The efficiency and quality of a solar power system  are measured by the efficiency and quality of each individual component of the system. An accurate choice of components, especially the modules and inverters is of fundamental importance for your solar power system to operate at it’s optimum performance.

A Photovoltaic solar power system must be able to function efficiently for 25-30 years in all weather conditions and under the hot summer sun.

Grounding Hardware

What is commonly called in the Photovoltaic  industry “BOS” (Balance of System), i.e. the “rest of the system” (rails, grounding, surge protection, wire, cables, etc.), plays a very important role in ensuring that you and your home or building are properly protected and have adequate power production for many years to come.

From an economic viewpoint, it is even more important for each individual component of a solar power system to be chosen on the basis of the warranties provided by the product and its manufacturer than for a normal electric system. Why? Because the operating specifications of each device must remain unchanged throughout the entire life cycle of your system and investment.

Sun City Solar Energy is dedicated to providing reliable products from the direct current (DC) side through to the Alternate Current grid connected point. In fact, the solar panel we suggest, after careful research, has a 30 year unprecedented warranty!

Would you like to live completely off the grid? The Harris’ have decided to do just that! Building a beautiful new home with Off-Grid Solar Power designed and installed by Sun City Solar Energy. The Harris’s will moved in at the end of August and are very excited to be energy independent. 

In Tulsa, one of our many repeat customers, Mr. Russell, has asked Sun City Solar to install his fifth installation with our team. Starting last November with a solar power system with battery back up and Solar Hot Water, Mr. Russell has asked Sun City Solar to install another solar power system with battery back up and Solar Hot Water on another home.

Sun City recently designed and installed a solar lab for Oklahoma Gas and Electric so they can test several inverters.

Last week we finished a large Solar Hot Water system for Eureka Springs Transit Authority, a  Solar Power system for the City of Springdale, and a Solar Pool Heater for Eco Apartments.

Of course, we continue to install many residential grid tie systems and enjoy our customer’s smiles when they see their meter spin backwards!

Sunpower, an American company, sells the solar module with the highest efficiency of 19.6%.  Number three Sanyo  HIT technology combines a crystalline silicon cell with an additional amorphous silicon layer. The difference between the leader and the number 10 is 3.4%; Although a small difference, it could be relatively significant. The difference could mean you will use less space on your roof to achieve the same system power or energy yield. It also means you need less Balance Of System components such as mounting hardware. Does it  pay to use the higher efficient modules?

This ranking does not say anything about the module cost per Watt, nor about the most important concern, the cost per produced solar kWh. It could mean that a module of lower efficiency is so much cheaper that the extra cost for other system components (more frame, cables, installation work) can easily be covered by the money saved on the modules. Also, some modules perform better in real life conditions rather than in the standard test condition as mentioned on the their certified datasheet.

All but one of the  the top 10  modules are manufactured in Asia.  The number one, Sunpower, is from the US, but their cells and modules are manufactured in the Philipines.   Several well known brands did not make it into the Top-10 as most are  young and unknown brands.It will be interesting to see what market position these young companies obtain.   The future will tell as the top 10 listings  will continue to change.