Solar Panel is a device that converts sunlight into electricity.

Solar panels are made up of crystalline silicon cells that generate electricity in the presence of sunlight.

Solar panels absorb sunlight that falls on the photovoltaic cells. The chemical composition of the cells generates direct current (DC). This is converted to usable alternating current (AC) with the help of inverter technology.

It depends on the size of the house and electricity consumption rate and the usage pattern of the residents.
Generally, 1kW system requires 3 panels (assuming Poly DCR 72 cells) which generates approximately 120 units per month. You can check your electricity bill and calculate your requirement or use our solar calculator.

Solar panels last for about 25 to 30 years. However, this doesn't mean that they stop producing electricity after 25 years – it just means that energy production is reduced by 80% of the panel’s actual capacity; and might not be sufficient to meet the energy requirement of the place.

You can save up to 70–90% of your monthly electricity bill. And your bills come down to zero from the first month itself. It majorly depends on the electricity consumption rate of your home or business. Solar energy gives an alternate option to reduce electricity bills. In 2021, the average residential tariff in India is Rs.7.50/unit whereas if we use solar electricity, the cost comes down to Rs.2.50/unit, which is lowered by 1/3.in India, the average residential tariff is Rs.7/unit whereas if we use solar electricity, the cost comes down to Rs.2.50/unit, which is lowered by 1/3.

The price or cost of a solar panel depends on the power-rating and the type of solar panel. Generally, a solar panel in India costs between Rs.22-26 INR per watt.

There are mainly three types of Solar Panels used for commercial purposes.
• Mono-crystalline Solar Panel
• Polycrystalline or Multi crystalline Solar Panel
• Bi-facial Solar Panel.

Other panels like thin-film and flexible solar panels also exist. But they yield very less electricity and are meant for specific applications only.

Monocrystalline solar panels have solar cells that are made from a single crystal of silicon, which is formed into bars and cut into wafers. As we know the cell is composed of a single crystal, so electrons that generate a flow of electricity have more room to move. This makes monocrystalline panels more efficient than all the other solar panels.

Polycrystalline solar panels, just like mono, are also made from silicon. However, instead of using a single crystal of silicon, entire silicon with several fragments is melted together to make the solar wafers or solar cells. Polycrystalline solar panels are also known as ‘multi-crystalline panels’. There are many crystals in each cell, which enable less freedom for the electrons to move. As a result, Polycrystalline solar panels are relatively less efficient than Monocrystalline panels.

Thin-film Solar Panels are a totally different technology as compared to Mono-crystalline solar panels and Poly-crystalline Solar Panels. A thin-film Solar Panel can be identified as a solid black, frameless panel. These are least efficient of all the crystalline Solar Panels.

Mono-crystalline Solar Panels have the highest efficiency of 20-22 %, when compared to other types of solar panels, that is, it converts more than 20 to 22% of sunlight into electricity.

A Mono-Crystalline Solar Panel can be identified from the solar cells which appear as a single flat color (usually black) and are made from a single crystal of silicon.

Mono-Crystalline Solar Panels are the most efficient of all the solar panels. Mono-crystalline solar panels in India, cost between Rs.24 - 26 rupees (INR) per watt.

Polycrystalline Solar Panels have less efficiency as compared to mono-crystalline solar panels. Polycrystalline solar panels in India, cost between Rs.22-24 (INR) per watt.

Yes, there is a subsidy on the purchase of solar panels. All the subsidies are subject to government norms and amends. As of now, the subsidies you get for solar PV system installation in Gujarat are listed below:

SYSTEM SIZE	SUBSIDY
Upto 3 kWp	40 %
4-10 kWp	20 %
10-500 kWp	20 % (applicable for GHS/RWA* only)

*GHS/RWA - Group Housing Association/Residential Welfare Association

Example: Suppose Mr. A residing in Gujarat installs a 10 kWp solar system, then he will get 40% for the first 3 kWp and 20% for the remaining 7 kWp. However, there’s no subsidy beyond 10 kWp capacities.

Note: Please note that the subsidy availability and eligibility vary at the state level and the central level (MNRE) too. Kindly refer to your respective state policy or call us to know more on your state or central subsidy eligibility at 1800 108 8800 (between 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. IST)

Solar panels use direct sunlight to generate electricity. Unless, there is reflected or even partial light from the clouds, solar panels will still work. However, the efficiency of electricity generation capacity goes down.

No! Solar panels do not work at night. They require sunlight to generate electricity. But the energy stored during peak sunlight hours can be used during nighttime.

Mono-Crystalline Solar Panels have the highest efficiency amongst all the panels. Mono-Crystalline Solar Panels convert more than 22% of sunlight into electricity. They are space-efficient and occupy less amount of space. However, they are more expensive than Polycrystalline Solar Panels. On other hand, Polycrystalline Solar Panels give marginal efficiency in effective price and productivity. Thus, they are preferred commercially.

Some advantages of using solar energy are as listed below.

