#BLUETTIXMASHomeParty with my AC200L

SHARE YOUR BLUETTI LIFE! Home Energy
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#BLUETTIXMASHomeParty The only way that its working for me so i can save a bit on my electricity bill is to use the Custom UPS mode on my AC200L and disabling the charge from grid option. That way, all process are automated and pass thru is activated at some battery level (a bit randomly but ok…) so i dont have to unplug my loads and watch battery levels all the time. I am located on Quebec, Canada around 45.8 latitude and at this winter time of the year i can run a 100watts load for 1 to 6 hours every day on PV energy only depending on clouds cover. Summer time should bring up this number 2 or 4x i guess (1000 watts PV was setup in last october). I want to prioritize and basically only use charging with the PV but the Priority PV mode will charge from grid at random time and full up the battery even if my battery % is over the SOC settings so i cant use that mode. I was advise by support to reset settings and try again but problem is random and sometime SOC behave ok. I wish PV tech was more advance since its been around for many years so it can produce more energy for the required space of the panels. I estimate that to run 100 watts load 24/7 year around over here and on solar only, i would need 5000 watts solar array, that would take so much space and bit to much money so for now thats what i can save on my electricity bill.

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@flomotion Thank you for entering and sharing your home’s electricity usage :handshake: :handshake:
If you need a 5kW solar panel array, purchasing some rigid panels would be a good choice. Adding some pictures would increase your chances of winning. :blush:

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Hi Flomotion,

Speaking of hoping PV tech to be more advanced, I’ll share here the draft timeline I’m writing for my blog / website.
 

My 2 cents regarding expensive panels: Buy rooftop panels, and make sure to pick a known tier-1 brand (Trina, Denim, Longi, Ja Solar, etc.) and make sure to not buy anything above 100$ per 400W panel. Next, ensure ideal placement (Full S, Canada would make you 50-60° angle). You’ll produce more with 3x 400W under ideal conditions than with 4p3s (4800W) in presence of even partial shadows.
 
Now the timeline to show how much PV tech has evolved - probably more for the last 5 years than in the 3 decades that precedeed.
REM: The price ranges are expressed in nominal dollars, so 300$ in the 1990s is probably close to 600$ in 2024 dollars.

1990s

  • Technology/Cell Name: Crystalline Silicon (Mono-Si and Poly-Si)
  • Efficiency: ~15-18% (Mono-Si), ~12-14% (Poly-Si)
  • Price per 100W: ~$300-400
    • Key Milestones: Early adoption driven by niche applications like off-grid systems. Manufacturing improvements begin reducing costs.

2000s

  • Technology/Cell Name: Thin Film (CdTe, CIGS, and a-Si)
  • Efficiency: ~8-12% (Thin Film)
  • Price per 100W: ~$125-200 (2005), ~$125-150 (2009)
    • Key Milestones:
      • Thin film technologies emerge as lower-cost alternatives to crystalline silicon.
      • Mono-Si and Poly-Si efficiency improves to ~18-20% and ~15-17%, respectively.

2010

  • Technology/Cell Name: Mono-Si with PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell)
  • Efficiency: ~20-22% (Mono-Si PERC)
  • Price per 100W: ~$75-90
    • Key Milestones:
      • PERC technology commercialized, increasing efficiency and lowering costs.
      • Price drops significantly due to increased global production (primarily China).

2015

  • Technology/Cell Name: Bifacial Mono-Si with PERC
  • Efficiency: ~21-23%
  • Price per 100W: ~$50-60
    • Key Milestones:
      • Introduction of bifacial panels that capture sunlight on both sides.
      • Improved manufacturing scales further reduce costs.

2020

  • Technology/Cell Name: TopCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) and HJT (Heterojunction)
  • Efficiency: ~23-24% (TopCon), ~24-25% (HJT)
  • Price per 100W: ~$40-50
    • Key Milestones:
      • HJT cells combine crystalline silicon with thin-film layers, achieving higher efficiency.
      • Integration with smart inverters and storage systems grows.

2023

  • Technology/Cell Name: Perovskite-Silicon Tandem
  • Efficiency: ~28-30% (Lab-scale), ~25-26% (Commercial prototypes)
  • Price per 100W: ~$25-40 (for high-efficiency Mono-Si panels)
    • Key Milestones:
      • Perovskite advancements increase lab-scale efficiencies.
      • Tandem cells (Perovskite + Silicon) make strides toward commercial viability.

Future Outlook (2025 and Beyond)

  • Anticipated Technologies:
    • Fully commercial Perovskite Tandem cells: ~30% efficiency.
    • Quantum Dot and Multijunction cells: >40% efficiency in lab settings.
    • Organic PV (OPV) for flexible and low-cost applications.
  • Expected Price per 100W: <$20 for standard Mono-Si, <$35 for Tandem cells.
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@Derceto thanks for the info. Why not using CIGS panels since they perform better in the shade? here is my situation: i wish i had a very large lot with no trees around but thats not the case. i am located on a 20k sq feet lot where 2/3 of the lot is covered with very mature trees. 8 months out of the year, the array will receive direct sunlight for 4 to 6 hours but from October to Mars, the sun trajectory, due to my location in north of Quebec, is very low and hidden all day behind trees except for 1h30m around noon (and im lucky if there is no clouds during that period at this time of the year). Putting solar panels on my roof is not practical at all because of snow fall and tree shadings, so what i did is built a 7 feet up the ground support and put up 5x200 watts panel in the best spot i had available on my lot, facing south. i dont know where you are located but any Longi 400W panels here in Canada will sell new for a minimum of 400$ CAD + 15% taxes. Weather conditions and prices around here makes it very difficult for someone with a average paycheck to see a benefit in solar because of those reasons. If i look around in my rural area, i must be the only one with solar for miles. Thats why i dont see a benefits vs the costs for now with solar for people in latitude of around 45.8 and advocating for more sensitive panel to low light. Economic condition here as been terrible for many years now and just to get a lot large enough with enough clearance for sun to come trough all year around is very very expensive. That being said, i really appreciate your 2 cents!

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Good point; In your case, with limited sunlight during winter and space constraints, CIGS panels might help marginally during the low-sunlight months, but the higher cost per watt and lower efficiency could outweigh the benefits during the sunnier months.
I have no first hand experience with CIGS, but knowing their efficiency is anywhere between 11 and 16%, it appears quite a gamble to me to go down that way (as typical mono-Si reaches 24%).
 
I’d experiment with a solar energy meter first as in the end we only get that efficiency rating out of what’s available.

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@Derceto from what i understand, CIGS panels sensibility spectrum to sun rays is a lot larger than traditional mono or poly silicon panels. This resume from Grok AI says it best: “CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) solar panels operate effectively across a broader light spectrum, including better absorption of the visible and near-infrared light compared to traditional mono and poly crystalline silicon panels, which primarily absorb in the visible light range. This broader absorption spectrum allows CIGS panels to potentially convert more of the available solar energy into electricity, especially under diffuse light conditions.” Another thing to consider in this is that the “efficiency” rating use by all silicon panels producer is design to take into account only the spectrum band where silicon panel is sensitive. THe downside is that they are very expensive here in Canada, BougeRV sell their SIGS 200W for 500$ CAD each with a current end of year sale. Maybe next year depending on my situation i will try to sell my silicon panels and try SIGS,

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