A Guide to Different Types of PV Solar Panels on the Market
Thought there was only one type of solar panel? In the quest to develop the most efficient and cost-effective photovoltaic (PV) panel, a number of different types of construction and material have been utilised, some which are best suited to certain applications.
All PV panels work by converting sunlight into electric energy but it is the ways in which they do so which differ. Our guide aims to detail the major types of PV solar panels to give you a better understanding of the market and which are best for each use.
Monocrystalline
Manufactured using cells cut from a single crystal of silicon, Monocrystalline solar panels are currently the most efficient and most frequently used in households.
They are also the most expensive to produce, and therefore cost the most to buy and install, but their high rate of efficiency means that you would need less of them, ultimately bringing down their cost and ensuring you have adequate roof space.
Polycrystalline
Cut from a block of silicon rather than a single crystal, the manufacturing process of polycrystalline panels is simpler and produces less waste silicon, reducing costs.
However, because of the lower levels of silicon in polycrystalline panels than monocrystalline ones, they are also less efficient and a larger surface area needs to be covered to generate the same solar power.
Amorphous thin-film
Consisting of a thin film of amorphous silicon placed on one of a range of surfaces, amorphous panels are the least expensive but also the least effective. However, being amorphous they are flexible and can therefore be used in a wider variety of applications, such as on curved roofs.
Other types of thin film
All materials used to manufacture thin film panels, including cadmium telluride, copper indium gallium selenide, and photosensitive dyes, are less fragile than thin silicon crystals, meaning they do not have to be mounted on a rigid frame.
Because of this they do not have to be covered with protective glass, which enables them to maintain a lower temperature, making them more efficient in hot climates.
With certain materials, the cells may be sprayed on printed onto the panel, allowing for flexibility in application and use. Some could even be applied to glass, effectively turning windows into electricity generators.
BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics)
Solar panels such as solar shingles, which are designed to resemble roofing tiles, and thin film, which can be applied to windows or integrated to a roofing membrane, seamlessly blend in to the building. This means that the solar panels can be less visually obtrusive and serve a number of practical applications.
The initial cost is relatively high but buildings which replace conventional materials, such as glass or tiles, with BIPV can offset the cost against the amount they would have paid for other materials and labour. The downside is that they are currently fairly inefficient.
