1. ❖ The concentrations of carbon dioxide and other
greenhouse gases have steadily increased since the
Industrial Revolution due to human activities such as the
burning of fossil fuels, land-use change, and agriculture.1
[2]
❖ A significant effect of increased greenhouses gases is the
rising of Earth’s average temperature, which has increased
by 1.4°F in this century; it is expected to further increase
between 2 and 11.5 °F in the next century.3 This causes a
plethora of other effects. [4]
❖ One source of alternate energy is solar energy, but it is
limited for many reasons, including its low efficiency. The
average solar panel efficiency is between 10 and 20
percent.5 [6]
Proposed Methods
Limitations
Main Factors Contributing to Solar Panel Inefficiency
Jordan Blake Banks, IEFX Research
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
References
Overview: Solar panels will be set up in various locations in
the United States (Seattle, WA, New York, NY, St. Louis, MO,
and Austin, TX) to test the variables in three sub-
experiments.
❖ Experiment 1: Solar Panel Type and Temperature
➢ Five of each type of solar panel- monocrystalline,
polycrystalline, and thin film- will be placed in an
open field in the specified locations.
➢ Daily temperature and energy captured will be
recorded. [7]
❖ Experiment 2: Shade
➢ Five of each type of solar panel will be placed in
both lightly (half) and fully wooded areas in the
specified locations.
➢ Daily energy captured will be recorded.
❖ Experiment 3: Orientation
➢ Five of each type of solar panel will be outfitted
with T0 Single-Axis Solar Trackers by SunPower and
be placed in an open field in the specified locations.
➢ Daily energy captured will be recorded. [8]
Analysis: All of the daily data collected will be averaged and
portrayed in a series of line graphs. This data will be used to
find the correlating efficiencies, and those will be compared
against each other to determine which of the variables has
the lowest efficiency.
1. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate change 2007: The physical science basis. Retrieved from
http://www.slvwd.com/agendas/Full/2007/06-07-07/Item%2010b.pdf
2. Ward, D. (2012, November, 6). The carbon cycle. In ATMO 336: Weather, climate, and society. Retrieved from
http://www.atmo.arizona.edu/students/courselinks/fall12/atmo336/lectures/sec3/carbon.html
3. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2014, March 18). Climate change: Basic information. Retrieved
from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/
4. Climate.gov. (2013, November 8). Why did Earth’s surface temperature stop rising in the past decade? Retrieved
from http://www.climate.gov/news-features/climate-qa/why-did-earth%E2%80%99s-surface-temperature-stop-
rising-past-decade
5. National Academy of Engineering. (2012).
6. Four Peaks Technologies. (2011). US solar radiation. In Solar basics. Retrieved from
7. Free Solar Panels UK. (2010). Solar panels. Retrieved from http://www.freesolarpanelsuk.co.uk/introduction-to-
solar-panels.php
8. Queensland Windmill & Solar. (2012). Solar trackers. Retrieved from http://www.qldwindmillandsolar.com.au/solar-
trackers
9. Maehlum, M. A. (2013, November 11). What Are the Most Efficient Solar Panels? Comparison of Mono-, Polycrystalline
and Thin Film. In Energy informative: The homeowner’s guide to solar panels (Solar basics). Retrieved from
http://energyinformative.org/most-efficient-solar-panels-monocrystalline-polycrystalline-thin-film/
10. Hill, C. (2014). The effects of temperature on solar panel power production. In SFGate: Home guides. Retrieved
from http://homeguides.sfgate.com/effects-temperature-solar-panel-power-production-79764.html
11. Sargosis Solar & Electric. (2014). How shade affects a solar array. Retrieved from
http://sargosis.com/articles/science/how-shade-affects-a-solar-array/
12. Ibid.
13. Cichon, M. (2013, June 13). Solar tracking systems gain ground. Retrieved from
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/06/on-track-to-succeed-with-sol ar-tracking-
systems
14. Sinha, P., & Dailey, S. Tracking systems boost eco-efficiency. In Solar Industry. Retrieved from
http://www.solarindustrymag.com/issues/SI1311/FEAT_02_Tracking-Systems-Boost-Eco-Efficiency.html
15. My PV Solar. Things I should know about PV solar. Retrieved from http://mypvsolar.co.nz/things-i-should-
know/4582166731
16. Micro-Hydro Power. (2012). Solar powered water pumping. Retrieved from http://www.micro-hydro-
power.com/Solar-Powered-Water-Pumping.htm
❖ Experiment 1: Solar Panel Type and Temperature
➢ Efficiencies of solar panel types
■ Monocrystalline solar panels- 21.5%
■ Polycrystalline solar panels- 17.0%
■ Thin-film solar panels- 14.5%9
➢ Reduction in efficiency starts between 87 and 91°F,
but experiments in the UK and Nigeria confirmed that
efficiency isn’t significantly impacted until reaching
about 110°F.10
❖ Experiment 2: Shade
➢ Output current is proportional to the area exposed to
the sun while the voltage is not affected.11 [12]
❖ Experiment 3: Orientation
➢ Single-axis trackers can increase energy production by
twenty percent or more compared to stationary
systems when in areas of high sun exposure.13 [14]
❖ Only tested in the month of June.
❖ Small range of temperatures considered.
❖ Factors such as precipitation and cloud cover were not
included. [15]
Background Expected ResultsResearch Question
In reference to the variables- solar panel type, temperature,
shade, and orientation- what factor most contributes to
solar panel inefficiency?
Conclusions
❖ Monocrystalline solar panels will be the most efficient and
thin film will be the least.
❖ Solar panel efficiency will not be greatly affected by
temperatures of the specified locations.
❖ Solar panels in the half wooded areas will produce half as
much energy as those in the open field, meaning they will
be half as efficient; solar panels in the fully wooded areas
may not produce any energy at all.
❖ Solar panels with the SunPower T0 Single-Axis Solar
Trackers will be twenty percent or more efficient than
those without trackers.
❖ Least efficient- thin film in fully wooded areas without
trackers; most efficient- monocrystalline in open field
with solar tracker (but also most expensive)
Future Research
❖ Test variables for a month in each season.
❖ Expand experimentation to a variety of locations around
the world with differing climates.
❖ Based on the information gained from this study,
researchers could target the factors that led to the most
inefficiency (solar panel type, shade, and orientation) in
individual experiments in order to attempt to improve
them and make solar panels more efficient. [16]
Contact Information: jbbanks2@illinois.edu; 314-494-7547