Residential solar installers always have to deal with subtle size differences between solar panel brands. Even if the industry generally operates within the same 60 battery footprint, the blank space on the boundaries of one brand's solar panels may be larger than another brand's, but the difference is not significant. The current competitive wafer lineup (M10's 182mm wafer and G12's 210mm wafer) provides installers with a wider range of different panel sizes for screening. When the ultimate goal is to generate the most energy on the smallest area, today's installers have more optimal array options than ever before.

Qcells is the most popular residential solar panel brand in the top solar contractor category for 2024, and its current residential module design is based on energy production, BOS and shelf compatibility, and logistics efficiency, rather than following the previously established 60 cell standard. This led the company to default to using larger M10 chips for the residential market with a 54 battery design. The company's latest Q The TRON BLK M-G2+panel is 4 inches wider than the old 60 battery panel.

As the modules on the roof become larger, it is more important than ever to pay attention to fire regulations and fire escape requirements, "he said.

Robert Santoleri, president of Pennsylvania installer TerraSol Energies, said that larger solar panels make it more difficult to overcome challenges while maximizing space utilization, but his company has found that certain brands of solar panels can bring success.

I like the REC series panels because they are actually shorter, wider, and closer to a square, "he said. Although it remains to be determined whether the installation personnel handle the 48 inch wide panel ergonomically, it is better from a design perspective. We can use more longitudinal panels to maximize the use of light from the south roof

Although large-sized panels are also larger energy producers - Qcells and REC update modules generate 100 W more electricity than their old 60 battery version - customers may not necessarily choose fewer panels to more easily meet certain system sizes. TerraSol discovered that all of this is aimed at maximizing the use of roof space. Last year, the average system capacity of installers was 11.6 kilowatts, and by 2024, the average capacity will reach 12.5 kilowatts.

For most homeowners, if they have more available space on their roofs, they will install more solar panels, "Santoleiri said. Most homeowners either plan to upgrade their homes' power systems or hope to purchase electric vehicles in the next year or so. They want to plan more electricity usage in advance