Yash
Premier Energies is a Telangana-based solar cell and panels manufacturing company.
It has announced the launch of India’s first M10 Mono-PERC bifacial solar cell at the 15th Renewable Energy Expo at Greater Noida (28 September – 30 September 2022).
It took place in the presence of Mr. Bhagwat Khuba (Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Government of India).
This Mono-PERC M10 bifacial solar cell has an efficiency of up to 23.2%.
The solar cell is size of 182 mm x 182 mm.
Conventional solar cells come in the size of 155 mm x 155 mm.
Few facts and figures
- The operation started in 1995 since then it has received many awards.
- Founder: Mr. Surender Pal Singh
- Solar over 2GW solar modules worldwide.
- Existing Manufacturing line: 1.4 GW
Let us understand more about Premier Energies existing solar panels series in detail.
Premier Energies solar panels
It manufactures two categories of solar panels.
One is Mono-PERC solar panels and the other is bi-facial solar panels.
Mono-PERC: 420 watts to 450 watts
Mono-PERC solar panels are usually very efficient and are used for residential purposes.
Whereas,
The bi-facial solar panels conducted from both sides are suitable for commercial applications.
Under the bi-facial solar panels category, Premier Energies has both dual glass bi-facial solar panels and transparent back sheet bifacial solar panels.
a) Bifacial (dual glass): 640 watts to 670 watts
b) Bifacial with transparent back sheet: 525 watts to 550 watts
Under the bi-facial solar panels category, Premier Energies has both dual glass bi-facial solar panels and transparent back sheet bifacial solar panels.
In short, I can say that it offers solar panels for both residential and commercial purposes.
Efficiency
We all have space constraints in one form or another.
Therefore, the efficiency of a solar panel becomes very important.
An efficient solar panel can produce more power even in a limited space.
And
You can fulfill your energy needs.
Premier Energies solar panels are very efficient.
(Because it is implementing the latest technology in its solar panels)
Let us look at these values:
- Mono-PERC: 19.41% to 20.80%
- Bifacial (dual glass): 20.76% to 21.57%
- Bifacial with transparent back sheet: 20.3% to 21.29%.
“Do you know the maximum efficiency of the solar panel available in the market?”
Read: The most efficient solar panels in the world
The technology of Premier Energies solar panels
We just saw above that Premier’s solar panels are efficient.
It is the combination of the latest technologies that it has implemented in its solar panels.
Let us get a brief look at these technologies.
Half-cut solar cell technology
In this process, the conventional solar cell is cut into halves and joined.
This process offers many benefits such as:
The structural strength of the cell improves. Now, the solar cell becomes more resistant to cracks.
The heating losses are minimized. Hence boosts the power output of the cell.
Mono-PERC technology
When the sunlight strikes the solar cell.
Some of it gets absorbed, reflected, and dissipated as heat and some of the sunlight bypasses the cell.
This technology traps that portion of the light that is bypassed without producing any photoelectric effect.
In this technology, a layer is pasted at the back of the solar cell.
This layer traps the bypassed light and reflects back to the cell for the photoelectric effect.
Now the solar cell has more sunlight available to produce current.
Hence, the efficiency is increased.
Bi-facial solar cell technology
As the name suggests, these solar panels produce current from both sides.
(The solar cells are encapsulated on both sides of the module)
Thus, they produce more power than conventional single-sided solar panels.
The reflected sunlight from the ground strikes the rear of the bi-facial solar panel.
The backside absorbs this reflected light and produces current.
More sunlight on the back surface, more current production.
However, the amount of sunlight that reaches the back surface depends on many factors such as:
- The albedo of the ground
- Mounting structure
- Height of the solar panels from the ground
- The tilt angles
These factors in combination decide the bi-facial gain.
It can be 10%, 20%, or 30% of the front side Pmax.
How well do Premier Energies solar panels perform under high temperatures?
The line of tropic of Cancer 23.45 N passes through the middle of India.
This makes it a hot country with very good sunshine throughout the year.
The good sunlight increases the power output of the solar panels.
But it has a heating effect too.
(The infrared radiation present in the sunlight has a heating effect)
That affects the power output of the solar panels.
Therefore, the manufacturers try to reduce this temperature-related power loss through innovative technologies.
The power loss in any solar panel due to this effect can be found easily by looking at the metric called the temperature coefficient of power.
It tells the power loss in the solar panel with every degree rise beyond 25ᴼC.
It is measured in %/ᴼC.
For example, a solar panel with a temperature coefficient of power -0.40 %/ᴼC.
It means that it will lose 0.4% with every degree rise above 25ᴼC.
(The negative sign indicates the power loss).
The Premier Energies solar panels have a temperature coefficient of power value of -0.35%/ᴼC.
This value will help me in finding the power loss.
The power loss (%) = (Cell temperature – 25ᴼC) x temperature coefficient of power
Assuming, the ambient in my place is 30ᴼC where I have installed the solar panels.
The solar cells of the panel are generally at a higher temperature than the ambient temperature.
It is around 20 ᴼC to 25 ᴼC higher than the ambient temperature.
Thus, making the cell temperature close to 50ᴼC to 55ᴼC.
Let me take it as 50ᴼC.
