PERC stands for “passivated emitter and rear contact” or “rear cell”. Solar panels built with PERC cells have an additional layer on the back of the traditional solar cells. This additional layer allows more sunlight to be captured and turned into electricity, making PERC cells more efficient than traditional cells. PERC modules are also able to mitigate rear recombination and prevent longer wavelengths from becoming heat that would impair the cell’s performance.
PERC solar panels first appeared around 2012 but it took manufacturers several years to refine the process and bring down costs. Over the past year or two PERC panels have really taken off and perhaps one-quarter of new panels produced are PERC. This may reach 50% in 2020. With steady improvements over the years, PERC modules are becoming increasingly popular and may dominate market share in the coming years.
Benefits of PERC modules over traditional modules are:
Increased Energy Production
PERC solar panel is about 1% more efficient than a traditional panel. On a full PV system this can add up to 5% more energy production. If a standard module has an efficiency of 20%, a system using PERC modules will generate about 5% more energy than a system using standard modules, all else being equal.
Increased Low-light and High-heat Performance
PERC solar panels excel particularly well in both high-heat environments and low-light environments, with about a 3% increase in efficiency.
More Cost-effective
Though the manufacturing cost of PERC cells are the same as the traditional ones, PERC panels are more cost-effective as it allows energy output to be maximized due to more efficient energy conversion.
Smaller Roof Footprint
As PERC panels are more efficient, few such panels can create the same power as traditional panels. Hence a solar panel system with PERC panels can fit onto smaller roofs.
Reduced BOS and Soft Costs
PERC solar panels help in the reduction in soft costs. Since installers need fewer panels to achieve the same output, they can save on both labor costs as well as inverters, disconnects, and other balance of system (BOS) costs.
PERC panels are now becoming the industry standard. Regen Power has been using Mono PERC panels since 2019. It is optimal for residential rooftop installations, where faster ROI and lower installation costs are the driving factors. We get ahead of the competition and provide our customers with a top-of-the-line product for a very little extra cost. The increase in demand for high-efficiency panels is inevitably pushing the consumers to adopt mono PERC panels. Though it is slightly more expensive than traditional panels, its benefits far outweigh the added costs. Most tier-1 module manufacturers like Trina, Q-Cells, and SunTech offer them in Australia.
