Solar powered products are becoming more and more popular every day. This brings changes in technology associated with solar panels. This goes from the different materials of which they are composed of, to the different sizes, shapes, power outputs and other features.

Unlike traditional solar panels that are thick and rigid, flexible solar panels can be bent up to a certain point. Flexible panels are lightweight, versatile and more useful than framed panels, allowing easy installation and transport, making them a plug and play product.

Also, flexible solar panels are capable of meeting a wide range of applications such as curved roofs, recreational vehicles (RV), boats and any curvy surfaces. Some of these applications may be suitable for traditional mounting schemes, but not all of them.

So, if you are thinking about installing flexible solar panels where a rigid solar panel won’t fit, do not hesitate on this. In this article, you will find some of the most valuable flexible solar panels in the market, perfect for your next outdoor experience. Let’s take a look at some of them.  

10 Best-Selling Flexible Solar Panels

1. Renogy 160 Watt 12 Volt Extremely Flexible Monocrystalline Solar Panel

Renogy 160 Watt 12 Volt Extremely Flexible Monocrystalline Solar Panel

Renogy is a recognized manufacturer that presents a flexible solar panel whose technology consists of monocrystalline cells designed to generate a maximum of 160W and 12V. 

This flexible solar panel has 58.1 inches long, 26 inches wide and 0.08 inches thick, making it approximately 95% thinner than its rigid counterpart. 

Besides, its weight is only 6.2 pounds, 70% less than conventional solar panels. This important weight reduction makes it far easier to transport and install. Similarly, this flexible panel is ideal for any photovoltaic configuration, since it can be bent up to a 248 degrees arc. 

It can be said that this product has been designed with state-of-the-art technology that can withstand extreme winds of up to 0.35 PSI and snow loads of up to 0.78 PSI. It also has incredible performance under low light scenarios. 

In general, the Renogy’s flexible solar panel has obtained multiple positive reviews due to its efficiency (21%), quality, and characteristics. This makes it a perfect option for any type of installation, especially for the travel or camping experience, thanks to its lightweight design.

2. WindyNation 100 Watt Flexible Solar Panel

WindyNation 100W 100 Watt 12V Bendable Flexible Thin Lightweight Monocrystalline Solar Panel

The WindyNation company launched the 100W and 12V semi-flexible solar panel technology that consists of a set of efficient monocrystalline solar cells.

The physical characteristics of the solar panel make it perfect for transporting and mounting (using fasteners or also adhesive or velcro), as it is extremely light and only weighs 3.5 pounds. 

The panel is only 0.1 inches thick and can be flexed to a maximum of 30 degrees. This allows the users to install the flexible panel on curved surfaces such as recreational vehicles, sailboats, motor homes, tents, etc.

In turn, the solar panel arrives ready for installation with 36 inches of 12 AWG solar cables and preset MC4 connectors. It also has a blocking diode that is included in the junction box to eliminate the discharge/drain of the battery at night. Besides, the system is completely waterproof.

In general, the product offered by WindyNation has a set of qualities that can be classified as follows: extremely light, monocrystalline cells design and economically attractive based power size and performance. 

But, this flexible panel also has an important disadvantage. This has to do with the PTE plastic from which it is made. This plastic has a low shelf life, thus affecting its quality.

3. Richsolar 100 Watt ETFE Flexible Monocrystalline Solar Panel

Richsolar 100 Watt 12 Volt Extremely ETFE Flexible Monocrystalline Solar Panel Ultra Lightweight

The manufacturer RichSolar presents a flexible panel of 100W and 12V, made of monocrystalline silicon that incorporates a remarkable technology in the industry. This technology is a polymer called ETFE, which has multiple advantages that allow the panel to have greater resistance to heat, corrosion and UV rays.

Some of the most important features of this panel have to do with its weight, which is only 4.8 pounds. Also, its flexibility that reaches up to 30 degrees. This panel is also primarily designed to charge 12V lithium lead-acid batteries, as well as other equipment while still being 100% recyclable.

In general, the module has a set of benefits such as its ability to resist external factors such as corrosion and fire. Moreover, it also has a 25-year limited energy output warranty and product warranty of 2 years. These features turn this product into a competitive option with other equivalents.

