Home energy systems are great additions to your home. In the long run, they can help you Save on utility billsBut it’s not perfect. This is because no system is 100% effective.
The reality of these systems is that while electricity is transmitted from the solar panels, through the wires and Inverters And in Batteries – and many smaller parts – some of the resulting energy is lost. The amount of total electrical energy successfully converted into usable energy indicates electrical efficiency. But why does it matter?
Understanding the efficiency of any electrical equipment you install in your home is key, experts say Get the most out of your investment. Here’s what you need to know.
What is electrical efficiency?
Electrical efficiency is basically a ratio, according to Jacqueline OmotaladeNational Director of Climate Investments at Dream.orgClimate Justice Organization.
The efficiency of any technology is a measure of how much useful power you get compared to a given input power, Omotalade says. Think of it in terms of solar panels on a sunny day: In a highly efficient system, you will get a lot of electrical energy from the total energy input; In a passive system, you will get a smaller portion of the sun’s energy.
Efficiency extends beyond the panels themselves. Everything in your home that carries electricity, from the solar inverter to the wiring in your walls, has an efficiency rating, and energy may be lost if your system is inefficient.
But where does this “missing” power actually go? “It is not used, and it disappears,” Omotalade said. Power may be lost for a number of reasons, such as waste heat or natural resistance within the system.
Why is electrical efficiency important?
Now you know what electrical efficiency is, but why should you care?
Well, if you’re going to invest Tens of thousands of dollars In a highly efficient solar panel system, you want to make sure your home can match that. If your panels are connected to an inefficient inverter, battery, or household wiring, you will lose some of the power your panels generate.
Understanding efficiency can help too Size your system correctly. More efficient solar panels mean that you will need fewer panels to generate the required amount of energy, compared to less efficient panels. Efficiency also affects cost, and products with higher efficiency can be more expensive.
Omotalade says electrical efficiency is also an issue of climate justice. In many urban and minority communities, older homes have less efficiency, which means residents will have fewer investments like solar panels when it comes to producing energy.
What is good electrical efficiency?
You’re probably wondering: What numbers should I be looking for here? It depends on the technology, but as a general rule: the more electrical efficiency, the better.
Let’s break it down.
What is a good efficiency rating for solar panels?
A good efficiency rating for solar panels is between 19% and 22%, says Becca Jones-Albertus, director of the Office of Solar Energy Technologies at the U.S. Department of Energy.
“the The most efficient solar panels “Technology on the market can convert more than 22% of sunlight into electricity,” Jones-Albertus said in an email.
Most people would want a higher efficiency solar panel that can convert more sunlight, but you can get a lower efficiency if you have more roof space for more panels. “For example, a 6,000-watt PV system using solar panels that are 22% efficient will take up less physical space than a 6,000-watt PV system using solar panels that are 19% efficient, but both will be rated to produce the same amount,” Jones-Albertus said. Authority”.
This is also important to note Efficiency will decrease as solar panels age. The best panels will retain about 90% of their original efficiency rating by the end of the warranty period, which typically ranges from 25 to 40 years, says Jones-Albertus.
Of course, temperature can affect efficiency as well. While you need sunny days to generate electricity, extreme heat can reduce the power output of panels by up to 16% on average panels, according to Jones Albertus.
What is a good efficiency rating for household batteries?
The numbers here are completely different. When you look at battery efficiency ratings, aim for something with around 85% efficiency, says Jones-Albertus. Newer batteries can be over 90% efficient.
Remember, efficiency is a ratio, so with household batteries, efficiency measures how much power goes into the battery versus how much power you can draw.
Just like solar panels, battery efficiency is not constant. The age of the battery, the temperature of its storage location, and the number of charge-discharge cycles completed can affect this efficiency figure during use.
“As with all types of batteries, efficiency and energy storage capacity will degrade over the useful life of the battery system,” Jones Albertus said.
What is a good efficiency rating for solar inverters?
Here you are looking for the highest efficiency numbers. Solar inverters are an essential piece of equipment that takes the energy coming from solar panels and makes it usable as electricity in your home.
Jones-Albertus recommends looking for solar inverters with efficiencies in the 96 to 97% range — meaning there will be almost no power loss as power flows from your home. Solar panels on your home. the The most efficient inverters The efficiency can reach 99%.