Solar Panels Overview
In the modern world, it is a common technique to consume energy from nature without wasting any land resources. These techniques are also designed to minimize constant man effort.
Solar panels are also included in these types of products. Solar panels absorb the light energy of the sun and convert it into electrical energy. Solar panels are very powerful they can run electricity for a whole house.
Solar panel composition
Solar panels are made up of silicon wafers. Silicon is a semiconductor and is the second element on earth which is present in excessive amounts.
Silicon wafers on the solar panel have 3 divisions or layers.
- N-type of silicon is made by adding some impurity into the semiconductor. This impurity makes the silicon surface negatively charged all the time.
- Junction in the silicon wafer assures that the electric current is travelling in only one direction. It makes the current flow from n-type silicon wafer to the p-type silicon wafer.
- The p-type silicon wafer is also made by adding impurity to the semiconductor, but it makes the semiconductor electron deficient. So. The silicon semiconductor always stays positively charged and allows the current flow.
Best solar panels companies in Pakistan
In Pakistan, three companies are supposed to be the best in providing you with solar panels. They give you a product with their trusted quality and the product is made according to your energy consumption needs.
- Pak Argo Tech, it is rated 5 stars for its brilliant solar panel range.
- ATS Engineering has a 4.6 rating.
- Skyelectric Smart Solar System, this brand has an online rating of 4.5 stars.
Need for Solar Panels in Pakistan
In a country like Pakistan, where electricity is quite expensive it has been suggested by the higher authorities for the removal of taxes on the:
- Development of solar and
- natural energy equipment countrywide,
To boost the output and use of renewable energy and combating power shortages.
Current Energy Scenario of Pakistan
Over the last century, energy demand has risen exponentially in the world, and Pakistan is no different. Every human activity needs energy to work properly. Pakistan is currently dealing with a major energy shortage that not only hinders the country's growth, but also impacts people's everyday lives.
All large businesses of Pakistan that includes:
- Trade,
- Agriculture,
- Industry and
- Domestic, require a continuous supply of electricity.
Due to the increasing demand for energy, the disparity between:
- Demand for power and
- Availability has intensified
Resulting in the exhaustion of energy supplies.
Types of Solar Panels in Pakistan
The most favoured and used solar panel premium brands in Pakistan are:
- Solar Planet
- Canadian Solar
- Trina Solar
- JA Solar
- Risen Solar
- Homage Solar
- Jinko Solar and
- Rena Solar.
Almost all of these products are available on various online and local shopping stores in different price range in Pakistan.
Canadian Solar is made in Canada and the most widely used solar panel in Pakistan.
Various kind of Solar Cells Available in Pakistan
All of the above mentioned solar panels are either:
- Mono-crystalline
- Poly-crystalline or
- Thin-film or amorphous solar cells
Such panels also do well under low light or adverse weather and many people in Pakistan have already installed it in their homes for better efficiency and working of many of their electrical appliances even when there is no light.
Usually, these solar panels are installed on the roof-tops in order to catch maximum sunlight for a great amount of productivity and results without having much effort.
The minimum amount of time required
- Eight to nine hours of sunlight a day
Makes Pakistan's topography and climate conditions perfect for the generation of solar power that can solve these challenges.
In order to understand better the mechanism and types of different solar cells, let’s see what this article is talking about.
Mono-Crystalline Solar Cell
Starting with the very first name mentioned, we can see that the composition of its one cell is solely by one silicon atom and if we talk about its appearance and working we come to know that:
- It appears to be black in colour
- The monocrystalline solar cell operates pretty well in low light and
- All of its solar cells are extremely delicate and are quite expensive as well
With the help of these solar cells, 18% of the whole incident light is transformed into electricity.
The heat bearing power of this solar cell is pretty low and surprisingly it displays maximum efficiency up to:
- 25C of heat
- However, its specific solar cells vary in temperature.
Further adding, a very clear label NOTC that stands for Nominal Operating Cell Temperature is very prominently written on each of its solar cells.
