Switching to solar requires research ahead of time. Since you should want your investment to be efficient and long-lasting, it’s important to choose a brand and installer carefully. Consider five of the best residential solar panels in Orange County, NY to help you make the right decision.
SunPower
- Power and efficiency: As the world’s most efficient solar panels, California-based SunPower is known as one of the best residential solar panels in Orange County, NY. The brand boasts 21% efficiency while most conventional panels top out at about 16%. SunPower also offers 345-watt panels while other manufacturers average about 240 watts per panel. When it comes to generating the most electricity from the smallest amount of space possible, SunPower is the way to go.
- Warranties: The length of a solar panel’s warranty shows how much confidence the manufacturer has in its products. SunPower offers a standard 25-year output warranty. This means you can expect SunPower solar panels to produce 80 to 90% of the electricity they produced the day they were installed a full 25 years from now.
- Special feature – high performance: Thanks to greater efficiency, high capacity and a slower degradation rate, SunPower solar panels produce 70% more energy than conventional panels over their first 25 years in use. Plus, because the unique design of SunPower solar cells eliminates 85% of the reasons they normally fail, these solar panels typically last many years beyond their warranty period.
Hanwha SolarOne
- Power and efficiency: This China-based brand sells about 5 million solar panels per year, most of which are used in residential solar arrays. Hanwha SolarOne’s most powerful product has a 265-watt output capacity and 16% efficiency rating in standard testing conditions.
- Warranties: Solar panels from Hanwha SolarOne come with a 12-year product warranty and 25-year performance warranty. These are fairly standard warranties for the solar panel industry.
- Special feature – durability: The ability to withstand high winds and snow weight makes Hanwha SolarOne panels some of the best residential solar panels in Orange County, NY. After all, we get several feet of snow every winter and plenty of severe weather during the rest of the year. Impressive sturdiness from this brand gives you peace of mind, knowing your solar panels will last for many years.
ReneSola
- Power and efficiency: As another manufacturer based in China, ReneSola offers panels with a power output up to 275 watts. These panels perform at just below 17% efficiency in standard test conditions, placing them above the industry standard of 16%.
- Warranties: When you choose this brand, your solar panels come with a 10-year materials warranty and a 25-year performance warranty.
- Special feature – lightweight: ReneSola panels are some of the lightest available, weighing in at 19kg compared to 27kg or more from some other manufacturers. This helps make installation easier and may increase the number of panels you can install on a weaker roof.
Jinko Solar
- Power and efficiency: Jinko Solar is based in China and primarily focuses on large-scale projects, though the company also provides solar panels for residential use. Maximum power output is 315 watts and efficiency hovers around 16.5%.
- Warranties: Panels from Jinko Solar come with a 10-year product warranty and 25-year linear power warranty. This means as each successive year goes by, the panels shouldn’t lose more than 1% of production capacity, dropping no lower than 80.7% of maximum capacity after 25 years.
- Special feature – smart modules: One particular model, the Solaredge, integrates “smart” technology to maintain electricity generation levels, sustain good performance over the long-term, and disconnect automatically if an issue with health and safety arises. This could be a great choice if you want to stay ahead of the curve and are willing to pay a premium for this new technology.
Canadian Solar
- Power and efficiency: As the premier solar manufacturer in Canada, this brand sells about 9 million solar panels per year. Canadian Solar panels have a power output of up to 260 watts and efficiency between 15.5 and 15.8%, depending on the model.
- Warranties: Canadian Solar offers some of the best warranties in the industry. The 10-year limited product warranty is pretty typical, but the 30-year limited performance warranty is five years longer than the standard. This warranty ensures performance drops by no more than 0.5% per year to retain at least 83% of its original output by the end of year 30.
- Special feature – impressive longevity: The design of Canadian Solar panels allows them to degrade more slowly, allowing them to last for several years longer than conventional panels. This helps offset the lower efficiency rating.
While each manufacturer offers benefits to New York residents, SunPower produces the best residential solar panels in Orange County, NY. With their high capacity, unbeatable efficiency, impressive performance over the long-term and American-made parts, you can’t beat SunPower solar panels.
