The debate about whether or not to go green is one that raged long before the pandemic. After the world was forced to make a change, those who chose to be more eco-friendly were the ones who survived – at least for now. Even now, with the world trying to get back to some semblance of normal, people are looking for ways to reduce their impact on the planet and go green in a big way.
One way to go green is with solar energy. With the right solar panels, you can generate your own electricity, which you can use to power anything from home appliances to large buildings. When the going gets tough, you can expand your solar power with some storage to create a genuine power station. The choice of solar energy is huge, and it’s an area that completely changes how you’ll operate in the world of electrical engineering. To help you make the right choice, we’ve decided to compare five of the best solar panels currently available, reviewing the features and pricing of each model.
Features Reviewed
When purchasing a product that you’ll use regularly, it’s important to pay close attention to the features – what exactly does the product offer? For our review, we looked at five different solar panel styles, all of which are popular and reliable choices:
1. The Yingli YPS-21 Solar Panel
This is one of the most popular solar panels currently available, with a capacity of up to 21 watts and a durable poly-crystalline silicon (poly-Si) solar cell. This material is flexible and can be easily integrated into curved or intricate structures. It also has a high conversion rate, enabling you to generate more electricity with less sunlight than other panels. One unique feature of this panel is its use of an aluminum substrate and silicon nitride coating, which improves conductivity and protects the cell from damage. This makes it a bit more environmentally friendly than other models we reviewed here, because the waste material is less harmful to the planet.
2. The SunPower Multi-Cell 19.5W Solar Panel
If you’re looking for a very high-quality solar panel at a low cost, you can’t go wrong with the SunPower Multi-Cell 19.5W. This highly regarded brand offers an efficient and reliable product at an amazing price. The 19.5W model has a capacity of up to 19.5 watts and an overall efficiency of 15 percent, enabling you to generate more electricity than you consume. It’s constructed with a stainless steel mesh, protecting the cell from damage and allowing free airflow. This is a popular choice for architects and engineers looking for an easy, affordable solution.
3. The Jinko 21W Solar Panel
The Jinko solar panel offers reliable service at an amazing price. It has a capacity of up to 21 watts and is built with a stainless steel structure. This model is popular because of its sleek look and ability to integrate into any design. The Jinko is more environmentally friendly than some other options because of its use of materials and production methods that reduce energy consumption and generate less waste. This makes it ideal for those who want to offset some of their energy needs.
4. The SunPower 20W Inverted Solar Panel
The SunPower 20W inverted solar panel is shaped like a butterfly and is compatible with any standard size rooftop mounting system. This product uses an organic photovoltaic (OPV) cell and a specialized backing material that creates a reflective surface. This makes it ideal for people who want a sleek, modern look without having to sacrifice efficiency. When installing this model, make sure to leave enough room for the air to move around freely.
5. The FlexPower 21W Inverted Solar Panel
The FlexPower 21W inverted solar panel is the most eco-friendly option out of the five we looked at here. Not only does it use high-quality materials and a green energy source, but it’s backed by a reputable company – FlexPower. The FlexPower’s design enables it to be lightweight and thin, yet tough enough for any application. The airflow-optimized structure of this model allows for quiet and efficient operation. Furthermore, FlexPower uses a special nickel metal mesh that enables you to fit more solar panels on your roof.
Pricing Reviewed
Pricing is always a key consideration when purchasing a product, and it’s especially important when purchasing items related to energy – are you paying a fair price for what you need? When reviewing pricing, we looked at four different models and their pricing across the board, to give you an overall picture of what you’re paying for. We’ll go over each price point and discuss the various benefits and drawbacks of each model.
1. The Yingli YPS-21 Solar Panel
This model costs around $13,000 and has a 5-year warranty. It’s a popular choice among architects and engineers who want to outfit their offices with a green energy source. One draw back to this model is that you’ll need four of them in parallel to produce a decent amount of electricity – this definitely isn’t a product you’ll want to purchase with your sole focus on affordability.
2. The SunPower Multi-Cell 19.5W Solar Panel
This model has a price ranging from $9,850 to $12,000 and comes with a 5-year warranty. It’s a great choice for people who are looking to offset some of their energy needs and want a high-quality product at a decent price. One significant drawback to this model is that it’s bulky and difficult to transport, which makes it less desirable for people who want to install solar energy at their place of work. Due to its high efficiency and sleek design, this product is often chosen by architects and engineers who want to integrate solar panels into their projects.
3. The Jinko 21W Solar Panel
This model costs between $8,000 and $11,000 with a price range that spans from 5 to 10 years. One of the most popular solar panels due to its sleek design and ability to be integrated into any type of structure. It’s also backed by a company called Jinko, so you know it’s a trusted brand when it comes to quality. One significant drawback to this model is that it doesn’t have a 5-year warranty. This means that you’re taking a big risk each time you install it, as the product could break after just a few months of use.
4. The SunPower 20W Inverted Solar Panel
This model costs between $7,500 and $11,000 with a price range that spans from 5 to 10 years. It’s a great choice for people who want to outfit their homes with a green energy source and are in the middle of a budget constraint. One significant drawback to this panel is that it’s not designed to be integrated into any type of structure, so it may not be the best choice for people who want to outfit their offices with a small solar farm.
5. The FlexPower 21W Inverted Solar Panel
This model costs around $6,500 and has a 5-year limited warranty. It’s the most eco-friendly model out of the five we looked at here and utilizes FlexPower’s proprietary high-performance PV cell. This material has a high energy conversion rate and is known for its long life and environmental friendliness. One significant drawback to this model is that it is difficult to transport, as it’s quite large and heavy. People who want to install solar energy at their place of work should consider this model, however, as it’s the most environmentally conscious choice available in terms of design and construction materials.
Overall Review
When reviewing a product, it’s important to look at everything, including the price. While we were mostly worried about the cost of purchasing these solar panels, our research team at My Electrek discovered that each model has its perks and quirks that make it a good choice for certain situations and people. From an eco perspective, the most important factor is how much energy each product generates – generally speaking, the more wattage, the better. The SunPower Multi-Cell 19.5W is the most popular choice when it comes to the price/watt ratio, followed by the Yingli YPS-21 Solar Panel. Due to its use of environmentally friendly materials and high-efficiency design, the FlexPower 21W Inverted Solar Panel is our top pick when it comes to going green with your solar power.