Silfab Solar Panel

Silfab Solar Panels are Made in the USA

Silfab Solar is a North American leader in research and development of ultra-high efficiency PV modules. They feature a very streamlined manufacturing process using an electrically conductive back sheet arranging all contacts on the backside of the high-efficiency solar panels for use in the U.S. residential market.

A Silfab product control team continuously conducts human monitoring of their fully automated manufacturing facilities.

This strict adherence to both inline quality checks and off-line quality checks is why Silfab can guarantee each panel will perform to standards and exceed accepted industry standards.

This quality assurance is why Silfab Solar leads the industry with 99.996% functionality rating in their delivered PV modules.

Silfab Solar Panels by the numbers

Silfab Solar pride themselves on producing dependable solar panels suited for both residential off grid systems, as well as more common grid-tied residential solar systems.

These high-performing solar panels are engineered specifically for North American homeowners. They feature an energy maximizing 9-busbar technology. This technology allows maximum energy conversion in a durable, performance improving, high efficiency half-cell design. The Silfab Prime series features a monocrystalline, all-black design, and has a sleek aesthetic elegance that will look great on your roof.

The spec sheet provides information on several Silfab Solar panel models, but we will focus on the SIL-370 HC. It is a common panel and one you're likely to encounter in the Texas residential solar market.

SIL-370 HC

The SIL-370 HC Black module has a power max output of 370 W. These all-black monocrystalline modules create a modern, elegant solar display on the roof. In independent third-party testing, all models test at or above their reported electrical output. Some panels tested as much as 10W over their reported rating. This report indicates some of these 370-watt panels tested near or at 380W production potential level. This is especially encouraging not only for overall electricity production, but also when accounting for future rates of degradation.

The SIL-370 HC also reports a low rate of degradation, guaranteed not to exceed 2.9% during the first year, with 85.1% capacity guaranteed at the end of year 25 and 82.6% at the end of year 30.

Silfab Solar Panel Efficiency

The Silfab Prime SIL-370 HC module’s efficiency rating is 20.2% - quite high compared to average solar panel efficiency. Silfab’s achievement is largely thanks to the 120, Half cells-Si mono 9 bus bar and superior hydrolysis, UV resistance, multi-layer dielectric film, fluorine-free back sheet.

Silfab Solar Power Tolerance Rating

Power tolerance refers to the amount of electricity a panel will produce either above or below its rated power capacity at Standard Test Conditions (STC). The smaller the power tolerance deviation or range, the more accurate the rated power capacity is.

Silfab Solar modules have a power tolerance of 0 to +10W

This means Silfab Solar panels will, at the very minimum, be operating at their rated capacity, These panels, however, have exceeded their rated capacity by as much as 10 Ws. For example, a Silfab Solar panel rated at 370 W will be able to operate anywhere from 370 W to 380 W (or +10W higher than originally rated 370) under STC.

With a -0% tolerance rating, the Silfab Prime SIL-370 HC panel operates at, or above 370 W. These performance scores, coupled with Silfab Solar’s extremely low rate of material defect, equate to real life performance even in Texas' most demanding operating conditions.

Silfab Solar Temperature Coefficient

Solar panels perform best at77°F(25°C). Obviously, Texas temperatures will far exceed 77°F for long portions of the year. A solar panel’s temperature coefficient is a measurement indicating how well a specific model of solar panel will perform outside of ideal operating conditions. Knowing a panel’s temperature coefficient and the temperature of the panel will allow you to predict your panel’s performance during the dog days of summer.

Temperature coefficients are calculated in Celsius. With each degree above 25°C(77°F) a given solar panel’s electric output will be diminished by its temperature coefficients.

Using the above methodology, the Silfab Prime SIL-370 HC panel has a temperature coefficient of -0.36%/°C. When this panel’s temperature increases by one degree, from 25°C to 26°C (77° F to 79° F), expect a 0.36% reduction in potential electric output.

When it's August in Texas and temperatures have climbed to 95° F/35° C expect electric output to decrease by 3.6%. In the hottest hours of the summer drive the mercury into the triple digits, say 113° F/ 45° C, the Silfab Prime SIL-370 HC will decrease approximately 7.2%.

Silfab Solar Performance Factors

Silfab Solar Top Performer status in the PVEL Industry Scorecard

The SIL-370 HC has 3.2 mm high transmissive, tempered glass surrounded by a black anodized aluminum frame. It is rated to sustain up to a 1-inch hail strike at up to 5.6 miles per hour. In addition, this panel features very respectable snow and wind loads of 112.8 lbs. per square foot.

In the 2021 PVEL report, US made Silfab panels scored top ranking in key testing categories: Thermal Cycling (x 600 cycles), Damp Heat (x 2000 hours), and PID Performance.