Vikram solar panels: My complete analysis for you

Vikram Solar panels are India’s leading tier 1 solar panel manufacturer with an installed capacity of 2.5 GW.

It produces high-quality Mono-PERC, Bi-facial, Mono-facial mono-crystalline, and polycrystalline solar panels at its production facility near Kolkata.

Its solar panels are:

• Efficient
• Have positive power tolerance
• Great performance even under the shade
• long Product and Performance warranties
• Less degradation
• PID resistant

Let us discuss Vikram solar panels in detail:

Solar panels series by Vikram Solar

Vikram solar panel produces over 600 watts of solar panels.

Its solar panels come under 5 series:

1. PARADEA Series: Bi-facial solar panels preferred for large scale project
2. PREXOS Series: Bi-facial solar panels with a transparent back sheet. These solar panels are suitable for projects having different roofing materials.
3. ELDORA Series: These are polycrystalline mono-facial solar panels. They are chosen for residential rooftop and ground-mounted systems.
4. SOMERA Series: Highly efficient Mono-PERC solar panels. Therefore, they are the right choice for people having space constraints.
5. SOLIVO Series: Smart PV modules run independently of each other. Also, you can monitor their performance remotely through a smartphone app. Moreover, one can even shut down the system using the app in the case of a fire.

The technology of Vikram Solar Panels

Vikram Solar is producing solar panels with the latest technology that includes:

• Mono-facial Monocrystalline
• Polycrystalline
• Mono-PERC solar panels
• Half-cut solar cell technology
• Bi-facial solar panels
• Smart PV modules

Let us discuss each technology:

a) Monofacial and Monocrystalline solar panels

Solar panels whose one side is used for collecting sunlight. In mono-crystalline, the solar panels have solar cells made from a single crystal of silicon cell.

These panels are uniform in color, have higher efficiencies, and perform better in high temperatures.

b) Polycrystalline solar panels

The solar panels have cells made from fragments of silicon crystals and thus have non-uniform in color. These panels have lower efficiencies but are more affordable than the monocrystalline ones.

You can see the non-uniformity in its color. Some parts of the cells are light blue while others are dark.

c) Bi-facial solar panels

Solar panels whose both sides are front and back absorb sunlight and generate electricity.

The front side absorbs direct sunlight and converts it into electricity.

While the rear side captures the reflected light from the ground for making current.

d) Mono-PERC solar cell technology by Vikram Solar

In this technology, a layer is pasted at the back of the solar cell.

This makes it more efficient.

This layer reflects that portion of the light that is passed through the cell without making a current.

As this layer reflects this light to the cell, it got another chance to capture it for a photo-electric effect.

The passivated layer pasted at the back reflects the light.

In addition, this technology helps in reducing the heating effect and thus heating losses are minimized.

And you get a highly efficient solar panel.

Strength of Vikram Solar Panels

Vikram solar panels are capable of withstanding high wind pressure and snow weight on their surface.

It offers 2400 Pascals wind load rating and 5400 Pascals as a snow load rating.

Warranties by Vikram Solar

Long warranties give you peace of mind.

It is an assurance from the manufacturer against any pre-mature defect in the product and performance of the solar panel.

It will either replace it or repair it.

Solar panels have two types of warranties:

• Product warranty
• Performance warranty

The product warranty protects the solar panel from any premature wear and tear.

whereas in a Performance warranty, the manufacturer assures that the solar will produce a certain percentage of Pmax after 25 years.

Vikram solar offers:

Product Warranty

• 10-12 years product warranty

Performance Warranty

Vikram Solar offers two performance warranties in its different series:

• 30 years performance warranty in PARADEA series (2% in the first year and thereafter 0.5% till the 30th year).
• 27 years Performance warranty in all other series ( 2% in the 1st year and then 0.55% from 2nd year to 27th year).

Certifications

Certifications are standards that check the durability and the performance of solar panels by simulating real-life conditions.

Vikram solar panels are:

• Suitable for long term operations
• Salt & Mist resistant
• Ammonia resistant
• PID resistant

Mono-PERC solar panels and polycrystalline solar panels are more in demand for residential purposes.

Let us discuss its SOMERA and ELDORA series in detail

Monofacial Somera series by Vikram solar

In this category, it has 2 types:

• MBB Module with M6 cell under Somera series 6
• Somera Series (5BB Module with G1 cell)

(i) Somera Series 6

In this series, it has two types of solar panels:

• One is 144 cells (72 cells cut into 2-halves)
• Another is 156 cells (78 cells cut into 2 halves) solar modules.

(The benefit of cutting the cells into 2-halves is that it gives a higher yield by lowering the cell resistance).