4. Kingsolar 100 Watt Flexible Solar Panel

Kingsolar Flexible Solar Panel 100 Watt 18 Volt 12 Volt

The 100W flexible solar panel, presented by KingSolar has a dual voltage output for 18 and 12 V, it is also composed of an ETFE surface (a type of thermoplastic polymer) that provides great resistance to heat, corrosion and UV rays. This offers remarkable improvements when compared to other panels that have a PET surface (another polymer of less resistance).

The transmission of ETFE material is as high as 95%, better with high-temperature resistance. Besides, the solar panel can be curved to a maximum arc of 30 degrees, which allows its installation on a curved or irregular surface. It also has excellent sensitivity to weak light and an internal blocking diode that prevents drainage from the batteries and avoids a reverse current effect at night. 

The system is made of advanced waterproof material. Moreover, the junction box is sealed and waterproof. On the other hand, the copper cable is protected by a 3-layer plastic film. 

With only 0.1 inches thick and weighing only 4.8 pounds, this solar panel is easy to transport, hang and remove.

5. SunPower 100 Watt Flexible Monocrystalline High Efficiency Solar Panel

SunPower 100 Watt Flexible Monocrystalline High Efficiency Solar Panel

SunPower is one of the most recognized manufacturers of solar panels worldwide for being leaders in the generation of new technology.

The 100W flexible solar panel consisting of 32 high-efficiency monocrystalline cells launched by the SunPower company has received excellent feedback from customers mainly due to its excellent performance and quality.

This panel is designed and manufactured in the Philippines and France. Besides, it is made up of a set of photovoltaic cells that offer 60% more energy during the first years.

These cells are adapted with a new technology called Maxeon, which is manufactured on a solid copper base to offer greater reliability and performance, thus providing the panels with greater resistance to corrosion and cracking.

Also, these panels have built-in diodes, the micro-connection box has an IP67 rating and the connectors have an IP68 rating. This means that it has protection against dust and water, so it could submerge up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes.

In general, it can be said that the panel is robust, durable, weatherproof, lightweight (4.4 pounds) and portable. The product includes 17.7 feet of 12 AWG cable as well as MC4 connectors, which are integrated as a single piece, for easy installation.

6. BougeRV 100 Watt Flexible Solar Panel

BougeRV 100W Solar Panel Charger

BougeRV presents a product that is built with high quality lightweight polymeric materials that provide the highest output power (100W, 18V, 5.62A) and the highest load capacity for this type of product. It is made up of solar cells with an efficiency above average, from 23% to 25%, it also has an internal blocking diode that prevents drainage of reverse current at night.

This semi-flexible solar panel can bend up to a maximum of 30 degrees without affecting its performance at all. This is possible due to its thin structure with a thickness of less than 0.09 inches. Regarding its dimensions, you will find the panel has 41.3×21.3×0.09 inches and weighs 5.73 lbs.

There are several reasons why you should choose the BougeRV solar panel. First, its unique light-trapping surface that grabs more power. Second, its unique ETFE material, make BougeRV solar panel even better. Third, the solid copper foundation which adds massive strength. And finally, the ultra-pure silicon delivers optimal power conversion.

Another aspect to review is its reasonable warranty of 18 months, similar to the average of the models studied, which generates a certain level of confidence in the product and its manufacturer.

7. ALLPOWERS 100 Watt Flexible Solar Panel

ALLPOWERS Solar Panel 100W 18V 12V Bendable Flexible Solar Charger

The AllPowers company presents a 100W dual voltage (18V/12V) solar panel with a working current of 5.56A. This panel is made in the USA and has an efficiency of up to 23.5%, while most of the monocrystalline panels on the market are from 18% to 21%.

Besides, the panel can be curved up to a maximum of 30 degrees and mounted on an irregular surface. It only weighs 4.7 pounds, and its dimensions are: 50.3x20x0.08 inches making it easier to transport, hang and remove. 

The panel is waterproof and the junction box is sealed and waterproof. Also, it has an air resistance of 0.35 PSI and a snow resistance of 0.78 PSI with a manufacturer warranty of 18 months.

