What the guru says
Hi, Solar Guru. I like the look of black solar panels, but can you tell me what you think?
I like the look of black solar panels too. I think they look fabulous. And if you really want to protect the look of your home and choose black panels go for your life. There's one downside. The downside is they heat up a little bit more than a white solar panel.
Because they absorb the heat more. If that doesn't bother you, you can fit a few extra panels on and you like the look just like I do. Go for your life.
Black solar panels?
Black solar panels are very popular in some European countries. For example, they make up nearly 90% of all panels sold in Belgium and Holland. The reason is that they look visually more appealing than normal panels. They used to have blue cells when they were made of polysilicon, and now they are monocrystalline silicon and are black with white lines.
They are becoming increasingly popular in Australia as more people appreciate the aesthetic value of a good-looking solar system on the roof. The difference to a traditional panel is that instead of being white. The backing sheet is completely black, eliminating the white lines in a panel.
The specific advantages and disadvantages of black panels are listed below:
Advantages of black solar panels
- Better looking. Black solar panels are considered more visually appealing compared to traditional panels. Often they are combined with black rails, giving the overall system a uniform modern look.
- Better Integration on Dark Roofs: Unfortunately, many modern homes have dark tiles. It’s not smart, as dark tiles attract more heat – but it’s a reality. The black colour of the panels allows them to integrate seamlessly with dark-coloured roofs. Making them less obvious and, therefore, more appealing.
- Can be less reflective: Black panels usually have a black frame, while some standard panels have silver anodised aluminium frames. So in late afternoons, the silver frames can sometimes throw off sun reflections and glare to neighbouring buildings. While the black frames are less likely to create this issue.
Disadvantages of black solar panels
- Hotter panels: Full black panels tend to be as much as 10 degrees hotter than standard solar panels because of the all-black colour. The hotter a panel, the less efficient the panel will be. Therefore if one compares the output between a standard and full black panel of the same power class, e.g. 420W. Over a year, the standard panel will likely produce a few per cent more electricity. – especially in a hot climate. One can neutralise this disadvantage by adding an extra panel to the full black system.
- Can cost a little more: All-black solar panels usually are 3 to 4 cents per watt more expensive than standard panels. Over a 10 kW system, that’s a 400-plus dollar difference. Not much when considering the lasting visual benefit of a full black system. Please note that full black rails also add some cost to the system, so a full black system can cost around $100 to $200 more per kW installed.
- Harder to find: In the past, in Australia, full black panels were distributed in smaller numbers; this meant if one had to find a replacement panel, all blacks were harder to locate. All-black panels are gaining in popularity, so this issue is now less pronounced.
So what is the verdict?
In the end, full-black or partially-black – solar makes a lot of sense, and the choice between the two comes back to the homeowner and their taste, budget, availability and how likely the panels are to be seen from the street.