These are MBB (Multi Bus Bar) modules. MBBs are used to connect the solar cells together. 

Also, 

these multi bars reduce the total series resistance of the interconnected solar cells.

All this results in higher power output.

(ii) The technology of Somera 6 solar panels

Monofacial, monocrystalline, and half-cut solar cell technology

(iii) Pmax of Somera 6 series

• 435 watts to 505 watts

(iv) Maximum Efficiency

• 20.91% for 144-half cut cells
• 21.02% for 156-half cut solar cells

(v) Positive power tolerance of 0 to +4.99

(vi) Temperature coefficient of power

• -0.35%/°C

(vi) Nominal operating cell temperature

• 45°C +- 2°C

(vii) Strength of Somera 6 solar panels

• Snow load: 5400 Pa
• Wind load: 2400 Pa

(viii) Warranties of Somera 6 series

• Product warranty: 10 years
• Performance warranty: Linear warranty of 27 years with 3% in the first year and thereafter at the rate of 0.65% till the 27^th year.

Let’s check out the performance of 500 watts Somera series 6 Vikram solar panel:

In column A, you can see the useful life of the SOMERA Series 6 solar panels (27 years)

Column B refers to the degradation rate of the panel from 1 to 27 years.

Column C calculates the degraded power output (under STC when the cell temperature is 25 degrees Celsius) of the panel in that corresponding year.

A little bit of Math

The first-year degradation rate is 3% of its capacity.

ii) Therefore, the 500 watts solar panel will produce 500 x (1-3%)
=500 x (1 – 0.03)
= 500 x (0.97)
= 485 watts in the first year

iii) Thereafter, degradation rate in the second year is 0.65% of first year’s power output: 
= 485 x (1-0.65%)

Or
= 485 x (1 – 0.0065)

Or
= 485 x (0.9935)

Or
= 481.85 watts or 482 watts

In a similar fashion, the power is degraded till the 27th year.

Now, let’s calculate the power output under NOCT (Nominal Operating Cell temperature when the cell temperature is 45 degrees Celsius)

It is calculated as follows:

a) Temperature difference: 45°C – 25°C = 20°C
b) Power Temperature coefficient: -0.35%/°C 
c) % Loss in the power = 20°C x -0.35%/°C = 7%
d) Output power under NOCT in the first year
= 485 x (1-7%)

Or
= 485 watts x (1-0.07)

Or
= 485 watts x (0.93)
= 451 watts

(If you’re living in a hot climate, choose the panel with lower values of NOCT and lower temperature coefficient of power).

Somera Series (5BB module with G1 cell)

This series has the following solar panels:

• Grand Ultima Plus (144 cells): Datasheet
• Grand (72 cells): Datasheet
• Prime (60 cells): Datasheet

You can see that the temperature coefficient of power is the lowest (-0.34%/°C) in the case of SOMERA GRAND ULTIMA PLUS among the three.

In simple words, the power loss due to a per degree increase in the temperature would be the least in SOMERA GRAND ULTIMA PLUS.

If you’re living in a hotter climate then SOMERA GRAND ULTIMA PLUS should be your choice among the three.

Read: Best solar panels for people living in the hot climate

Polycrystalline solar panels by Vikram solar

Eldora series:

In the above chart, ELDORA GRAND PLUS and ELDORA GRAND have less Nominal Operating Cell Temperature of 44°C +- 2°C.

It means that under nominal conditions when the air temperature is 20°C, air velocity is 1 m/s and solar radiation is 800 W/m², the cell temperature would be 44°C.

It means that power loss in ELDORA GRAND PLUS and ELDORA GRAND is less when compared to the ELDORA PRIME in the same category.

Comparison: Somera vs. Eldora

(a) Output Power

Let’s compare the output power of the best panel of the SOMERA Series with the best one of the ELDORA Series.

The following chart shows the degradation rates and values of the 2 panels of the above series.

The output power of the ELDORA series in the 27th year has reduced to 82.3% of the rated capacity 

while the power output of the SOMERA Series panel will be 81.9% of the rated capacity.

The output power of the ELDORA Series panel is slightly better than that of the panel SOMERA Series.

(b) Power loss

You can see in the table below that one has a better temperature coefficient of power while another has improved NOCT (Nominal Operating Cell Temperature).

But after combining both the parameters of each panel,

SOMERA GRAND ULTIMA PLUS has less power loss (-6.8%) than that of the ELDORA GRAND PLUS panel (-7.22%).

Conclusion

Both series have their own advantages. 

The selection depends on your budget, space, location, and energy requirements.

If you live in a hotter climate with no space constraints but a limited budget then ELDORA Series panels are more profitable.

While

SOMERA Series efficient panels work great in limited space but are costlier.