Solar Panels
All the countries are replacing traditional energy sources, and Australia is not behind. It is adopting solar energy as a safer alternative. Sunshine Coast is one of the areas with more than 40% of homes with solar panels connection.
While solar panels are an environment-friendly option, their production still uses energy, which may not always be clean.
The production of solar panels requires materials like silicon, aluminium and glass. The mining and processing of these materials produce harmful gasses like CO2. But the right solar panel manufacturers can cover this loss in five to twenty-five months.
If you buy or have the best solar panel on the Sunshine Coast, you can make it more sustainable. Here are the five ways to make solar panels more sustainable.
How to make solar panels more sustainable?
1. Choose solar panels with high-quality photovoltaics.
Technological advancement and development have improved/enhanced the durability of solar panels. Now, most manufacturers offer solar panels with a 25 – 30 years warranty.
However, the latest photovoltaic cell manufacturing involves adding robust glass to the panel’s backside. It increases the lifespan of solar panels and ultimately lowers CO2 emissions.
So it’s always recommended to ask your solar panel supplier for high-quality photovoltaics that promotes longevity and sustainability of solar panels.
2. Get them Repaired
Solar panels have a simple model design, interconnecting and sealing different elements. Defects are rare, but you should get them repaired to prevent moisture and increase durability when they occur.
For example, if the front glass breaks, it can lead to moisture inside the panel and influence its performance. Such fault would need an instant solar panel replacement.
Similarly, other elements and seals get porous with time. But you can easily get them resealed with an adhesive. Even solar companies replace old junction boxes and electrical cables if needed. So the earlier you get rid of defects, the longer your solar panel functions efficiently.
3. Maintain Solar Panel’s Cleanliness
The solar energy market is slowly evolving, and all solar panel suppliers promise maximum efficiency on their products. While you can get the best of the solar panels, you can’t keep them working smoothly without putting some effort into regular cleaning.
Dust is one of the crucial elements resulting in shading. It decreases solar panels’ efficiency and durability. So once you get a solar panel installed, you need to maintain its cleanliness for more sustainability.
Since solar panels mainly consist of glass materials, you can easily brush away the dust once or twice a year. It will increase your solar panel efficiency by 21%.
4. Prevent Overheating
Solar panels absorb sunlight, but that doesn’t mean they can resist intense heat. The semiconductor used in panels will decrease its performance in high temperatures.
Whenever you install high-quality solar panels, it’s essential to ensure their correct placement. There should be at least 7 inches of space between your roof and the solar panel to allow proper airflow and natural cooling.
The green roof can be another option to maintain a cool temperature and increase solar panel efficiency. According to a study by the University of Technology Sydney, surrounding the panels with greenery like plants and foliage can increase solar panels output by 3.6%. So if you want to make your solar panels more sustainable, go for green roofs. They can reduce surface temperature by 20°C as compared to other non-plant surfaces and absorb around nine tonnes of greenhouse gases.
5. Reuse and Recycle
Solar panels consist of valuable silicon, silver, lead, and metal items. You can imagine a solar panel like an electronic sandwich. Here, a thin layer of crystalline silicon cells acts as the filling. It is insulated and protected from different elements on either side with sheets of polymers and glass. It’s all held together with an aluminium frame. The panel has a junction box on the backside with copper wires that channels the generated electricity.
When the solar panels get damaged or obsolete, all the parts like cables, junction boxes and aluminium frames are separated and treated accordingly.
For example, glass fragments get recycled into thermal insulation materials such as glass wool, while plastic foils get incinerated to produce energy.
However, recycling solar materials requires bespoke recycling methods. Otherwise, valuable items like silicon and silver get wasted in landfills.
Conclusion
Shifting to solar panels is the best move toward saving the environment, but buying the best solar panels on Sunshine Coast is not enough. However, you can make your solar panels more sustainable. Implement the five ways mentioned in this article, and you will see an improvement in the efficiency and durability of your solar panel.
