Panasonic is a world-leading manufacturer in the solar panel industry with a legion of loyal homeowners who choose their products. So we’ve decided to write a comprehensive (and honest) Panasonic solar panels review for you to understand the hype surrounding these solar panels.
Overall, Panasonic panels boast a series of fantastic features that make them stand out from most competitors. Throughout the years, the company’s continuous solar developments have made their panels escalate in the market and position themselves as “premium solar products”.
In this review for Panasonic solar panels, we’ll go over the history of Panasonic panels, the main features of these modules, and how they compare to other manufacturers.
Table of Contents
About Panasonic Solar Panels
Before we start this Panasonic solar panels review, we’ll dig into the company’s history and the type of solar panels they make to better understand the different features we’ll explain later.
The History of Panasonic
Panasonic isn’t a new name in the electronics industry. It is one of the leading companies in the manufacturing of electric appliances. The same goes for their manufacturing of solar panels. Originally from Japan, Panasonic started its journey in the solar world in 1975, developing solar cells from amorphous silicon. Since then, the Japanese company has consolidated itself as a pioneer of photovoltaic technology and harnessed sun power through its products.
Today, Panasonic has become a favorite of homeowners due to its panels’ high-performance output, maximized reliability and durability, and outstanding efficiency.
What types of panels does Panasonic make?
Since 2004, the HIT series have been Panasonic’s best and most popular solar panels in the market, thanks to their high efficiency. To achieve this, the company uses the Heterojunction technology, one of the best production methods to increase efficiency and power output to their highest levels.
Instead of using just a crystalline wafer in the p-n junction, Panasonic combines two types of technology, crystalline and amorphous, to build a classic monocrystalline cell. This technology combination in a cell structure reduces the electrons lost at the cell boundaries, resulting in higher efficiency.
How Panasonic Solar Panels Compare to Other Manufacturers
To start this Panasonic solar panels review, we’ll focus on the three most important factors in a solar panel: efficiency, performance, and warranties.
Efficiency
We use the term “solar efficiency” to refer to the amount of sunlight that the photovoltaic cell can convert into usable electricity. In other words, we refer to the performance of the solar cell. Panasonic solar panels energy efficiency is well above the average, with 3-5% greater efficiency ratings than their mid-range competitors. Most solar panels provide an energy-efficient rating of 14% to 18% range. Meanwhile, Panasonic panels provide 19.1% to 21.2% of sunlight conversion.
Performance
A panel’s temperature coefficient is key to evaluating its performance. The temperature coefficient describes how well your solar panel works under high temperatures. In other words, the temperature coefficient refers to how much your panel’s output decreases on a sunny day.
Most solar manufacturers try to design panels with the lowest temperature coefficient possible as the panels have to spend many hours out in the sun.
While the majority of solar panels have a temperature coefficient of around -0.3% / °C to -0.5% / °C, Panasonic solar panels have a temperature coefficient of -0.258%/degree C, one of the lowest and best coefficients in the industry. If you do a little math, this means that for every degree over 25° C (77° F), your solar panel’s energy output will decrease by -0.258%.
Warranties
Another item worth reviewing is Panasonic’s solar panel warranty. A solar warranty ensures the solar panel is of quality and that the panel will sustain that quality over the years.
Panasonic solar panels have a strong warranty behind them, offering a long-term warranty of 25 years that covers any damages in the system for performance, product, or parts. Panasonic’s 25-year warranty is one of the longest in the industry, with most companies offering a 10 to 15-year warranty.
How Much Do Panasonic Solar Panels Cost?
Homeowners tend to step back from buying Panasonic solar panels, fearing all their fantastic features will reflect on the price tag. However, Panasonic solar panels cost is actually very competitive. On average, Panasonic panel systems cost between $2.40 and $3.02 per watt. If you install a 6K system, you can expect to pay somewhere between $14,400 to $18,120 (this price doesn’t include incentives.)
However, as we always say, knowing how much your solar panel system will cost isn’t an exact science. To get the most accurate numbers, you should consider your house’s electrical needs, the type of solar panels, etc.
What Makes Panasonic Solar Panels Different?
Let’s dive into what makes Panasonic solar panels so different from other manufacturers. These differences are what give them such highly rated reviews and are the reason for their success.
Performance Under High Temperatures
Panasonic solar panels have many virtues that make them one of the leaders in the solar industry. Its performance under high temperatures is among those virtues.
While solar panels need sunlight to produce electricity, in most cases, the extreme heat the sun produces decreases the panel’s output and efficiency. Sometimes, the output decreases so much that the inverter turns off. However, Panasonic tackled this issue with their HIT technology, which we will explain in detail later.
As we mentioned before, Panasonic solar panels are the best at producing power under extremely high temperatures. Their temperature coefficient is one of the lowest at -0.258%/degree C, making them a great option for those who live in areas prone to hot weather. With such a low-temperature coefficient, Panasonic solar panels continue to produce electricity with minimal output decrease. A photovoltaic module Panasonic HIT produces up to 13% more power during daytime with better temperature characteristics.
HIT Solar Cell Technology
No Panasonic solar panels review would be complete without mentioning their HIT technology, as this is arguably the main asset that sets the Japanese manufacturer apart from other solar manufacturers.
The Japanese company started using HIT technology (Heterojunction technology) to build their photovoltaic cells in 1980. In the manufacturing process, Panasonic includes laminated amorphous silicon and crystalline silicon to build the structure of the photovoltaic cell. The crystalline silicon substrate sits between the ultra-thin layers of amorphous silicon. These amorphous silicon layers reduce the electrons lost on the surface resulting in high efficiency. Moreover, Heterojunction solar cells have a bifacial structure to ensure the cells capture as much sunlight as possible. By having a bifacial structure, the cell captures sunlight from both sides of the panel. Finally, HIT technology optimizes sunlight capture because the module has a pyramid structure that reduces outward reflection by directing the sunlight that reflects on the rear side of the panel back to the solar cell.
An Honest Panasonic Solar Panels Review
So, are Panasonic solar panels good? Yes, no doubt about that. Panasonic is one of the best manufacturers in the solar industry and offers “premium solar panels.”
First off, Panasonic solar panels are some of the most efficient panels you can buy right now. Their solar panels achieve a conversion efficiency that ranges from 19.1% to 21.2%, way above the average efficiency rate of 14% to 18%. Also, Panasonic’s HIT solar panels have one of the lowest temperature coefficients at -0.258%/degree C, ensuring you’ll get an excellent output even on blazing sunny days. Let’s not forget Panasonic’s remarkable 25-year warranty.
Last but not least, their astounding performance under high temperatures and HIT technology are the highlights of Panasonic panels. Thanks to the low-temperature coefficient and Heterojunction technology, their solar cell structure has minimal electron loss and delivers peak efficiency.
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