5 Ways to Maximize Your Solar Panel Efficiency

1) Keep modules clean

Dust and bird droppings reduce irradiance at the cell. In dry seasons, plan a gentle-clean schedule (soft water, non-abrasive cloth) and log the PR improvement afterwards.

2) Optimise tilt and azimuth

For Nigeria (~latitudes 4–14°N), fixed-tilt around latitude works well; slightly lower tilt can improve summer yield and reduce wind loads.

3) Eliminate shade and hotspots

Trim nearby vegetation, avoid antenna shadows, and use string layouts that bypass partial shading. IR scans help detect early hotspots.

4) Temperature management

Lower backside temperature boosts voltage. Provide airflow under modules; avoid dark membranes where possible; pick modules with low NOCT.

5) MPPT and wiring losses

Use proper string sizing to keep the inverter in the MPPT window across temperatures. Select copper sizes to limit DC drop (<2%). Tighten terminations and check torque.

Metric to watch: Performance Ratio (PR). If PR drops >5% vs baseline, investigate soiling, shade, or equipment faults.