Solar Panels - How Often Are New Versions Introduced?

[entgegnen]

Hi everyone,

1. I am currently looking at the LG320N1C-G4 panel for a residential application.
1a. (Feel free to chime in if you have negative opinions on this model - or suggestions for an alternative option - I am not wed to it yet.)
2. It seems that this panel was first introduced in the Summer of 2015.
3. Do solar panels (and their manufactures) work like car models? E.g. each year an updated/refreshed version is released?
4. Does anyone know if LG will be releasing a newer version again this summer?
4a. (This way I could hold out for an incremental refinement in the tech OR just look to get a better deal on "old/older" stock)
4b. Hopefully someone here might know in advance of the Vegas trade show in September?

Thanks.

Jason

[sensij]

New models are constantly coming out, there does not seem to be a coordinated release cycle like with cars. The differences between them are very incremental, but the trend has been for the cost per watt to slowly drop. By waiting, you might be able to buy better panels for the same money, but price drops slowly on the older stock and if waiting means paying for another summer of electricity, I'm not sure you would come out ahead.

Lg's previous models produced around 300 W... Are you seeing those panels at much of a cost per watt discount?

[ButchDeal]

You will be waiting forever. If you can meet your needs with a product currently available then do so. The avoided savings of waiting is not worth the ever so slight improvement or reduction in costs.
If you really want the savings of buying last years models then get last years model now.

[entgegnen]

Sensij - What I have been seeing is pretty much what you are saying "price drops slowly on older stock." Those "older models" are basically only $.05-.08 less per watt on panels that are pretty much 18.3 efficiency & 10 year warranty. The newer (well since all 2015) panel seems to have 19.5 effeciency & a 12 year warranty. I even got a quote for a 2013 panel at essentially the same price as I see today (of course, I consider a nickel per/watt difference pretty much the same price... and I am suspicious that I'd be quoted with a 3 year old panel... makes me think the business over-bought and then undersold them... and is in a bind...when their first for forward is old stock)

ButchDeal - I am finding the lay of the land to be exactly as you describe.

I am guessing that nobody has any substantial criticism of the 320w LG.... good to know.

Thanks guys.

[azdave]

4. Does anyone know if LG will be releasing a newer version again this summer?
4a. (This way I could hold out for an incremental refinement in the tech OR just look to get a better deal on "old/older" stock)

Maybe you would wait a few months if you knew of an upcoming deal on last year's models but it's better to get panels on the roof working for you now than to wait for the next slightly better or cheaper versions too far down the road. You can never get back the time lost not having a system online working for you.

[Ian S]

You can never get back the time lost not having a system online working for you.

Especially with utilities so anxious to change the rules as soon as possible. Although not guaranteed, existing solar customers are often grandfathered.

[DanKegel]

Hi everyone,
4. Does anyone know if LG will be releasing a newer version again this summer?

Yeah, the LG300N1T-G4, but you don't want it. Just go for the LG320N1C-G4, or whatever currently shipping module gets you the lowest cost per watt.

[solarix]

PV manufacturers are in a constant change of flux. The process of building PV panels involves trying to get the cells and the panels as uniform and matched as possible. Because panels consist of many cells wired in series, cells need to be matched as the series current is only as high as the weakest cell. Manufacturers test each cell and sort them by output characteristics then build each panel with cells from the same sort bin. From a certain production run they will get a distribution of different yields which is why they always have the spec sheets for a particular model of panel cover a range of wattages. Say 250 to 270watts for example. Its impossible to get the process perfected to produce the exact same yield every time. As time goes on in production the yield typically gets better and while at first most of the panels in a run are say 250w with a few exceptional ones making 270w, after awhile the 270's become the common size. They sell the 250's for less per watt than the 270's even though the exact same cost went into producing them. So, the market price of PV panels depends a lot on how the process yield is running for each manufacturer (which is constantly changing).

One of my big frustrations in this business is finding stable availability of any particular model of PV panel so that by the time the "authorities" grant us the permission to install a particular job, we can still procure the PV panel specified on the plans. As a result, I have about $50,000 worth of panels sitting outside my window as I write. Better then money in the bank in my book!

[foo1bar]

Sensij - What I have been seeing is pretty much what you are saying "price drops slowly on older stock." Those "older models" are basically only $.05-.08 less per watt on panels that are pretty much 18.3 efficiency & 10 year warranty. The newer (well since all 2015) panel seems to have 19.5 effeciency & a 12 year warranty.

So I see $360 or so for 320W LG panels
and $270 for 285W LG panels.
So for a 12% increase in performance you'll pay 30% more.

My inclination would be to just put up 20 panels instead of 18, and keep the extra $1080 (Ok - extra $900+ after you account for extra racking, etc)

[azdave]

That's what I'm saying. Waiting for the latest and greatest panel is usually not a good decision because it delays how quickly your money begins working for you and it's very likely cheaper to just get a panel or two extra of last years model if you have room.

[dex]

solarix hit the nail on the head.

There are some companies out there trying to produce more efficient panels but it comes with a heavy price tag. Panasonic just out did Sunpower on a 325w and it's supposedly a little bigger than a standard 260w panel. Cheapest I've seen it is around $410 per panel which is 1.26 per watt