement 2: Solar panels also use metal frames consisting of racking components, brackets, reflector shapes, and troughs to better support the panel structure.

Source: U.S. Department of Energy – "Solar Energy Supply Chain Review Report" https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2024-12/Solar%2520Energy%2520Supply%2520Chain%2520Report%2520-%2520Final%5B1%5D.pdf

“Mounting structures typically consist of low-cost steel components that provide mechanical support and can be configured as fixed-tilt or tracking systems, depending on application.” — Preceding unsigned comment added by Jaroslav Radomír (talk • contribs) 14:46, 30 May 2025 (UTC)

shadow under solar panels mounted on a roof can be a massive advantage in summer

Many roofs have a weak or even no isolation. Mounting solar panels on a roof (especially when the is some space between panels and roof surface - the cooler the panels the better their Energy conversion efficiency) can effectuate that the room(s) directly under that roof stay much cooler than before. 88.152.28.33 (talk) 14:08, 20 June 2025 (UTC)

Source number 95 is a dead link

Thou it seems one can still find the cited presentation elsewere: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/2944270/overview-of-first-solars-module-collection-and-recycling-program

In a less serious problem, source 92 seems not to be the primary source, and has a rather strange tone, but I wasn't able to locate the primary source in this case Bronze Noon Infiltrator (talk) 22:21, 9 November 2025 (UTC)

Edit: Actually it seems source 93 is also not primarly about the quoted statistic, and doesn't mention other sources