{"id":1337,"date":"2020-11-14T09:03:48","date_gmt":"2020-11-14T09:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nettzenergy.com\/?p=1337"},"modified":"2020-11-14T09:44:09","modified_gmt":"2020-11-14T09:44:09","slug":"types-of-solar-panels","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nettzenergy.com\/?p=1337","title":{"rendered":"Types of Solar Panels."},"content":{"rendered":"

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Monocrystalline Solar Panels<\/h2>\n

Mono means one. Monocrystalline solar panels are also known as single-crystalline panels and are considered to be the most developed category of solar panels. Monocrystalline solar cells are made by melting and blending single crystalline silicon and slowly cooling it down, which is then finely sliced to form silicon wafers. The composition of these cells is purer since each cell is made from a single piece of silicon, thus the electrons have more space to flow. Monocrystalline solar panels generally have a black coloured appearance.<\/p>\n

Applications<\/h3>\n

Monocrystalline solar panels are normally used for solar rooftop systems as they require less space because of their efficiency and are generally used for large-scale installations that could be industrial, commercial or residential. Depending on the size of the panels, they can be utilized for small-scale (<25 W) applications such as charging electronics, batteries, cameras, etc.\u00a0 Relatively larger solar panels (>40 W) can be used to power lights, microwaves, fridges,etc.<\/p>\n

Advantages of Monocrystalline Solar panels<\/h3>\n
    \n
  • Monocrystalline solar panels have a higher life span and tend to function quite longer than their warranty period.<\/li>\n
  • They perform better in high heat and warm weather conditions.<\/li>\n
  • Mono\u00a0solar panelshave the highest efficiency rate (usually around 15%-20%);<\/li>\n
  • Monocrystalline modulesare space-efficient. Because these modules deliver the highest power output, they require the least amount of space comparing to other solar panels;<\/li>\n
  • They perform better than other types of\u00a0solar modulesin low-light conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

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    Disadvantages<\/h3>\n
      \n
    • Monocrystalline solar panels are quite expensive in comparison to polycrystalline and thin film solar panels.<\/li>\n
    • There can be a circuit breakdown in cases of the panel being covered by dirt, snow or shade.<\/li>\n
    • Monocrystalline solar panels usually work better in high-temperature environments.<\/li>\n
    • Monocrystalline modules are the most expensive<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

      Polycrystalline Solar Panels<\/h2>\n

      Also referred to as multi-crystalline solar panels, polycrystalline solar panels are made by melting and blending multiple raw fragments of silicon together in square molds and cooling \u00a0them down rapidly to form wafers. The blending of several silicon layers gives polycrystalline solar panels a blue coloured appearance.<\/p>\n

      Applications<\/h3>\n

      Polycrystalline solar panels can be utilized in both small-scale and large-scale installations as they come in a vast range of power wattages. Since polycrystalline solar panels are cheaper and more eco-friendly to produce, they are also used in large solar farms, roof-mounted arrays, traffic-lights, houses, etc.<\/p>\n

      Advantages of Polycrystalline solar panels<\/h3>\n
        \n
      • Polycrystalline solar panels cost less and have a simpler manufacturing process.<\/li>\n
      • Polycrystalline solar panels tend to have a lower heat tolerance.<\/li>\n
      • There is less wastage of silicon while manufacturing these panels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Disadvantages<\/h3>\n
          \n
        • They are less space-efficient and require larger surface areas and more space.<\/li>\n
        • Polycrystalline solar panels have a lower purity of silicon and a less uniform appearance.<\/li>\n
        • Because there are many crystals in each cell, there is less freedom for electrons to move and as a result they become less efficient than mono solar panels counter parts. Their efficiency is usually rated at around 13%-17%.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          Thin film solar panels<\/h2>\n

          A thin-film solar panel is made of thin films of semiconductors deposited on glass, plastic or metal. The films are incredibly thin, often 20 times thinner than c-Si wafers. This makes thin-film solar panels flexible and lightweight. If the thin-film cells are encased in plastic, the product could be flexible enough to mold to a roof\u2019s shape; when glass is used, thin-film panels are more rigid and heavier.<\/p>\n

           <\/p>\n

          Thin film solar cells are classified into four types according to the type of photo voltaic material used. These types are:<\/p>\n

