Photo voltaic panel producer Maxeon mentioned this month that its new Maxeon 7 panel set a brand new effectivity report for its sort at 24.9%. The determine was confirmed by the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
The brand new benchmark serves “to set the tempo for the complete photo voltaic trade,” Matt Dawson, Maxeon’s chief expertise officer, mentioned in a company statement about the achievement. The most efficient residential solar panels accessible at this time have most effectivity marks that high out at just below 23%.
American photo voltaic customers who wish to have Maxeon 7 panels put in can have to wait. Although the panel is accessible for “choose companions” in Europe, it will not be accessible throughout “all areas,” together with america, till the third quarter of 2024.
Extremely environment friendly photo voltaic panels can squeeze extra electrical energy out of restricted house and generally is a good match for individuals who cannot set up a bigger variety of much less environment friendly panels. It may be cheaper to put in extra panels to get the identical electrical energy with a decrease effectivity score.
Not each panel might be accessible from each installer. That is one of many causes it is necessary to speak to a number of solar installation companies to make sure you’re getting the best deal available to you.
Maxeon’s new effectivity report continues the long-term pattern of accelerating effectivity. In 2004 practically all residential photo voltaic installations used panels with an efficiency rating below 16%, in response to the Lawrence Berkeley Nationwide Laboratory. In 2022, practically all residential installations used panels with an effectivity score of 19% or higher.
Maxeon 7 panels are additionally rated to face up to golf ball-size hail (as much as 45mm or about 1.7 inches in diameter).