Possible Risk for the Solar Cell
One of the main reasons for its heavy damage is its half-way exposure to:
- Light or
- Dark
In this kind of solar cell, either all of the solar cells are exposed to light or dark. If half of them are facing light and some are covered in a shadow, it is highly possible that the solar panel can be damaged very quickly and stop functioning efficiently without alerting its users before time.
Poly Crystalline Solar Cell
If we have to talk about this, we can easily say that the composition of its one cell consists of several silicon crystals. Very often it is seen in:
- Blue colour with different colour spots and lines over it
Compared to the monocrystalline solar cell, it transforms only 15% of the incident energy into electricity.
Efficiency
While making a comparison between the efficiency of mono and polycrystalline solar cell, it is observed that the latter performs slightly slower than the former.
However, both of them are quite popular in the business industry and as per the needs of an average Pakistani user, their demand is also increasing day by day.
Possible Risk
- The polycrystalline solar cell is quite less sensitive in the terms of money and damage both as compared to the mono solar cell
- Plus point of this cell is that it has larger heat-bearing power and can work perfectly fine up to 45C temperature without any hindrance.
- This kind of solar cell also gets damaged if half of its cells are exposed to light and half of them stay in the dark.
Thin Film or Amorphous Solar Cell
This kind of solar cell is also commonly known as “solar film” and the key characteristic which separates it from the above-mentioned types, is its composition.
- Unlike the other solar cells, this solar film is made up of special amorphous silicon and has no concern with the regularly used silicon crystals.
- It usually comes in black colour
- Unfortunately, the least amount of electricity is produced by this cell as compared to its volume. I.e. only 10% of incident light is converted into electricity, and this is why people do not prefer buying this solar cell.
- If we talk about its rates, it is very cheap and the least expensive solar cell
- Plus point of this cell is its heat bearing capacity as it can absorb maximum amounts of sunlight even if the temperature reaches as high as 45C
Benefits of Thin Solar Cell
One of the greatest advantages of the thin solar cell is that it is not at all affected or damaged by exposing half of its parts to the light and keeping half in the dark unlike the previous solar cells so it means:
- It is quite flexible and can be used in such places where the other kinds cannot be utilized that efficiently
- It is also considered to be one of the most eco-friendly photoelectric cell as it is completely free of harmful substances like cadmium and lead
Trina Solar Panel Review
With many options already available in the market, this article has talked about some of the famous solar panels so that people in Pakistan can have a clear idea of what product would suit their needs best.
The first thing to notice about Trina solar energy is that its products come in five different series of solar panels which are as follows:
- Allmax Series
- Allmax Plus Series
- Tallmax Series
- Tallmax Plus Series
- Duomax Series
Each of the series shares unique characteristics and varies from one another in the terms of:
- Working
- Efficiency
- Temperature coefficient
- Warranty, as well as
- Price Range
Availability
The entire solar panel price in Pakistan may vary depending upon its availability in various stores.
However, many customers have reviewed that they have purchased the panels from various online stores in relatively very affordable price in Pakistan.
Risen Solar Panel Review
It is also one of the top names among solar panel business in Pakistan and has gained massive popularity among people of Pakistan because of the amazing performance and cost of its products.
Starting from risen solar panel price in Pakistan, customers have said that if a product works so brilliantly, it is not much of deal for them to spend some extra bucks on it as they demand safety and perfection regarding the working of their home appliances especially when there is no electricity.
Their panel also comes in three types:
- Poly
- Mono, and
- Half Cell
The company also produces 325 Watts solar panels which work perfectly fine if someone has plenty of space on their house rooftop.
Risen RSM120-6-285P
This is considered to be one of the perfect options for many homes in Pakistan, however, it is still advised not to put this product in shady areas as its performance might be bit reduced.
Homage Solar Panel Review
Many users in Pakistan select UPS as a perfect power supply option for seamless and uninterrupted operation, as they offer immediate backup to devices without lag and discrepancy.
The UPS as well as the inverters, both of them make living conditions more pleasant and efficient, while satisfying the needs of the users and that is where Homage offers a long-lasting solution so that consumers enjoy consistent electricity in Pakistan even with frequent load shedding.
