Traditionally, folding solar panels tended to be less efficient than rigid panels, typically offering a conversion efficiency rating of only 7-15%. However, recently this has greatly improved, and you can find many folding solar panels with an efficiency rating of just over 24% – similar to some of the most efficient solar panels on the market.
Some can fit into a wallet, others are designed to sit on the ground, perhaps outside a tent, or on a motorhome roof. Folding solar panels are often confused with flexible solar panels, however, the key difference is that while flexible solar panels are able to be bent to fit different shapes, foldable solar panels are rigid.
When it comes to benefits, both folding solar panels and solar blankets are pretty much the same. However, you can choose one over the other depending on how much you love camping. People who go camping once every 2 to 3 months and want a budget-friendly solar power option, buying foldable solar panels is a wiser option.
If you’re looking for a green, cost-effective energy source to power you when you are off-grid and on the go, foldable solar panels offer a flexible and increasingly efficient solution. With a vast range of sizes and weights, it’s increasingly easy to find the right model to suit your needs.
However, large-scale folding panels can power anything from air conditioning units to campervans. And, while they generally aren’t recommended for installation in homes, foldable solar panels can be an option for use on roofs that aren’t able to take the weight of larger rigid solar panels.
Setting up a permanent rigid solar panel system requires more time and cost than a flexible solar panel system, however rigid solar panels are generally warranted to last longer and produce more energy. Traditional, rigid solar panels are best used for residential, commercial, and full-time mobile solar applications.