Installing solar can involve a vast amount of information on the internet, making it a bit overwhelming, especially when you are a first-time solar homeowner with little knowledge of how it works. So we have come up with a list of the top 5 best solar panels in 2022 to help you make the best decision.
Before going through the list we have prepared, the best time to invest in a solar system is RIGHT NOW. As of this writing, electricity rates (and everything else) are at an all-time high, but so is the cost of borrowing money. Many people buy solar panels with $0 down loans; unfortunately, the interest rates on these have continued to rise. Where before, a .99% interest rate was easily found, now you’re looking at a 2.99% interest rate for the same loan.
How do we evaluate solar panels?
In this review, we have looked into the efficiency, degradation – or how quickly a solar panel loses its ability to produce electricity, and the manufacturer’s warranties. But by no means is this list the end-all-be-all of rating solar panels because, we think, the best solar panel for one person may not be the best for another.
1. Silfab – Silfab is one of the solar panel brands with a reasonable efficiency rate that ranges from 18.9% to 21.4%. Higher efficiency means more light converts into electricity. The Silfab panel is also aesthetically pleasing with its all-black design. They look like a sheet of black glass on your roof once installed. However, all-black PV solar panels tend to heat up faster, increasing the chances of degradation and impacting output.
Silfab, made in North America, guarantees a 30-year performance warranty that appeals to homeowners. Besides that, the brand offers a 12-year standard product warranty which can be extended to 25 years if Silfab qualifies the installer.
Customers’ positive reviews and performance make this brand a great choice.
Silfab
2. Sunpower– Sunpower has the highest efficiency rating among solar panels to date, coming in at 22.8% with up to 440W of output. On paper, they may have ‘the best solar panel.’
We must note that Sunpower is best when you have a limited roof space to maximize its efficiency. If your roof has a lot of available space, you may opt for lower-cost solar panels to save thousands of dollars.
SunPower is also one of the solar panels with a very low degradation rate of 0.4% per year. Solar manufacturers set these annual degradation rates at the maximum degradation allowed per year. If your solar panel degrades faster than expected, you may be able to initiate a warranty claim, but that may prove harder than you might hope.
SunPower offers a 25-year product warranty – like other panels. They also seem to have a 40-year warranty, but I couldn’t find conclusive evidence of how that works. Plus, that sounds a little gimmicky if you ask me, given that most people don’t live in the same home for even 25 years.
The biggest downside to these SunPower panels is the cost. Especially when you have other effective solar panels at a lower price. But if you have limited roof space and think the more expensive, the better, SunPower could be the right fit.
Sunpower
3. Hanwha QCells – Hanwha Qcell is a South Korean company and one of the most popular brands for residential solar panels in the United States. Plus, they’re made in Dalton, Georgia.
As of April 2022, Qcells topped the top market share in the US residential and commercial solar module markets at nearly 25%. So, how does Qcell command so much of the market?
QCells’ quantum technology is one of the reasons it is a leader in solar technology. They use a special nano-coating to allow more sunlight to reflect back through the cell to generate more electricity than standard solar panels. It delivers exceptional performance even in cloudy or less-than-optimal conditions.
Qcell’s efficiency rating varies depending on your chosen model. They may not have the highest efficiency compared to other solar panels, but they’re not too far behind at 19.6% to 21.2% efficiency.
And not to be biased – yeah, I’m being biased; this is my favorite solar panel. With Qcell, you get much bang for your buck, especially given the company’s strength in offering you a 25-year warranty that often includes labor.
Qcell
4. Jinko– Jinko is a company founded in China known for manufacturing solar panels, solar cells, and wafers. They have established their name as the most significant global producer by shipment volume for the last six years. Jinko has manufacturing facilities in China, Malaysia, and the US.
Jinko is known to be an excellent entry-level, cost-effective panel. Their solar panel’s efficiency is as high as 20.38%. However, Jinko solar needs to catch up to other companies in other aspects. For one, their product warranty only stands for 12 years. Also, power output is warranted to at least 83% of panel capacity at the 25-year mark, depending on the model. They must catch up to premium brands whose power warranties promise 90% output at 25 years.
Despite its downsides, Jinko’s credibility, as proven by its long history and affordability, makes them an excellent choice.
5. REC Group– REC panels are popular and have a high-efficiency rating. It prides itself on rigorous testing of its PV molecules, and they offer a 25-year warranty for its products.
REC solar panels’ efficiency ranges from 20.7 to 22.3%, which puts them on the high end in terms of efficiency.
They offer, at the most, 25 years of warranties as long as your installer is REC-certified. If not, then you are entitled to a 20-year warranty. Their panels also tend to be higher priced than Qcell or Jinko.
Also, REC solar panels are not for DIY projects. You can’t just buy them; you need to install them with a solar company.
How to choose the best solar panels for your home
Finding the right solar panel for your home should depend on more than the technical specifications that salespeople will undoubtedly harp on.
Of course, the details of the panels are essential, but a great place to start is by considering how much electricity you will need and what your roof situation is like. If you need a lot of power and have limited space, then the higher-efficiency and higher-wattage solar panels might be of greater interest to you.
DroneQuote is here to make it easy for you to find the right solar panel system. From an online approach that makes it easy to get the information you need without the sales pitches to our knowledgeable consultants that will ask the right questions, we’ve built a reputation for being of service. If you want to know more about our process in helping you buy the right solar panel system for your home, check us out at dronequote.net. And if you’d like to show us your support, please consider subscribing to our YouTube channel.