• Solar power is pollution free and causes no greenhouse gases emissions post installation.
• It leads to reduced dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels.
• We get renewable, clean power that is available on each day of the year; even on dark cloudy days.
• Yields return on investment unlike paying for utility bills.
• Virtually, no investment-check or maintenance is needed as solar panels last over 30 years.
• Excess power can be sold back to the power company on the inter-tied grid.
• One can live without being grid dependent, if all the power generated is enough for the home / building.
• Solar Systems can be installed almost anywhere; in a field or on top of a building.
• The Solar power can be stored in batteries for use at night.
• Solar Energy can be used to heat water, power homes and buildings, and even power cars.
• Efficiency is always improving so the same size solar that is available today will become more efficient tomorrow.
• Aesthetics are improving making solar energy more versatile as compared to older models; i.e. printing, solar shingles, etc.

A typical residential solar system installation takes about 40 hours of installation time on the roof and about 10 hours inside the house. The PIXON team typically sends two technicians, so most of the job is completed in 2-3 days. Read more about it here. All the commercial, industrial or institutional installations take time based on the size of the solar system being installed.

PIXON takes pride in being the manufacturer as well as the installer of solar modules. This means you have a consistent trusted experience with one company, all ensured to provide you with the best product as well as system warranty, maintenance, and servicing. Our installation crew is skilled and certified.

Putting it simply – the sooner you get solar, the sooner you will enjoy its benefits! If you wait for some unproven technology down the road, you will have missed the opportunity to generate your own power now. Solar is like saving for retirement – the sooner you start doing it, the better.

Solar panels need to face true south direction for maximum power generation. The reason behind it is that when the sun transits from east to west, it leans towards the south direction. Irrespective of which part of the year it is, the inclination will always be towards the south. Hence for the optimum harnessing of sunlight, the solar PV panels should ideally face south. For example, a 7*12 roof that is due east or due west still achieves 77% of a system’s potential performance. More important than angle, generally, is shading. The solar panels should not experience shading from 9 am to 3 pm, year-round. Technological improvements such as micro-inverters can compensate for shading issues to some extent.

Every kW (kilowatt) of the solar array takes about 100 square feet. So a typical 3kW array (twelve panels) will take a roof area of about 11*20 inches (two rows of six).

Today, almost all inverters come with built-in monitoring, which varies a little based on manufacturers. Also, by reconciling your production with your electric bill, you can get a good idea of what your household’s electric load is and how much of a difference the photovoltaic system is making to your bills.

Yes! Several studies demonstrate that solar homes add to property valuation and sell more quickly.

The true answer is – it depends. Most municipalities will not increase your property tax values due to a solar installation, but it’s worth checking with your town (or city) legislatures to be sure.

Solar electricity is identical to grid power. So, you will never notice that the house is running on solar power. What you will see, of course, is a lesser or almost zero electricity bill to pay!

Solar panels sold today don’t ever stop generating. While some of the wirings may need upgrading in future years, the panels remain useful for over 40 years. However, the generation capacity does reduce from the original over the years after the warranty-period.

The solar panels produce a lot of energy during the day when the sunlight availability is at its peak. The house most likely won’t use all this solar-generated power. The excess solar power is fed back to the grid. At night, the extra units are taken back home from the grid. It works like a banking system.
An electric meter on your property is used to record how much energy your home or business uses every month. When you switch to solar energy, you’ll have a new electric meter replacing the old one. It works both ways, that is, it shows how many electricity units you consume from the grid when your solar panels aren’t generating electricity (like at night). It also shows how much energy your solar panels generated during the day. While you pay only for the extra units you consume than what your solar system generates. This is known as net metering.

Solar panels are easier to maintain than your property, appliances, and maybe even your cell phone. That’s because solar panels have zero moving parts. The most you’ll have to do to maintain your solar panels is to make sure they’re free of dust, pollen, leaves, animal drooping and other debris. Anything that obstructs your panels will make them less efficient in energy production. You can read here in detail about how to clean your solar panels.

Solar power is a renewable resource, which means it is freely available. We would never have to dig for coal or refine other toxic energy sources just to keep the lights on. Solar energy reduces your carbon footprint by decreasing greenhouse gas emissions (which contribute to climate change). Since it doesn’t cause any pollution, it also means we’ll have less harmful pollutants in our air, land, and water.

Yes. Solar energy is used for diverse applications and purposes. You can generate electricity (photovoltaic) or heat (solar thermal) from solar energy. Solar energy in the form of heat can be used in: solar water-heaters, cookers, calculators, etc. Solar energy (in the form of photovoltaic) can be used to produce electricity in areas without access to the energy grid, to distill water in regions with limited clean water supplies and to power satellites in space. Solar energy can also be integrated into the materials used for buildings.

There are a variety of types of technologies associated with solar power. These technologies can be divided into two groups.

• Solar Thermal Technologies – Use the sun’s heat. Example: solar concentrator power systems, flat plate solar collectors, and passive solar heating.
• Solar Photovoltaics – Use the sun’s light or radiation. The photons of radiation are used to generate electricity through the photoelectric effect by using photovoltaic (also known as PV, that is, solar panels and or solar modules).

With a multitude of solar installers available, defining the parameters for choosing the right one is a tough decision. Even though the price seems to be the sole lucrative parameter, industry experts wouldn't suggest the same. Right from solar panels, inverters to the services offered by your installer - like mounting the structure and other necessary civil work, everything has to be seamless.
This is where a brand scores over the local installers. PIXON provides end-to-end solutions starting from site assessment to calculating your requirements as well as installing. We also take care of the maintenance and service to ensure smooth and peak performance of the installed Solar PV Systems. This is one of the major reasons why PIXON is your one-stop solution for solar solutions as compared to any local installer.