Suntech in the UK
Suntech has recently entered a partnership with Greenfield Solar and Youmex, aiming to deliver 900 MW of UK solar projects by the end of 2015. The companies are planning to build solar farms exclusively using panels by Suntech. The company prides itself with its polycrystalline modules, which work well under low or weak light conditions, an appropriate fit for the UK market.
Solar Panels Developed by Suntech
Suntech likes to call their solar cells 'miniature power stations.' In that direction, the company has brought a lot of products to the market, making it a leader in the field of solar PV’s. Both monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon are used in manufacturing Suntech solar panels.
How Efficient Are Suntech Solar Panels?
Suntech solar panels provide high conversion efficiency of up to 16.9%. Probably the most important feature of Suntech solar panels is the enhanced weak light performance. In countries like the UK, where sunlight is so limited, this feature will make all the difference. The weak light performance is also applicable at sunrise and sunset when the solar power is not that intense. Thanks to smart cell design, Suntech delivers constant performance regardless of the weather.
Another plus is the self-cleaning effect these panels carry. An additional flamed layer on the front glass of the panel causes dirt and dust to roll off.
The panels are tested against salt mist and corrosion. This comes in handy if you leave in coastal areas where salt can damage the roof. Sand blowing resistance is another feature of Suntech panels. This will add value to properties in coastal areas where a blast can leave the panels scratched and impact the performance.
In addition, Suntech panels are approved for increased snow and wind load conditions. For example, they can withhold a snow load of 5,400 Pa, which corresponds to a weight of 550 kg/m2.
Read more: Buyer’s Guide to Solar Panels
Models Available in the UK
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The STP series are made of polysilicon and deliver an output of up to 305 W. The modules come in different sizes, you can choose from 60 cells or 72 cells panel.
| Polyticristalline series | STP255-20 | STP250-20 | STP305-24 | STP300-24 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | 15.7% | 15.4% | 15.7% | 15.5% | ||
| Solar cells | 60 (6x10) | 60 (6x10) | 72 (6x12) | 72 (6x12) | ||
| Lenght | 164 cm | 164 cm | 195 cm | 195 cm | ||
| Width | 99 cm | 99 cm | 99 cm | 99 cm | ||
| Depth | 35 mm | 35 mm | 40 mm | 40 mm | ||
| Weight | 18.2 kg | 18.2 kg | 25.8 kg | 25.8 kg | ||
| Maximum Power output | 255 W | 250 W | 305 W | 300 W | ||
| Maximum Power Voltage | 30.8 V | 30.7 V | 36.2 V | 35.9 V | ||
| Maximum Power Current | 8.28 A | 8.15 A | 8.43 A | 8.36 A | ||
| Impact resistance | not specified | not specified | not specified | not specified | ||
| Temperature resistance | -40 °C to +85 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C | -40 °C to +85 °C | ||
| Material | Polyticristalline sillicon | Polyticristalline sillicon | Polyticristalline sillicon | Polyticristalline sillicon | ||
| Price | contact us to receive a free, no obligation quote | contact us to receive a free, no obligation quote | contact us to receive a free, no obligation quote | contact us to receive a free, no obligation quote | ||
| See more+ | ||||||
- The STP-S series from Suntech are a good combination of high efficiency and aesthetic appearance. Made from monocrystalline silicon, these panels come with a special 4 busbar design on each cell. This is used for enhanced reduction in electrodes distance.
| Monocristalline series | STP325S-24/Vem | STP275S-20/Wem | STP270S-20/Web | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | 16.7% | 16.9% | 16.6% | |||
| Solar cells | 72 (6x12) | 60 (6×10) | 60 (6×10) | |||
| Lenght | 195 cm | 164 cm | 164 cm | |||
| Width | 99 cm | 99 cm | 99 cm | |||
| Depth | 40 mm | 35 mm | 35 mm | |||
| Weight | 25.8 kg | 18.2 kg | 18.2 kg | |||
| Maximum Power output | 325 W | 275 W | 270 W | |||
| Power Voltage | 37.1 V | 31.1 V | 30.8 V | |||
| Power Current | 8.77 A | 8.85 A | 8.77 A | |||
| Impact resistance | not specified | not specified | not specified | |||
| Temperature resistance | -40°C to +85°C | -40°C to +85°C | -40°C to +85°C | |||
| Material | monocrystalline silicon | monocrystalline silicon | monocrystalline silicon | |||
| Price | contact us to receive a free, no obligation quote | contact us to receive a free, no obligation quote | contact us to receive a free, no obligation quote | |||
| See more+ | ||||||
Warranty
Suntech solar panels come with 2 types of warranties, just like any other solar PV on the market. Firstly, there is a 10-year material and workmanship warranty. Secondly, for the performance warranty, Suntech offers the following:
- for the first year, you can expect to get at least 97% of the nominal output.
- from year 2 to year 25 th there will be linear decrease of maximum 0.7% per year. At the end of the 25th year the panels should deliver at least 80.2% of the original output.
Conclusion
Suntech solar panels are superior to a lot of similar products due to their innovative features. The company truly looks to add value to their customers by developing an array of technologies to cater to homeowners all over the world, in all weather conditions. The conversion efficiencies associated with the panels are high, although there are products with higher efficiencies on the market. The warranty these panels offer is high in the first year, however by year 25th is slightly lower compared to other solar brands.
