In practical terms for two solar panels of the same physical size if one has a 21 efficiency rating and the other has a 14 efficiency rating the 21 efficient panel will produce 50 more kilowatt hours kwh of electricity under the same conditions as the 14 efficient panel.
Energy efficient solar panels.
Solar panel efficiency is a measure of the amount of solar energy irradiation which falls on a panel surface and is converted into electricity.
Due to the many recent advances in solar cell technology over the last 5 years average panel conversion efficiency has increased from 15 to 20.
Solar panel efficiency is a measure of how much sunlight that hits the surface area of a solar panel is converted into usable electricity.
A higher solar panel efficiency rating means a panel will produce more kilowatt hours of energy per watt of power capacity.
If a solar panel has 20 percent efficiency that means it s capable of converting 20 percent of the sunshine hitting it into electricity.
So if a solar panel has an efficiency rating of 15 that means 15 of the sunlight that hits the solar panels will be converted into electricity.
The average efficiency of solar panels falls between the 17 to 19 percent efficiency range.
The highest efficiency solar panels on the market today can reach almost 23 percent efficiency.
The most efficient solar panels commercially available today have solar panel efficiency just under 23.