There are good reasons to select AllPowers flexible solar panels. First, it weighs 70% less than its standard counterpart. Second, has been designed with solar cells with up to 23.5% efficiency, capturing more sunlight than other conventional solar panels. Finally, it has pre-drilled holes for quick assembly and fixing. Besides, it can also be fixed with adhesive, eyelets, flanges or velcro to install, low cost and more convenient.

As a disadvantage, this product uses a coating of PET material that is of lower quality and durability than the ETFE. Therefore the use of high-quality cells with a lower quality coating is not optimized, which is reflected in a better price than others available.

8. SUAOKI 150 Watt Monocrystalline Flexible Solar Panel

SUAOKI 150W 18V 12V Solar Panel Charger Monocrystalline Flexible Cell

The manufacturer Suaoki presents a 150W solar panel with two voltage outputs, 18V and 12V depending on the configuration required. This panel adapts to an out-of-network system because it has multiple forms of connection, parallel support, series or a combination of both. 

It is capable of being incorporated into a photovoltaic system that generates up to 900W of power (with 6 units); gathering the number of solar panels needed to get the voltage, current, and power you need.

This panel is manufactured with monocrystalline cells that have an advanced protection layer called EVA. This layer wraps around the solar cell and provides flexibility, optical transparency, good stability, greater absorption capacity, and an efficiency of up to 20%.

Also, the flexible design allows the solar panel to bend to a maximum arc of 30 degrees. Also, the weight of the panel is 7.1 pounds, that is, not the lightest among flexible panels, but it is easier to transport, hang and remove when compared to traditional panels of the same power size. Keep in mind that other products in this list have a lower power output, therefore it is expected to see a little increase in weight.

Also, it has a waterproof rating of IP65 for both the panel and the MC4 cable, which increases durability when water and dust are present. However, it is recommended to keep the solar panel dry when used for optimum efficiency.

9. GIARIDE 50 Watt Monocrystalline Flexible Solar Panel

GIARIDE 50W 18V 12V Solar Panel Monocrystalline Cell Flexible

The 50W flexible solar panel launched by the Giaride brand is made of monocrystalline cells and has an efficiency of up to 20.5%, which is greater than its traditional equivalents.

This panel has a coating of ABS plastic (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) that allows it to have greater resistance to strong impacts.

The panel can be folded gently up to a maximum of 30 degrees and can be mounted on curved surfaces. Also, it is lightweight (weight: 2.65 pounds), which allows the customer to transport, hang, and remove easily.

It can be fixed with glue, adhesive, washer, tape or velcro. Besides, it has a sealed and waterproof junction box.

10. ALLPOWERS 50 Watt Bendable Flexible Solar Panel

ALLPOWERS 50W Solar Panel 18V 12V Bendable Flexible Solar Charger Kit

The 50W solar panel dual output voltage (18V/12V) presented by ALLPOWERS has an excellent size to power ratio set at a reasonable price.

The ALLPOWERS is an important China-based company that sells this panel made with high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells (23.5%) with PET coat.

It only weighs 2.3 pounds and its dimensions are 22x21x0.09 inches and can be curved up to a maximum of 30 degrees. If space is a limitation and not much electrical current is necessary (2.7A operating current), this is a model to consider.

Additionally, this panel withstands snow up to 0.78 PSI and 0.35 PSI of wind gusts. Finally, this panel includes a reasonable 18-Month Warranty for Quality-Related Issues.

Flexible Solar Panels Buyer’s Guide

Which Factors Should I Take Into Account When Selecting Flexible Solar Panels?

Finding the best flexible solar panels for your application requires a more careful approach than buying regular panels. To make it easier for buyers to determine the best flexible solar panel option according to their needs, here are the most important factors (without any order of priority) that you must consider in the process of choosing a flexible panel.

Manufacturer, Based Country, and Warranty

Given the complexity and relatively recent technology of flexible panels, it is advisable to choose recognized manufacturers with a long history in the field of solar energy such as Renogy, Sun Power, Suaoki or Allpowers.

