There are many reasons to use flexible solar panels over conventional, heavy, and bulky rigid photovoltaic (PV) modules typically found on fixed mounts. The top three reasons are:
- Flexible Solar Panels Can Be Installed On Curved Roofs
Flexible solar panels can be installed on curved roofs! This means if you have an out-of-square roof or even if your roof is not completely flat, you may still be able to mount some type of solar installation on it. For example, a section of the south side of our barn has a steeper pitch than the other sections that face south. The rest of the roof has a very gentle slope suitable for installing solar panels, but this steep area was too much of an obstacle. - Flexible Solar Panels Can Be Applied On Vehicles And Boats
Flexible solar panels can be used on cars and boats! If you have a boat or recreational vehicle (RV) with limited space as we do, you might consider an array of flexible panels for your electric power needs. Flexible solar panels can double as a roofing material if the surface is flat enough and secured properly to prevent damage from wind or hail impact. - Flexible Solar Panels Are More Affordable Than Rigid Modules
Some of the most popular flexible photovoltaic materials such as thin-film amorphous silicon, CIGS cells, and dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are less expensive per watt than rigid crystalline silicon solar modules. Moreover, the cost of flexible panels is even more attractive when considering that the installation process is simplified since they are lightweight, easy to work with, and can be handled by one person.
Flexible Solar Panels vs. Rigid Modules – A Brand New Opportunity!
The opportunity for flexible solar power generation material sales has never been better due to rapidly increasing demand from small businesses and homeowners who want cleaner energy alternatives to reduce their dependency on utility companies and reduce dependence on fossil fuels imported from unstable regions of the world. Flexible photovoltaic materials are manufactured mostly in China, where labor costs are low enough to make them competitive in today’s global economy led by the United States, which currently holds the #1 spot.
As you can see, flexible solar panels are taking the residential and commercial solar market by storm with their lightweight, compact design that is easily installed on most surfaces, including curved roofs, plus they can be applied to vehicles and boats. Although some issues need to be resolved, such as cost per watt for mass production, overall flexible photovoltaic products have a bright future in this competitive industry.