Agree on the CIGS. I installed the BougeRV Yuma panels so I could mold them to the roof, but primarily for the partial-shade tolerance. CIGS panels are nothing new; they are simply thin-film amorphous panels (more sensitive but less total output than mono or poly-crystalline panels). The beauty of the Yuma panels is their bypass diodes; there are over 40 of them compared to two or three in a standard panel. This is why they can operate in partial shade. There are other manufacturers of CIGS panels; beware of the diode count if partial-shade capability is important to you.
Comparing thin-film panels to crystalline panels, the thin film panels will start passing a charge earlier in the morning and go later in the day than crystalline panels. They will also output even on cloudy days. But, they will output less power for the same physical size than a crystalline, and they are less efficient than crystalline. So, it's a trade-off/balancing act. The bypass diodes got my attention and the mold-ability sold them.
Comparing thin-film panels to crystalline panels, the thin film panels will start passing a charge earlier in the morning and go later in the day than crystalline panels. They will also output even on cloudy days. But, they will output less power for the same physical size than a crystalline, and they are less efficient than crystalline. So, it's a trade-off/balancing act. The bypass diodes got my attention and the mold-ability sold them.
