How to Choose Solar Panels in Ghana will always be a major question . This is due the the wide assortment of varieties available and the lack of expertise in this specialized area of electrical energy.Solar panels provide renewable energy for your home, which helps the environment and reduces your electricity bill. But not all panels are alike. The material a panel is made of, what solar inverter it uses, and how it mounts to your roof determines what environments it works best in. Before you buy solar panels for your home, research the different factors and decide which option is right for you in Ghana.

Ghana has an average effective sunshine of 5.5 hours daily .As a considerable investment, it’s worth evaluating a solar power system for your home before have it installed. Doing your research and seeking professional advice can help you to make an informed decision. Here are a couple of other things to consider before making the change:

Types of Solar panels in Ghana

There are different types of solar cells, with different efficiencies. Although their names might sound confusing, it is good to know at least the name not to be out-of-topic if your supplier happens to mention this.Popular solar panel brands in Ghana include ,Jinko solar,Victron Energy,TrinaSolar LG,Yingli, and Canadian Solar.Its however important to seek the advice from a professional as there are many knock offs or  fake products on the Ghana  market.

Monocrystalline silicon offers high efficiency and good heat tolerance characteristics with a small footprint. Polycrystalline (or multi-crystalline) silicon cell based solar panels are now the most popular choice in Ghana’s  residential installs. There are also Amorphous (or thin-film) silicon cells, which use the least amount of silicon and are not very efficient. For an equivalent wattage, a crystalline panel will be smaller than an amorphous panel.

monocrystalline solar panels in Ghana installed on a rooftop

Choose monocrystalline solar panels for efficiency. Monocrystalline solar panels are the best at converting light to energy because of their high silicon purity. That being said, monocrystalline solar panels are often the most expensive—this option is best if you want the highest productivity and price tag.

• Monocrystalline solar panels cost between $150-350 USD per panel.
• Monocrystalline solar panels also produce the most waste when they’re manufactured. If you’re buying solar panels to go green, another material may suit your needs better.
• All solar panels are made of silicon. The higher the silicon purity, the better your panel will work, which is why monocrystalline solar panels in Ghana are ideal.

Go with polycrystalline solar panels for an environmentally-friendly option.Polycrystalline solar panels utilize all of the silicon material they’re manufactured with, making them the “greenest” panel option. Polycrystalline solar panels are also cheaper than mono crystalline panels, though they are about 2% less efficient than Mono crystalline.

• Polycrystalline solar panels in Ghana  usually cost between $100-250 USD per panel.
• other school of thought claim that Polycrystalline solar panels do not do as well in warm temperatures and that Hot climates with temperatures regularly above around 80 °F (27 °C) are not suitable for polycrystalline panels.This may be true depending on the installation technique utilized.Its important to allow steady air flow underneath the solar panels to produce cooling effect.

Buy thin-film solar panels for the most budget-friendly option. Thin-film panels are cost-efficient to make and are usually the cheapest option. They also, however, degrade faster than other panels. Choose thin-film if you need a simple solar panel that may need more repairs over the years.

There is also another variation called solar cloth i.e photovoltaic textiles we have developed are as thin as bank notes and flexible enough to wrap around a pencil, which allows their use on virtually any type of surface

• Thin film solar panels usually cost between $125-200 USD per panel.
• Thin-film panels usually need the most space and are less practical for smaller homes. They may need up to twice as much room as a mono- or polycrystalline solar panel with the same energy output.

Buy amorphous solar panels for smaller homes

Amorphous solar panels are a subset of thin-film solar panels. Generally, they are smaller than other thin-film panels. Through a process called “stacking,” which involves multiple layers of amorphous silicon cells, these panels can reach high levels of efficiency, around twice as high as other thin-film solar panels.

• Amorphous solar panels are more expensive than other thin-film panels.
• Amorphous solar panels generally cost between $100-200 USD per panel.

Solar Panel Quality

This takes into account how the panel is manufactured and the quality of the materials used to build the solar panel. There are different types of manufacturers producing panels that differ in quality, price, and efficiency. Some vertically integrated solar panel manufacturers  control each stage of the production process. They put a strong eye on quality and invest a lot into research and development (R&D). There are other manufacturers that only assemble solar  panels in Ghana, but usually don’t manufacture their own cells and don’t invest in R&D. They use more human production than robotic, but produce the most affordable panels.

When choosing  suppliers of  solar panels in Ghana,   it is wise to check the companies’ reviews or history and see what experiences clients had with each of them. Since you will make a big investment, it is important to do a bit of research and see if clients are satisfied with the product and the customer service, and if the company did all that it has promised.

Energy Efficiency

Victron Energy install flexible solar panels on a VW Van Electrics Install

This is how much of the light the panel receives is converted into electrical energy and hence, how much power your system will generate. The more efficient, the better (and more expensive). It is not always the best choice to get the biggest and most efficient solar panel, since you might end up spending more money than you should to cover your energy needs. You should assess your requirements and find the panel that best suits your needs: this means not underestimate, but also not to overestimate your needs. Likewise, you don’t need a Helicopter  to take your children to school (you can have it of course, but you can do the same spending a lot less).

Durability

This could be an indicator of the manufacturer’s confidence in its products. Usually, quality solar panels in Ghana  have a 25 year warranty (as long as the company operates). If the manufacturer does not offer a long warranty period, you could suspect that their product is not very good and hence they don’t want to take any responsibility. In this case, be careful not to be mislead by a tempting price since you might regret it in the long run.

Professional Solar Installation

Hiring a professional company in Ghana to install solar panels is a common option for several reasons. Here are just a couple of the pros of professional installation.

Pros

• More Experience: Some of the top solar companies have been installing home solar systems for years. You can feel more confident using a professional company since many states require installers to obtain licensure and maintain preset qualifications to install solar panels. Further, because most established companies have worked with thousands of customers, they can help you determine how much solar energy your home needs and which permits you must get before the install.

• Higher-Quality Materials and Warranties: While professional installation is more expensive than a DIY kit.you’re paying for higher quality in most cases—a big deal when you consider that quality solar panel systems can last several decades. Most often, solar installers can purchase equipment from distributors that don’t sell to the general public, meaning they have access to better-quality panels and supplies that a retail  store can’t offer. Some solar companies even have proprietary panel technology that far outpaces market standards. Additionally, most professional installers provide warranties on their work, so any repairs needed in the future may be covered.

Conclusion :

Both Mono crystalline and Poly crystalline solar  panels are great options for Ghana ,However Mono crystalline has a slight advantage over poly crystalline by some 2% extra power generation.That Gap is however is compensated for by cost difference between the two.

If you are really pressed for space and are willing to spend some extra go for mono other than that poly will do just fine in Ghana.