Talk:Solar panel

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:

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 {{cite journal |title = Global Brand Survey of Photovoltaic Installation Companies |journal = ENF |url = http://www.enf.cn/magazine/issue9/brand.html |accessdate = 13 April 2007}} 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).

{{Reflist}}

Some photovoltaic systems, such as rooftop installations, can supply power directly to an electricity user. In these cases, the installation can be competitive when the output cost matches the price at which the user pays for their electricity consumption. This situation is sometimes called 'retail grid parity', 'socket parity' or 'dynamic grid parity'.{{cite web |title=Solar Photovoltaics competing in the energy sector – On the road to competitiveness |url=http://www.epia.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/Competing_Full_Report.pdf |publisher=EPIA |access-date=1 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130226222413/http://www.epia.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/Competing_Full_Report.pdf |archive-date=26 February 2013 }} Research carried out by UN-Energy in 2012 suggests areas of sunny countries with high electricity prices, such as Italy, Spain and Australia, and areas using diesel generators, have reached retail grid parity. Chidgk1 (talk) 19:00, 25 January 2024 (UTC)

:deleted Chidgk1 (talk) 18:24, 24 March 2024 (UTC)

{{reflist-talk}}

Should we remove

“ Solar panels are also known as solar cell panels, solar electric panels, or PV modules.” from lead as too niche or too technical? Chidgk1 (talk) 18:28, 24 March 2024 (UTC)

Hi. I’m a relatively new editor here. I added a section with this kind of title in February of this year, because it didn’t seem like there was any section already present where it made sense to add it, and it seemed like an obvious and important addition. It was reverted, and I’m having trouble locating the explanation for that, although I know I saw one, and I know it said something like my addition was off-topic. I’d like to question that and learn if there’s a better way I could have added this information without reversion, but I’d like to find that comment again first. Can anyone explain how I would find that? Thanks in advance. Loupgrru (talk) 19:11, 25 June 2024 (UTC)

:Your section may be better suited for an article such as solar power. However, this is already well covered in that article. This article is about the panels specifically, not solar power in general. For reference, this is the edit: https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Solar_panel&diff=next&oldid=1209443382 Ita140188 (talk) 12:53, 1 July 2024 (UTC)

{{dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment | course = Wikipedia:Wiki_Ed/North_Carolina_State_University/Engineering_in_the_21st_Century_-_Section_002_(Fall_2024) | assignments = E102G13 | reviewers = Group12e102, DCAS2024, E102G13 | start_date = 2024-08-19 | end_date = 2024-12-03 }}

— Assignment last updated by Group12e102 (talk) 18:04, 13 October 2024 (UTC)

:Great - hope you might be able to add the missing cites (tagged “citation needed” and in the testing section) or indeed delete the uncited statements if they are wrong. Chidgk1 (talk) 12:55, 16 October 2024 (UTC)

{{dashboard.wikiedu.org assignment | course = Wikipedia:Wiki_Ed/Yale_University/Canada's_Response_to_Global_Environmental_Wicked_Problems_(Spring) | assignments = Agwrld | start_date = 2025-01-15 | end_date = 2025-05-07 }}

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

“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)

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)

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)

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)

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)

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)