A Complete Review of LG Solar Panel Technology
LG is a popular electronics manufacturer, but like its competitor Panasonic, it’s also delved into solar panel technology. It offers quite a selection of solar panels, all of which beat the industry average in terms of energy efficiency, performance in all weather conditions and power output. LG solar panels are also backed by a lengthy 25-year warranty, which is great for anyone concerned about the longevity of their solar panels.
Here’s a closer look at how LG solar panels stack up against some of the other big names in the solar panel industry and how to choose the right one for your home.
As always, the best place to start when considering a solar install project is to compare quotes from the best local contractors in your area.
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How LG Solar Panels Compare to the Competition
It all comes down to performance when comparing solar panels, but there are several factors that affect how well solar panels actually work, including their efficiency rating, how well they perform in extreme conditions and their wattage. It’s also worth paying attention to the solar panel’s warranty because this can save you quite a bit of money if your solar panel breaks. LG scored above average in all four of these categories, and we explain each of them in more detail below.
Energy Efficiency
A solar panel’s energy efficiency rating indicates how good the solar panel is at converting sunlight into electricity. This is usually listed as a percentage with a higher percentage indicating a more efficient solar panel. Investing in more efficient solar panels can reduce the total number of solar panels you need to buy in order to power your home’s devices.
Most solar panels are about 15% to 17% efficient, but LG’s solar panels are between 18.3% and 21.1% efficient, depending on which model you choose. This is good news for homes and businesses that need a highly efficient solar panel system, either because they need to generate a lot of electricity or because the size of their roofs limits the number of solar panels they can have on it.
Performance in High Temperatures
Solar panels struggle to remain at peak efficiency as temperatures climb, but the effect heat has on performance depends on the brand and model of the solar panels. This is indicated by the panel’s temperature coefficient. It’s usually written like -0.4%. This means that for every degree Celsius that the solar panels heat up beyond 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit), the solar panel will lose that much in efficiency. So if the panel is 20% efficient under ideal conditions and has a temperature coefficient of -0.4% and then the temperature rises to 26 degrees Celsius, it will now only be 19.6% efficient.
A lower temperature coefficient is an indication of a superior solar panel. Average solar panels have temperature coefficients ranging from about -0.38% to -0.45%. LG’s are slightly better than this, ranging from about -0.30% to -0.35%. This puts them just slightly behind some of the top solar panel manufacturers, like Panasonic and SunPower, both of which have average temperature coefficients under -0.30%. But this shouldn’t pose a significant issue for most households unless you live in a very hot climate where the temperature consistently and considerably exceeds 25 degrees Celsius.
Wattage
Wattage tells you how much power the solar panel is capable of outputting once it’s converted sunlight into electricity. Most range from about 250 to 400 watts with a higher-wattage panel providing greater power output. But you have to look at energy efficiency and wattage together when comparing solar panels. A solar panel with a higher wattage could actually be less efficient than another solar panel with a lower wattage, but it makes up for its reduced efficiency with a larger overall size. This isn’t always ideal when space is limited. The best solar panels offer the best combination of efficiency and wattage.
LG solar panels range from about 300 to 400 watts at maximum power, depending on the model. This is slightly above average compared to many of the other solar panels on the market and that can help reduce the number of solar panels you need to buy in order to power all of your devices.
Warranty
All decent solar panel manufacturers offer a warranty of at least 10 years on their solar panels because they are so expensive to repair or replace. You want to be sure you’re investing in a product that’s going to last and not break down after a few years of use. Industry leaders, including LG, extend this warranty up to 25 years against any damage, including manufacturing defects or weather-related breakage.
In addition, solar panel manufacturers typically offer a performance warranty which tells you how well the solar panel should be performing after a certain amount of time. This usually lists the initial degradation after the first year or first few years and then has a separate percentage which indicates the annual degradation for each of the subsequent years, usually for up to the length of the panel’s warranty.
If your solar panel is operating below the efficiency outlined in the performance warranty, the manufacturer will replace it at no cost to you. LG’s solar panel performance warranties vary by model but most are designed to still be about 86% to 88% as efficient after 25 years as they were when brand new. This isn’t quite up to par with some of the top manufacturers like Panasonic, but it is pretty close.
How Much Do LG Solar Panels Cost?
Solar panel cost is typically measured in price per watt. Your costs will depend on the number and type of solar panels you need, but the average price for solar panels comes out around $3 per watt. This is also the average for LG solar panels, which is a pretty good deal when you consider that it outperforms the average performance metrics in all four of the categories listed above. The way you choose to install your LG solar panels, including the mounts you use, will also impact the price. You can discuss this with your installer to get a sense for what will work best for your home and your budget. Remember, you’ll have to pay for installation too and these prices can vary widely depending on what installers in your area charge.
It’s not unreasonable to think you could spend $10,000 to $20,000 or even more installing a solar panel system for your home. But there are a few things you can do to keep costs down. First, do some research on the installers in your area and get quotes from them to see what they will charge you. Second, look into state or federal grants, tax credits, and other incentives for solar power. This can help reduce your out-of-pocket costs without forcing you to compromise on the system you want.
How to Find the Best Solar Panels for You
You can feel pretty confident that all LG solar panels available today are well made and backed by an industry-leading warranty, but that doesn’t mean you should just choose one at random. Once you’ve settled on a local installer, they will be able to help you identify which solar panels work best for your home and how many you need.
LG solar panels are a great choice for any home, but they’re especially good options for homes with limited roof space that need high-efficiency panels that can produce a lot of power without taking up too much room. Fill out this form to get a sense of how much these solar panels might cost you in your area.