          1) Amorphous silicon (a-Si) and other thin-film silicon (TF-Si)<\/p>\n

          2) Cadmium Telluride (CdTe)<\/p>\n

          3) Copper indium gallium deselenide (CIS or CIGS)<\/p>\n

          4) \u00a0Dye-sensitized solar cell (DSC) and other organic solar cells<\/p>\n

          \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Advantages of Thin film solar panels<\/h3>\n
            \n
          • Easy to handle<\/li>\n
          • More flexible than conventional solar cells(more installation flexibility)<\/li>\n
          • Available as thin wafer sheets<\/li>\n
          • Cheaper than traditional panels, approximately 30% less than the crystalline solar panels.<\/li>\n
          • They have a better low light performance<\/li>\n
          • It has the potential to be applied to flexible surfaces and even sprayed onto walls in the future.<\/li>\n
          • Slightly better performance in high temperatures<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            Disadvantages<\/h3>\n
              \n
            • Need to be very careful in handling<\/li>\n
            • Can\u2019t be used in astronomical devices.<\/li>\n
            • Their efficiency is very low so when putting them on rooftops you need a huge roof.<\/li>\n
            • Higher installation cost for big systems<\/li>\n
            • Immature technology<\/li>\n
            • The manufacturing process is nasty because it requires more chemicals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              Which panels should you use?<\/h2>\n

              The answer depends on your project\u2019s specification. Polycrystalline solar panels can be used for large projects which use a big number of solar panels as they make the project cheaper and their efficiency is also good. They are also great for consumers who have a tight budget and are looking for ways to keep installation costs to a minimum. In areas where the sunlight is available most of the times, polycrystalline solar panels are very effective to use for any system.<\/p>\n

              Monocrystalline solar panels, on the other hand, are perfect for small roofs or space-constrained projects. Since monocrystalline modules are very efficient, you will get more power on the same surface area. Moreover, these panel types have a lower temperature coefficient than poly modules (can perform more in areas with high temperature). Monocrystalline modules are more expensive than poly modules, but they take up less space.<\/p>\n

              If cost is your major concern and you want to pay as little as possible for installation, then you should opt for polycrystalline solar panels. You won\u2019t get the same efficiency as with monocrystalline modules, but you\u2019ll reduce the initial costs dramatically.<\/p>\n

              The larger and purer the silicon crystal is, the more efficient the solar cells will be. As a result, monocrystalline modules are around 10% to 15% more energy efficient than their polycrystalline counterparts. On the other hand, polycrystalline solar panels were often thought to be inferior to monocrystalline solar panels because they are less efficient. But, because of the cheaper process, it costs around 20% more to create solar modules with monocrystalline structures. Also polycrystalline modules have been improving their performance constantly in recent years, pushing the standard to greater limits.<\/p>\n

              Thin film solar panels are frequently used because they are portable heating device for shavers, hot water showers, and as a non-conventional power source. For those who enjoy camping or hiking, thin film solar panels are the best because they can be rolled up much like sleeping bags, and they are lightweight. This makes them easy for transportation. So these panels are a big advantage if you are looking for a way to use solar energy in your camping or caravan holiday.<\/p>\n

              Thin film solar panels can be used as solar tiles and as roof shingles. As they are so thin, they are more malleable, and therefore can be manipulated into the shapes of tiles. They can also be used where space is at a premium, as the panel can be rolled away when the sun is behind clouds, or their energy source is not required.<\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

              Compiled by:<\/p>\n

               <\/p>\n

              Naison Chirapuse<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              \u00a0 Monocrystalline Solar Panels Mono means one. Monocrystalline solar panels are also known as single-crystalline panels and are considered to be the most developed category of solar panels. Monocrystalline solar cells are made by melting and blending single crystalline silicon and slowly cooling it down, which is then finely sliced to form silicon wafers. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1337","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"featured_image_src":{"landsacpe":false,"list":false,"medium":false,"full":false},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nettzenergy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1337"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nettzenergy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nettzenergy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nettzenergy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nettzenergy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1337"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.nettzenergy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1337\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1344,"href":"https:\/\/www.nettzenergy.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1337\/revisions\/1344"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nettzenergy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1337"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nettzenergy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1337"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nettzenergy.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1337"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}