With solar panels increasingly used in nearly zero energy building solutions it is important to clarify if the panels can achieve the efficiency indicators specified by their producers in real operation conditions. To determine the efficiency of poly- and monocrystalline panels depending on their spatial orientation and the seasons a set of test panels was installed in 2018 in Riga, Latvia for long-term monitoring of the amount of generated power and produced energy. Here we summarize the results of the first year of monitoring. Data indicate that orientation has high significance, very small amounts of energy are generated in autumn/winter and that there is a good correspondence of the actual efficiency to the standardized estimated values. The energy production is significantly reduced by the cloudiness that is characteristic for Latvia’s climate from October till January. To make a generalization of the results possible it is planned to continue the monitoring for several years.
As solar panel technologies become more and more popular and are increasingly used in nearly zero-energy building solutions, one must make sure that the panels are able to achieve performance indicators similar to those determined by manufacturers under standard testing in real-world conditions. To determine the efficiency of poly- and monocrystalline panels, depending on their spatial orientation and other parameters, a set of test panels was installed in Riga, Latvia in 2018 for long-term monitoring of their power output. This article summarizes the results for the first two years. In the autumn of the second year of monitoring, temperature sensors were installed on the solar panels to study the effects of temperature on panel’s efficiency. The data show that the panel’s spatial positioning is a crucial element affecting the amount of energy produced, although the type of panels and climate conditions are also important.
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