Homage Solar Inverter
Homage has both:
- Home inverters and
- Solar hybrid inverters.
The solar hybrid inverters are built to provide:
- Reliable,
- Trouble-free power backup
To ensure convenient and care free-living conditions. These work perfectly well in homes as well as high-maintenance offices in Pakistan.
Best solar panels in Pakistan
- Mono-crystalline solar panel by Canadian solar. Model No. HiKU CS3W-440. It can produce 440 Watts. It weighs approximately 25 kg.
- Poly-crystalline solar panels by T solar. Model no. CHSM6612M-310 Silver. It produces 310 Watts and weighs approximately 18 kg.
- Poly-crystalline solar panels by Canadian solar. It weighs approximately 19 kg and it can produce 345 Watt power. Model no. is TSPP - 4U- (36) - 160W.
Solar PV panel installation
The best place to install a solar panel is the roof because it gets the maximum sunlight with any shadow barrier. It is not compulsory to install a solar panel on the roof, it can also be installed on the ground. While installing solar panels on the roof, choose a lace that gets the maximum sunlight and there is no tall object in the surrounding that can stop sunlight.
Solar PV panels are installed in 8 steps these steps are
Scaffolding Solar Panel
Scaffolding is a safety technique applied until the solar panel installation is completed on the roof or on the ground.
Installing Solar Panel Mounts
The mounting system is the key structure in solar cell installation. It holds the solar panels so the mounting must be strong and unbreakable. It should also survive weather changes. The mounting structure is tilted from aside. It is preferred to tilt towards east ate an angle of 18 to 36 degrees. This is done to ensure maximum sun exposure.
Installing solar panels
Solar panels are attached to the mounting structure. The nuts are tightened properly to maintain stability. Solar panels are perfectly encapsulated in the mounting structure.
Wiring solar panels
Next, you have to install the electric wiring. Before this process is continued the household electric connection is cut off for safety purposes. Generally, the MC4 connector is used for wirings. These connectors are suitable for all types of solar panels.
Solar invertor
After wiring, connecting solar inverter is the next step of installation. The solar inverter can be stored indoors and outdoors.
It is better to install the inverter in a cooled place. If the solar inverter is installed outdoor, it should be kept away from sunlight. If a solar inverter is placed indoor, the place should stay cooler most of the time and must also have proper ventilation. For indoor solar invertors, garage or storerooms are usually preferred.
Solar battery
The solar battery is then connected to the solar inverter. The purpose of solar battery is to store energy for the night and also during cloudy weather when there is little or no sunshine.
Connecting consumer unit
The consumer unit is connected to the solar inverter to generate electricity. There is also a generation meter that can monitor solar system performance. It checks the amount of electricity solar system can produce. You can also monitor solar system performance on your computer and other devices like smartphones.
Then the final step is a test drive to check solar panels working. With this process, solar panel installation is completed.
Solar Panels Maintenance
Solar panel maintenance is very easy, the points are kept in mind when you have a solar panel are listed below:
- Make sure to have your solar system examined by the installers every 4-6 years.
- Check the electricity production of the solar panel once a week.
- To clean the panels wash the surface with water. Make sure the water pressure is kept mild otherwise, it can damage the panels.
- It is preferred to wash the panels in the evening or early morning.
- Do not put water on the solar panels when they are heated. It can damage the system.
- If the panels are not cleaned by pouring water, you can wash them by rubbing a sponge with soapy water. It is done by applying mild pressure on the panels or else they will break.
- If the panels are very high or need effective cleaning, you can call the cleaning company.
Note: You must consult the solar panel company before
Your Perfect Companion?
All of the companies mentioned above are working hard to become low-maintenance power supply solution which means that they are indirectly striving hard to provide a social benefit to Pakistan’s national electricity shortage and be a perfect companion in the customer’s life.
So, it is recommended to purchase the panels because once a person install any of the above mentioned solar panels, they will automatically start contributing electricity to the power grid, and the excess energy which the solar cells will store can help in the reduction of electricity bills for home or offices