These brands have some industry quality and safety certifications listed on its product datasheet, review it. These include UL certifications for fire and manufacturing quality certifications such as IEC 61215 and ISO 9001. 

These certifications are required by many jurisdictions, in order for a solar system to be allowed to connect to the grid or qualify for incentives. While certifications aren’t a product quality warranty, they do indicate that a minimum manufacturing standard was met.

It is also advisable to choose companies based or with commercial offices in the USA that can guarantee the provision of the after-sales service and the execution of warranties. This simply provides a higher chance of demonstrating manufacturing malfunction when it comes to problems with the quality or performance of the product. 

Check the warranty, a good warranty indicates that the manufacturer has confidence in the quality of their product. Possible issues that could be encountered when purchasing cheap flexible solar panels:

  • Overlapping cells.
  • Damaged cells.
  • Inferior cells.
  • Sharp edges.
  • Inadequately sealed junction boxes allowing corrosion from water, particularly seawater.
  • Zinc plated fixings in the junction box which corrode with moisture.
  • Inferior by-pass diodes fitted or not fitted at all.

Coating Material

Flexible solar panels are constructed by sandwiching the solar cells between layers of a polymer. Cheaper panels will use a polymer called polyethylene terephthalate (PET), while better panels will use ETFE (ethylene tetrafluoroethylene). 

ETFE has slightly better light transmittance compared to PET and is also more durable, which is an important consideration when your panel is exposed to the heat and rain in outdoor applications. 

In many cases, flexible panels with low prices use lower quality coating materials to lower costs by generating an initially functional but short-lived product.

For example, SunPower is a well-known US-based manufacturer known for making high-quality, high-efficiency solar cells. SunPower makes flexible panels based on their Maxeon line of solar cells, but they also sell Maxeon cells to third-party manufacturers. 

You will often find that these manufacturers advertise that they use SunPower cells, but also somehow offer their panels for less than SunPower. Most likely, those money savings are the result of sacrificing quality.

Power Output

Generally, power outputs for flexible solar panels will be located between 50 and 160 Watts, with common values ​​of 50, 100 y 150 Watts. The power output gives a reference to the electrical current output that can be obtained from the solar panel. In ideal operating conditions, higher nominal power output will mean that you will be able to supply more energy to the load.

The power output is given by the number of cells and the quality of them (capacity to produce current), therefore low power outputs such as 50W can be obtained with panels of smaller dimensions (length and width, since the thickness is given by cells and coating materials). 

Normally, the width is between 20 and 27 inches while the greatest variations are in the length with typical values ​​between 20 and 60 inches, therefore the panel model must be chosen according to its power taking consider the size factor.

Keep in mind that the available space is important to consider when selecting both size and power output

Efficiency

The efficiency will be an indicator of how much solar energy can be converted into DC electricity through the solar cells, therefore is one of the top factors that you should consider. 

The efficiency values ​​are expressed as a percentage and for flexible solar panels, typically between 20 and 25% and are usually an indicator of the quality of the product, especially of its photovoltaic cells. 

The efficiency rating of a panel can make a substantial difference. The higher it is, the higher performance it will have, particularly when sunlight is affected by the weather.

Conclusion

Flexible solar panels have gotten a lot better in terms of performance and durability in the latest years. But they are still less durable than traditional rigid panels.

Flexible solar panels can be incredibly thinner, measuring as low as just 0.08 inches thick. Besides, flexible panels can bend to 30 degrees and the most flexible ones can bend until they almost make a complete cylinder (248 degrees).

Moreover, we found out that the most powerful flexible solar panels produce around 150-160W. If you want more power, you have to connect several panels but the total power is limited by the manufacturer given the number of panels that can be connected in series/parallel which puts a limit to the total power, if you want more you must use rigid if applicable.

Bendable solar panels are made by placing several layers of photovoltaic cells on a plastic backing. Most modern, flexible solar panels consist of monocrystalline layers on top of a durable ETFE (Ethylene tetrafluoroethylene) plastic.

The choice of a flexible solar panel will depend on many factors. Some of the most relevant ones to the buyer will be power, price, quality, dimensions, warranty.​