Calculating Solar Panel Efficiency

 

Understanding Solar Panel Efficiency – A Key to Better System Performance 

One of the most essential parameters in evaluating the performance of a solar PV module is its efficiency. But how is it calculated?

 The formula is straightforward:

Efficiency (%) = (Output Power / (Solar Irradiance × Area)) × 100

Let's break it down with a real example:

Output Power (Pmax): 400 W

Module Size: 1.7 m × 1.0 m

Solar Irradiance: 1000 W/m²

Using the formula:

Efficiency = (400 / (1000 × 1.7)) × 100 = 23.53%

This means the panel converts 23.53% of the sunlight it receives into usable electricity — a high efficiency for commercial modules!