Putting this value in the above formula, we get
Power loss (%) = (50 ᴼC – 25 ᴼC) x -0.35 %/ᴼC
= 25 ᴼC x -0.35 %/ᴼC
Power loss = -8.75%
Performance of Premier solar panels in the real world
The power output of the solar panels is tested under ideal conditions when things are favorable such as:
- Sunlight intensity = 1000 W/m2
- AM index = 1.5
- Cell temperature = 25ᴼC
The real-world conditions are different and harsh.
We don’t get the same conditions as mentioned above.
Therefore, to simulate the real-life conditions, the solar panel’s power output is tested when the sunlight intensity is less (800 W/m2 instead of 1000) and the cell temperature is high (close to 45 ᴼC)
The conditions are called NOCT (Nominal Operating Cell Temperature) test conditions.
The Premier Energies solar panels perform quite well in NOCT test conditions.
A 420 watts solar panel produces 309 watts of power under NOCT test conditions.
Close to 73% of P(max) under Standard Test Conditions.
Strength of Premier Energies solar panels
The strength of any solar panel shows its ability to bear the snow load and the wind pressure.
The solar panels remain outside on the house roof for their entire life.
They face weather extremities often.
A strong panel can withstand these forces.
And its strength is represented in the form of:
- Snow load rating
- Wind load rating
Premier Energise solar panels are strong with a Snow load rating of 5400 Pascals and a Wind load of 2400 Pascals.
Warranty of Premier Solar Panels
How does it sound when I tell you that once you purchase my product, I offer you to replace it free of cost (excluding my service charges) if any defect is detected.
You get peace of mind.
It is the assurance that you get from my side.
Similarly, the panel manufacturer gives assurance to the buyer on its product and its performance.
You see solar panels come with two types of warranties:
- Product Warranty
- Performance Warranty
Product Warranty
Under product warranty, the manufacturer offers to replace or repair the product when there is premature wear and tear, diode damage, breaking of cells and similar problems occur within the stipulated period mentioned by the manufacturer.
The Premier Energies solar panel comes with 12 years product workmanship warranty.
Performance Warranty
Like any other machine, the performance or power output of the solar panel decreases with time.
In order to safeguard the buyer from any unexpected decrease in the power output before time.
The solar panels are covered under a Performance warranty.
Under the performance warranty, the manufacturer assures that the panel’s output will not reduce below a certain limit after 25 or 30 years.
For its Mono-PERC solar panels, it is
<2% in the first year and thereafter 0.55% from the 2nd to the 25th year.
For its Bi-facial solar panels:
<2% in the first year. Thereafter 0.45% from the 2nd to 30th year from Bi-facial solar panels.
Other features
- IP68 junction box
- Power tolerance: 0 to +5
- Mono-Perc: Front glass is 3.2 mm thick
- Bifacial dual glass: 2mm/2mm
- Bifacial transparent back sheet: 3.2 mm and transparent back sheet
Certifications
IEC sets out the international standards for solar panels that test their design quality and performance.
The solar panels are tested by simulating different real-life situations.
Benchmarks and standards are set.
When the solar panel meets those standards, it is certified to operate in those conditions.
The Premier Energies solar panels are:
- PID certified
- Salt and Mist resistant
- Ammonia resistant
- Sand and dust resistant
- LID resistant
- Designed to withstand dynamic mechanical load test
Units produced by 5 kW Premier Energies solar panels
The 5 kW solar panels with Premier Energies solar panels will produce around 18 units in a day.
- The average cost of a 5 kW solar power system = Rs. 3,50,000
- Total units produced in 25 years = 162000
- Average units produced per month = 540 units
- Cost of solar electricity = Rs. 3.5 per unit (cheaper than the grid electricity)
- Annual Return close to 14%
- Payback = 9 years
Financial feasibility with Premier solar panels is calculated by considering many factors such as:
- Peak Sun Hours
- Cost of the system
- Grid price
- Escalation
- Maintenance
- Losses 30% mention each loss with Premier energies solar panels
- Cost of solar electricity in India and more
Do you want to know more about these factors then read my Solar Feasibility Spreadsheet.
Pros of Premier Energies solar panels
- Latest technology
- The experienced team operating for over 2 decades
- Efficient solar panels
- Strong solar panels
- IEC certified
Cons
Wind load rating: Although the wind load rating of 2400 Pascals is at par with other solar panel manufacturers in India. But when I see at the international level, this wind load rating goes to 4000 Pascals.
Climate change is affecting the weather pattern across the globe.
(Global warming is the reason behind this).
Now the frequency and intensity of the storms have increased than we used to witness in the past.
Therefore, the manufacturers need to design solar panels that can withstand this change in the weather pattern.
And
Improving the wind load rating is one of them.
Temperature coefficient of power
In summer, the temperature in North India rises above 40 ᴼC.
And the temperature of the solar cells reaches the range of 65 ᴼC to 70 ᴼC when the solar panels are operating at this temperature (40 ᴼC).
A solar panel with a temperature coefficient of power of -0.35%/ᴼC would lose 14% to 16% of its Pmax.
Therefore, we need solar panels that lose less power when the temperature rises.
Conclusion
Premier Energies solar panels are efficient and are suitable for people who want to fulfill their energy needs in a limited space.
People living in humid regions can install Premier Energies solar panels. Because these panels are salt and mist-resistant.
Even if the system voltage goes beyond 1000 volts. Its PID-resistant solar panels check the stray/leakage current and keep the panel’s performance intact for many years.
Are you a solar installer who installs Premier Energies solar panels and other solar panels too? Then register with us to get highlighted and get more leads.
