The power from the sun is one of the most efficient yet friendly sources of energy in the form of solar panels. Solar power is also the mass switch to a renewable version while it adds more benefits like environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and efficient and increases the value of the property.
When it comes down to picking the perfect Solar panel, you should be well aware of the types of panel available and check if it caters to your need and requirement for installation. Well, Why is it important to choose? Will it alter the usage and the efficiency, and how will it aid you in cutting the cost? Read this before you undergo the process of solar panel installation in your home or business.
Solar Panels available in the market are of three types.
They are,
- Monocrystalline
- Polycrystalline
- Thin-films
All these PV panels come with their own set of pros and cons. In the article let us explore them.
Monocrystalline Solar Panels:
These are highly efficient, and high-cost solar panels which are also the oldest type of solar panels available and are made of silicon. In short, these Monocrystalline Solar Panels are manufactured by the process called the Czohralski method, where pure silicon wafers are prepared and arranged accordingly in rows and columns to form a panel.
Wafers are made by the following steps: silicon is first purified and then melted. It is then cooled to create an ingot. The ingot is then sliced into discs, which are called the Silicon wafers.
The wafers are thinly sliced and used in integrated circuits like Solar PV cells. These Solar cells are black. These are black cells due to the interaction of pure silicon crystal with sunlight. Even though the Solar cells are black, the back sheets come in different colours such as white, black or silver.
Polycrystalline Solar Panels:
These are cost-effective and are less efficient than monocrystalline panels. These are made of silicon and the process of making is similar to the monocrystalline panels. Except that the Silicon crystals are allowed to fragment and then cooled. The colour of the Polycrystalline cells is blue due to how the sunlight is reflected by the cell. The back frame is silver or white.
Thin-Film Solar Panels:
These are the newly developed panels made of several materials like cadmium telluride (CdTe), Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) and amorphous silicon (a-Si). They are extremely flexible and portable and have lesser efficiency than the previous ones. Just like their title, they are slender panels. They are attached with conducting materials and electrodes in-between the panes.
The colour of the cells differs from blue to black. This is exclusive to the type of material they are made from. They tend to have a layer of glass or metal on top for their protection and the top layer is subjective to the material used.
These Thin-film panels can run approximately up to 350nm thickness. Thin-film cells can be black or blue, based on the material they were created from. The application of thin-films is not just seen in solar industry, but also in optics. According to recent research, there is a usage of thin-films for night vision.
Let us distinguish using a table that will give you a much more elaborate idea about each panel.
| Types of Panels | Monocrystalline | Polycrystalline | Thin-Film |
|---|---|---|---|
Efficiency | 15-20% | 15-17% | 11% |
Cost | Expensive | Less Expensive | Cost-Effective |
Solar cell Colour | Black | Blue | Blue/Black |
Temp coefficient | -0.3 to -0.5% per Celsius | -0.3 to -0.5% per Celsius | -0.2% per Celsius |
Made of | Pure Silicon | Crystallized Silicon Fragments | Variety of materials including Silicon |
Well, this must have given you a fundamental knowledge of the variety of solar panels available. To choose the one for your needs, You could talk to our experts for free! Schedule an appointment when you are free and see the magic of Solar Power unravel itself and become more simplified for the common man. Visit AYKA Solar.
The question still lingers, which is the best type of Solar Panel?
To determine the best, we must be well aware of the climate, the location, and the installation requirements. Are monocrystalline Solar panels better than polycrystalline Solar panels or thin-film Solar panels? Or the other way round? We determine the most suitable type of solar panels exclusively because of the intent of the panels and hugely on the spot they’ll be installed.
The Monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar PV panels are well suited for residential Solar panel installation due to their high efficiency. These panels are constructed to function satisfactorily with no limitation on smaller or larger roofs!
Well, to be more clear, you can start with Monocrystalline Solar Panels for smaller dimensions and Polycrystalline Solar Panels for bigger dimensions.
Thin films work best for commercial use because of their extremely flexible design and lightweight. It is perfect for commercial rooftops that cannot handle the pressure of excessive weight.
With a huge area of expansion on roofs of commercial buildings, they have more surface area to install more panels, thereby setting up their ideal efficiency, and producing huge returns.
