An Overview Of Round Solar Panels
Solar Panels are a great innovation, but they are not necessarily new technology. They have been around for years, with the solar calculators being existent since the 70s. However, this technology has not been utilized and marketed to its full potential until the 20th century. Now, more and more people are using solar panels not just for calculators but for household appliances as well. It was found that the energy from the sun can be harnessed and transformed into usable energy to power up hopes and without needing to rely on cabled grid-reliant energy. This is made possible through panels absorbing photos released by the sun and converting it to electrical energy.
With this technology, houses can save up to $10,000 in electricity bills annually. This is on top of tax incentives. For this reason, more and more individuals are moving to this energy source. Of course, experts try their best to further enhance this technology. Some aim to have more portability, too. One of these developments through round solar panels. This essay will look at this technology, identify its various types, and provide a recommendation as to whether it’s a worthy investment.
What are round solar panels? As the name suggests, they are solar-powered panels fashioned in a circular shape to cater to certain functionalities. Round ones are a more cost-efficient alternative to the regular panels simply because they are made of reused and reshaped panels. Practically speaking, new panels are quite hard to produce and are expensive. Especially for monocrystalline ones, a lot of its leftovers go to waste. If we want to be more cost and production-efficient, producing this kind may be the way to go. Epoxy is also a layer used to encapsulate solar cells, but it is considered less resistant and heavy-duty than laminated ones. Some variants of epoxy circular panels use resin for encapsulation to optimize the cells’ thermal management and lengthen the equipment’s lifespan.
Circular solar panels allow manufacturers to conserve raw materials for increased yield and reduced wastage. With the rising demand due to more and more people making the switch, this can really allow manufacturers to meet the demand. This will also provide opportunities for recyclers as those cut and removed from pure monocrystalline panels, for example, can be collected to produce the circular ones, which provides jobs to laborers and an income-source to businessmen who will choose to invest in the venture. Because of the structure, round ones can also be lighter and more portable, depending on the type. What are the various types, then?
Round-shaped panels still have a flat surface; therefore, their efficiency can still reach 20%, the average efficiency of regular, rectangular ones. Some manufacturers also offer custom-made ones, to fit certain surfaces and for various purposes. They are relatively smaller in size; for example, epoxy ones are about 20 millimeters in size. This makes them more flexible and suitable for carry-ons. However, due to their shape, it may difficult to fit them into regular roofing. They may require special mounting for installation to be possible and may not be efficient in terms of surface area coverage. They may also be low in wattage, but enough to power up small gadgets. However, they are perfect for charging mobile devices while on the go. This way, you can charge and re-charge several times in the day without using up your charger’s juice easily.
Currently, there are two types of circular solar panels marketed: the epoxy round solar panels and the laminated solar panels. Epoxy Round Solar Panels are of lower costs than the latter and look aesthetically better. They are considered solar accessories due to size and portability. It can be utilized for sun-powered lawn lights, garden lamps, chargers, road studs, street lights and signs, flashlights, and other mini appliances. They are of lower wattage, too, so one may not be enough to power up high-watt appliances.
Laminated solar panel round types are more withstanding than regular ones. That’s because they’re touched with an additional layer of protection against extreme heat. With their portable shape, they can be utilized to empower small appliances for a long time. The panels, in this type, undergo a lay-up process that keeps the solar cells encapsulated and sandwiched between a top and a bottom layer. The material used is the Ethylene Vinyl Acetate (EVA), which is a copolymer resin utilized as an adhesive, sealant, and coating for surfaces. This makes the panels stronger in terms of durability, so it can become more efficient even during extreme weather conditions.
The modern world has given us endless possibilities with technology. Unfortunately, most of the technology we have is powered by electricity or batteries. Electric grids harness power from fossil fuels, resources that are non-renewable. Batteries lose their juice after periods of use and rechargeable ones may require electricity ultimately to re-juice. This is why the development of solar panels is a great way to overcoming the increasing demand, and at the same time, reduce the consumption of depleting resources. Switching to this solution used to be very expensive, but more and more manufacturers are starting to develop cheaper and more portable alternatives for this technology.
Circular-shaped solar panels are one of these innovations. With this cheaper and lighter substitute, lights do not need to be plugged to a grid-source as the sun-powered cells will be enough to keep them going. Epoxy types have a layer of protection against weather-caused deterioration, but laminated types have stronger layers to combat extreme temperatures and keep the cells working for years. If you wish portability and style, go for the epoxy type. If you aim for longevity, then go for laminated ones. However, you can always have both as they are not as high-priced as the regular panels, so you can have one for each need. Either way, you are helping the environment save on resources and, at the same time, saving little by little on electrical bills.
