Sharp Solar Panels

Written-by

Richard Burdett

Reviewed-by

Richard Burdett

Updated on

Sep 04, 2024

Sharp Solar Panels

The following information may not be up to date. Please check the Sharp website for exact information. 

Sharp have developed two types of solar panel for their customers:

• Polycrystalline solar cells (ND series)
• Thin film solar cells (NA series)

Both of these types are designed to withstand harsh conditions while operating while delivering a high power output. Polycrystalline cells are incredibly efficient, and the thin film modules are the thinnest on the market – offering fantastic wind resistance. You can read about the various technical features of each panel below. For more information on how solar energy works, take a look at this page.

Features and Efficiency

Depending on the solar panel you select, Sharp’s PV modules have an efficiency rating of 14% to 15.2%. In addition to this, Sharp Solar PV panels are also able to withstand potential induced degradation (PID). PID can be caused by hail, heavy snow, high temperatures, humidity, or high system voltage. This feature is also reflected in the warranty that is offered by Sharp. You can learn more about it below.

Sharp solar panels are also coated to protect them from rust and corrosion that is caused by salt. The damage caused by sea salt can often cause cracks, and the ions found in the sea air can corrode the aluminium frames. For those who live in coastal areas, this certainly helps to widen the options when it comes to finding renewable energy sources. The solar cells they produce also have an anti-reflection coating that increases the absorption of light. This feature creates further value for potential customers in cloudier areas of the UK.

Models available in the UK

In the table below, you can learn more about the models that you can choose from. The polycrystalline models offer the highest levels of efficiency, which is up to 15.2%. The maximum power that can be generated is an impressive 250W, which while not the highest among solar panels, is still a good indicator of the performance levels in the market. All of the models in the ND series are suitable for installation both on the grid and off it.

The thin film models are composed of two glass layers which have been laminated with a vapour barrier. The thin film models can also be installed either in portrait or landscape, making them more flexible in terms of positioning. Their efficiency leaves something to be desired with rates of up to a mere 9.6%. However, among thin film PV’s, this is the best efficiency that you can receive. You can learn more about thin film cells here. The depth of these panels is incredibly slim at 6.7mm, making the panel easier to install and the appearance more attractive. Slimmer panels also offer more wind resistance.  

Warranty

Sharp guarantees ten years for the solar panel, and 25 years for linear performance. During the first year, you can expect the solar panels to perform at a minimum of 96% of the specified minimum power output. For the following 24 years, there will be a maximum annual reduction of 0.667% of the power output. This level of performance is very promising, especially when compared to others in the industry.

Return on Investment

The average time it takes for a Sharp solar panel to pay itself back is around 20 years. This time period has been calculated without taking the Feed-In tariff (FIT) into consideration. What the FIT tends to do is pay for the electricity that you generate and export to the National Grid. As a result, the return period tends to be cut in half – meaning an overall reduction of 10 years.

Conclusion

Sharp is a specialist company when it comes to the production of photovoltaics. They have over half a century of experience with the manufacturing process, making them one of the most trustworthy companies out there for solar panels. In fact, it has been shown that the solar modules produced by Sharp have incredible long term durability, and that customers feel they have increased value due to the reliability of the panels and the company. Of course, the efficiency ratings found in Sharp panels are lower than others on the market, but this is likely to improve in the near future.