What types of solar panels exist?

 

Solar panels come in various types. The most common solar panels are made of crystalline silicon. This also allows to make a distinction again, namely, between monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Both materials have different properties, because there is a difference in the manufacturing process.

 

Monocrystalline solar panels

 

Monocrystalline solar panels one can usually recognise by their black colour and because they often consist of small squares. These solar panels have a relatively high yield per square meter. Even after ten years, the yield warranty is still 92 percent, and after 25 years, it is at 82 percent.

 

Polycrystalline solar panels

 

Polycrystalline solar panels can usually be identified by their blue colour. The yield is slightly lower than at the monocrystalline solar panels. The yield guarantee is after ten years at 90 percent and after 25 years at 80 percent. The main difference between polycrystalline and monocrystalline is in the manufacturing process.

 

Difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline

 

Both types are made from the raw material silicon. The difference is in the finish of the crystal silicon. With a polycrystalline solar panel, this raw material is not treated after the solidification process and with a monocrystalline solar panel it is. The crystals are then still all arranged in the same direction. As a result, this solar panel generates more energy. The manufacturing process is therefore more intensive and provides the panel with a higher yield.

 

Thin-film solar panels (CI)

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Apart from crystalline panels, there are also increasing numbers of so called thin-film solar panels available. These typically contain amorphous silicon in which a very thin layer (less than 1 µm is 1/1000 mm) is installed as a kind of laminate. Due to this thin layer some types are also to be found in a flexible shape. Traditional solar cells based on silicon-wafers, have a relatively complex manufacturing process and are thus quite expensive to produce. Thin-film solar cells based on
other materials are a lot easier to produce despite higher material costs.

 

Thin-film solar panels are an aesthetic alternative to polycrystalline or monocrystalline solar panels. Because the appearance of solar panels is becoming increasingly important, we see
the demand for thin-film panels increase.

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Thin-film solar panels have a number of advantages over regular solar panels.

 

The most important advantage of thin-film solar panels is the fact that these panels on average
have a 10 % higher yield (kWh) than regular solar panels. Due to the substantial price decreases
of these panels in recent years, they have become a very interesting alternative to crystalline panels. One can now install a more attractive panel, which also produces more, for the same money.

 

That makes the investment in this type of panel doubly interesting. Thanks to the 'lean' appearance of the thin-film solar panels, these panels can be fitted on the roof in almost any desired way, whether it is a sloping roof, a flat roof or even a wall.

 

Thin-film panels are best suited for low light conditions.