What is the "best" Solar PV panel?

[MidOhioValleySolar]

Is there an industry standard to compare solar panels? What is the best panel in each class (mono, poly, thin film etc). I am not talking
about Boeing's high tech experimental panels but those that are commercially available/viable. Is there an accepted rating system to compare
one panel to the next? A system that is not industry sponsored?

Lance

[peakbagger]

I have not seen any independent ratings of solar panels and it would be quite a challenge to keep up with the always models.

[bonaire]

I think "best" is based on price/performance with lowest chance of warranty repairs. Also, don't count on every (many?) panel manufacturers to be in business through the future 20-25 years of performance to support that warranty (and some inverter vendors as well).

When I bought my system, I did want to support USA-made products so I went with PowerOne inverters and SolarWorld modules (255W mono). So far after a few months - working very well.

[Naptown]

Photon magazine does side by side comparisons on modules and periodically publishes the results.

[bonaire]

Homepower magazine also has done module lists of the power output and efficiency ratings. Prices change nearly daily now but the performance of the nearly current-day modules should be available through these two magazines. To save money, you can always "drop back" a year in modules such as get a 240W module when 250-260W are being sold. By doing that, your price per Watt may come down.

Some people feel the cheapest is the best because in the small chance some modules go bad, you can self-warranty by having a few spares in the basement just in case. If they cost below .80/watt, why not?

[sinovoltaics8]

Sinovoltaics

I think Solar panels, formally called photovoltaic (PV) modules, convert light into electric energy. As the name suggests, the device uses the irradiation from sunlight to as a source to produce electricity for commercial and household needs, telecommunications etc.

[russ]

I think Solar panels, formally called photovoltaic (PV) modules, convert light into electric energy. As the name suggests, the device uses the irradiation from sunlight to as a source to produce electricity for commercial and household needs, telecommunications etc.

Darn! I thought the panels made wine!

[Sunking]

Darn! I thought the panels made wine!

Nah they just make installers money, and tax payers poorer.