Types of solar panels: which one is the best choice?

Types of solar panels: which one is the best choice?

There are a lot of things to consider when you’re looking to install a solar panel system, one of which being what kind of solar panels to get.

Most of the solar panels on the market today for residential solar energy systems can fit into two categories: mono solar panels, poly solar panels.

Each of these types of solar cells causes the solar panels to have different characteristics.

Monocrystalline solar panels are the most common for residential solar installations.One of the reasons people tend to choose monocrystalline solar panels is because of how they look. The solar cells within monocrystalline panels are a single, flat black color, which makes them popular among homeowners.

You can identify a mono solar panel by the shape of the silicon wafers, which are shaped like squares with the corners cut off.

Construction Monocrystalline solar panels get their name from how they are made. Each of the individual solar cells contain a silicon wafer that is made of a single crystal of silicon. The single crystal is formed using the Czochralski method, in which a ‘seed’ crystal is placed into a vat of molten pure silicon at a high temperature.

Performance

Monocrystalline solar panels usually have the highest efficiency and power capacity out of all types of solar panels. Monocrystalline panel efficiencies can range from 17% to 22%.

Polycrystalline panels, sometimes referred to as multicrystalline panels, are popular among homeowners looking to install solar panels on a budget.

Usually, polycrystalline silicon solar cells won’t have the corners cut off of them, so you won’t see the large white spaces on the front of the panel that you see on monocrystalline panels.

Construction

Polycrystalline solar cells are manufactured like monocrystalline panels - a seed crystal is placed into molten silica. However, instead of pulling out the silicon seed crystal, the whole vat of silicon cools. This cooling process causes multiple crystals to form.

Performance

The multiple silicon crystals in each solar cell makes it harder for electrons to flow. This crystal structure makes the efficiency rate of polycrystalline panels lower than monocrystalline panels. Polycrystalline panel efficiency ratings will typically range from 15% to 17%.