Every solar decision is a number you can check.
Panel efficiency, inverter losses, payback periods, degradation rates. We work them out in the open and show where each figure comes from, so you can argue with the maths instead of trusting a sales pitch.
Read the guides Start with the basics →
Four questions, in the order people actually ask them
Most solar research goes wrong by starting with panel brands. Start with your own consumption instead, and the hardware choices narrow themselves down.
How do panels actually work?
The photovoltaic effect without the hand-waving, and why a 22%-efficient panel is not twice as good as an 11% one.
Read the guide → 2–15 kWWhat size do I need?
Read your consumption off an electricity bill, then turn kWh per month into a panel count and a roof area.
Size your system → HardwareWhich components?
Panel types and inverter topologies: string versus micro versus hybrid, and when each one is the right call.
Compare hardware → Cost & ROIWhen does it pay back?
Cost per watt, net metering, and an honest payback calculation that includes replacing the inverter at year ten.
Run the numbers →Six guides published, newest first
How Do Solar Panels Actually Work? A Plain-English Guide
From photon to household current, including the three loss stages that separate a panel's rated output from what your meter sees.
Monocrystalline vs Polycrystalline vs Thin-Film
Efficiency, temperature coefficient, cost per watt and roof-area requirements, in one comparison table.
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need? A Step-by-Step Calculation
A worked example from a real electricity bill through to array size, panel count and required roof area.
String Inverters vs Microinverters vs Hybrid
Where each topology wins, and how shading and roof orientation change the answer.
Solar Payback Period: How to Calculate It Honestly
Why most payback figures are optimistic, and what changes when you include degradation and inverter replacement.
Net Metering in Pakistan: NEPRA Rules and the DISCO Process
Eligibility, the application path stage by stage, realistic timelines, and how export settlement works.
We publish the spec sheet, not the brochure
Panel marketing leads with peak efficiency because it is the flattering number. Temperature coefficient and degradation rate decide what you actually harvest over twenty-five years.
| Technology | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Annual degradation | Area per kWp |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monocrystalline PERC | 20–22 % | −0.34 %/°C | 0.50 % | 4.7 m² |
| Monocrystalline TOPCon | 22–23 % | −0.29 %/°C | 0.40 % | 4.4 m² |
| Polycrystalline | 15–17 % | −0.39 %/°C | 0.60 % | 6.1 m² |
| Thin-film CdTe | 14–16 % | −0.25 %/°C | 0.40 % | 6.9 m² |
These are typical ranges, not a substitute for the datasheet of the specific module you are quoted. REPLACE the figures above with values you have cited to a primary source before publishing — a sourced table is the whole point of this section. For the full comparison, read monocrystalline vs polycrystalline vs thin-film.