Solar panels have changed the way we look at solar power and more importantly the way we harness it. The majority of solar panels used today are quite thick and heavy. Each panel can take you a lot of time to set up and install simply due to its bulkiness. But that's just not the case with flexible solar cells. These can be as thin as 200 micrometres.

For reference, this is about 10,000 times thinner than a piece of hair. But despite that, they are not as light as you'd think but you also won't find flexible solar panels for marine use heavier than 3 kg. They can weigh as little as 800 g. This is one of the reasons why you can put flexible solar panels on your yacht with ease and without much of a worry of them falling off.

Source: trsolarchina.com

The biggest reason why you should go for flexible solar panels is the fact that they need a lot less hardware and less time for the installation process. These solar panels for yachts are flexible since their core is so thin and because of that, they can conform to any surface. No matter how uneven or curved the surface of your yacht is.

With lightweight design comes portability and this is what flexible solar panels have too. No matter where you put your solar panels you can also remove them and install them elsewhere if you see fit. You won't have to struggle to do that too so it's easy to fix mistakes when you've changed your mind about something.

Source: oceanplanetenergy.com

In order for the flexible solar cells to be able to bend according to the curves on your vessel, you need to check their bending angle. Some are able to bend more than others and this is why they are usually not as affordable. Typically, you'll find that flexible solar panels for marine use are able to bent at a 30 ° angle but there are some that can bend up to 248 °.

The power output of a flexible panel tells you a lot about how much power it's able to deliver to all your devices. This is measured in watts and the more the panel has the more power it can convert and send out to the battery.

Powerful flexible panels are not worth it if they're not able to be efficient. Usually, you will find flexible solar cells with an efficiency rating ranging from 10 % to 15 %. This percentage refers to the amount of sunlight the panels can convert to usable electricity. The bending angle also affects this as the higher it is, usually, the lower the efficiency rating of the panel.

No one wants to use their solar panels for a year or two as the sun will be around for way longer. To get the most out of the sun's rays you should get durable solar panels for yachts flexible. This is why you should look for flexible panels made of ETFE rather than PET.

Although weight is not that big of an issue with flexible solar panels for marine use, it can be if you plan on putting up multiple panels. Also, the size of the panels will affect their weight significantly. So, the bigger the panels are and the more you have of them, the more weight your vessel will need to be able to carry. Don't forget there are other components that your marine PV system needs too.

Source: oceanplanetenergy.com

The longest-lasting panels that have the highest efficiency rating are monocrystalline panels. These are made of the purest silicone cells which are also why they are the most expensive you can get. But you should remember that these panels can be affected quite a bit even by the smallest shade.

With polycrystalline solar panels, you get a more affordable version of monocrystalline panels which are made out of raw silicon. This makes polycrystalline panels easier and cheaper to manufacture but also bigger and less efficient than monocrystalline panels.

A thin-film flexible solar panel is in a whole different category since it can be made from different materials. Silicone is one of them but you can find all kinds of thin-film solar panels which are more affordable to produce than both poly and monocrystalline panels. You have to keep in mind though that their manufacturing process makes them have the lowest efficiency rating but it also makes them quite malleable.

No one is safe from the future of solar which is why it's best to take on this almost infinite source of power and make the most out of it. This goes even when you're sailing. No matter if you're on the move or not, if you spend sailing mostly during the day, it's best to have some solar panels to help you enjoy all the commodities of your yacht.