Schott PV Photovoltaic Solar Panels
Founded in Germany in 1884 the Schott Group has always specialised in the development of glass technology for industrial and domestic applications therefore an eventual move into the production of PV solar panels was a logical direction for the company.
The resulting subsidiary company, Schott Solar, has been innovating in the field of photovoltaic solar panels for domestic and industrial use for more than fifty years. Now a global player, Schott PV solar panels are manufactured in Germany, the Czech Republic, North America and China.
Schott is committed to ensuring that the PV solar panels it produces are of the highest quality and offer the greatest performance. Significant investment in the research and development of solar technology, in conjunction with Schott’s intensely rigorous product testing regime, has earned the company numerous awards and commendations for the quality, performance and resilience of their PV solar panels.
Most recently Schott Solar was awarded first place in the 2010 Energy Yield Test by TÜV Rheinland for its PERFORM Poly 225 photovoltaic module, which proved especially powerful when tested against twelve competing modules from other PV solar panel manufacturers.
Schott PV Solar Panel Quality and Performance
All Schott PV solar panels are subjected to twice the quality testing required to satisfy the International Electrotechnical Committee’s (IEC) quality standards.
In a long-term evaluation conducted by one of the world’s leading solar energy research organisations, The Fraunhofer Institute, Schott PV solar panels maintained 90% of their original performance after a twenty-five year period of use.
Constructed using anodised aluminium frames, Schott PV solar panels are resistant to twisting and can withstand pressures of up to 550kg per square meter.
Schott PV Solar Panel Ranges
Schott currently produces four ranges of PV solar panels which are designed to cater for different conditions and uses. In brief, they are the PERFORM range which is the most widely used Schott PV solar panel in the UK and is covered in detail below.
The PROTECT range features a double-glass construction and a smaller footprint, and has been designed for conditions where resilience and robustness are of key importance. The smaller size of these polycrystalline PV solar panels allows for easier installation and a more efficient use of limited roof space and the emphasis on high-quality construction has resulted in these panels earning an unprecedented thirty-year linear performance guarantee.
Schott Solar’s ADVANCE range of PV solar panels actually integrates with the existing roof of a building rather than being mounted in a frame. Designed for quick and easy installation these glass-foil panels have been proven for rain safety and carry Schott Solar’s twenty-five year performance guarantee as standard.
Finally, the POWER range has been designed purely for industrial and solar farm use where greater power generation is required.
The Schott PERFORM Range
Available from a number of UK suppliers in both mono- and polycrystalline versions, Schott’s PERFORM PV solar panels combine outstanding efficiency with robustness and pleasing aesthetic design, and are suitable for both domestic and commercial use.
The monocrystalline panel comprises PV solar cells which have been rated at 17.6% efficiency, giving the PERFORM 190 modules a theoretical maximum efficiency of up to 14.5% in real-world usage, with the equivalent polycrystalline panels achieving up to 14.3% efficiency.
Schott PERFORM PV solar panels are engineered to be compatible with a wide range of mounting options making them suitable for both roof and ground-level installations.
Indicative Schott PV Solar Installation Costs
The cost of a standard domestic system installation by a Microgeneration Scheme Certified (MCS) installer using Schott PERFORM PV solar panels and providing a power output of 2.2kW will cost in the region of £10,000 (requiring between ten and twelve PV solar panels, depending upon their power rating) whilst a 3kW system will cost around £12,000.