Types of Solar Panels

Solar panels generate electricity from the sun to offset energy consumption, reducing or eliminating utility bills. They can also charge battery storage systems, which are useful for avoiding power outages during bad weather.

Solar panels are most efficient when oriented towards the sun, which can vary by season and latitude. They also operate better in cooler temperatures. Contact ELLINGSON SOLAR for professional help.

Monocrystalline solar panels are a popular choice for home and business owners because they deliver the most energy per square foot of all types of solar panels. They also require minimal upkeep and are long-lasting, lasting more than 25 years on average. They work best when mounted in direct sunlight, angled to maximize their exposure. They can be installed on roofs or ground-mounted in residential or commercial settings.

To produce a monocrystalline solar panel, workers heat nuggets of polysilicon and slowly rotate them in a bath of molten silicon. This process is known as the Czochralski method and results in a single, pure crystal of silicon. Then, workers slice it into thin wafers to use in solar panels. These wafers are then bonded to wires, junction boxes and cables to create fully functional solar panels.

Because electrons flow more freely around ordered molecular structures, monocrystalline solar panels can have higher efficiency ratings than their polycrystalline counterparts. However, the manufacturing process that produces these single-crystal silicon ingots contributes to their high cost. Monocrystalline solar panels also tend to perform poorly in low temperatures and can be affected by shading.

A more recent innovation in solar technology is heterojunction cells (HJC). These combine a layer of amorphous silicon on both sides of a standard monocrystalline silicon module, creating a multi-layered cell that absorbs more of the full spectrum of sunlight than traditional mono-Si modules. The result is a panel with an efficiency rating of more than 25%, and that can perform in hot climates.

Like monocrystalline solar panels, HJC are more expensive than other types of solar panels, but their lifespan is longer. To improve performance in hot climates, the grid-like metal contacts that run along the edges of a HJC solar panel are moved to the back side. This reduces the amount of surface area that needs to be exposed, allowing the panel to dissipate less heat and maintain its efficiency rating.

Polycrystalline

A solar panel made from polycrystalline silicon consists of multiple, non-aligned silicon crystals. This first-generation technology is cheaper to produce than monocrystalline silicon and can perform well in hot climates, although they don’t last as long as other types of panels. They also have a blueish tint and less uniform appearance than monocrystalline solar panels, so they’re often considered to be less visually appealing.

Monocrystalline solar panels use a single ingot of pure silicon that’s turned into a square wafer and then sliced into individual cells. This process is energy intensive and produces a lot of waste silicon, but it results in high-quality panels with a lifespan up to 40 years or more.

Polycrystalline solar panels are the less expensive of the two options and are characterized by their blue color and pronounced grids that stand out from monocrystalline solar panels’ sleek, uniform black look. They’re also more durable than monocrystalline panels in cold temperatures.

Despite these advantages, polycrystalline solar panels have lower efficiency rates than their monocrystalline counterparts and need more space to generate the same amount of electricity. This is a significant factor in determining whether or not they’re the best fit for your roof.

Another unique option is a type of solar panel known as PERC, which has a passivation layer on the backside of each cell. This essentially acts as a mirror, reflecting any sunlight that skips the PV cells instead of absorbing it. This allows more of the sun’s rays to reach the PV cells and is an effective way to improve solar panel performance and longevity.

Thin-film solar panels consist of thin layers of different semiconductor materials on glass or a plastic substrate that convert sunlight into electricity. Cadmium telluride (CdTe), copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) and amorphous silicon are the most common materials used in thin-film solar panels. Each of these materials has a different bandgap energy, which is used to capture different ranges of photons that sunlight can absorb. This gives thin-film solar panels the ability to operate in a wider range of climates than other types of solar panels.

All-Black

Black solar panels offer a sleek, modern look that complements most roof types. They also perform better in low light and higher temperatures, as the dark color helps them absorb more sunlight and reflect less. They are the best choice for homes where aesthetics are an important consideration and they work well for commercial buildings, too.

The most popular type of solar panel is the monocrystalline model, which uses a single crystal of silicon to create electricity. This produces the highest level of energy per square meter of all the solar panel types and has a uniform dark appearance. The process used to create monocrystalline solar panels (known as the Czochralski process) is energy-intensive and results in a loss of silicon, so these panels tend to cost more than polycrystalline models.

Traditional polycrystalline solar panels have a blue hue and a speckled appearance due to multiple silicon crystals. These create boundaries that restrict the flow of electrons, which slightly decreases their overall efficiency. Despite this, they are still effective and can produce more power than black solar panels in the same space.

Both monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels can be made in a variety of colors, including white and yellow. The most common color for solar panels, though, is black. They are most suited for customers who want their system to blend in and match the look of their roofs. They are also ideal for those who do not want to see wires protruding from the front of their roof.

A key benefit of all-black solar panels is that they will appear completely black from a distance, although you may be able to see the connections from the back of the panel. This helps to prevent daylight from reflecting off the panel and into the silicon cells, lowering its efficiency.

The color of your solar panels should be a personal decision, depending on your preferences and your location. While monocrystalline and black solar panels are both great options, it is important to do your research before selecting a company to install them.

Bifacial

Bifacial solar panels use two-sided cells to capture both direct and diffuse light. This increases energy output from a panel by up to 30%, depending on the ground reflectivity and region type. They can also work in tandem with a sun tracking system, which tilts the solar panels to maximize energy production throughout the day.

Aesthetically, bifacial solar panels are known for their sleek and alluring frameless design that distinguishes them from monofacial solar panels with metal grid lines. They are also characterized by their increased durability and versatility, making them suitable for various applications including solar windows and integrated into balustrades.

While bifacial solar panels are more expensive than monofacial options, they deliver higher ROIs. In addition to the increase in power generation, they can also reduce installation costs by up to 45%. These advantages make bifacial solar panels a great choice for large-scale projects, such as rooftops and solar farms. They can also be used for ground-mounted systems, such as solar carports, fences, and canopies.

In addition to their high efficiency, bifacial solar panels are highly cost-effective for customers in regions with high albedo potential, such as the northern United States and Canada. The extra power generated by bifacial solar panels can offset the additional costs of installation and maintenance.

Choosing the best bifacial solar panels for your project requires a thorough assessment of your installation site’s surface reflectivity and albedo. In general, a bifacial solar panel will produce more electricity than a monofacial one in areas with high albedo potential. However, the amount of additional power that a bifacial solar panel generates depends on its installation location, including the ground or roof’s material and the angle at which it faces the sun.

To ensure optimal performance, you should select a bifacial solar panel that has the highest bifaciality rating. Jinko’s Tiger model LM bifacial solar panel, for example, has an 85% bifaciality rating and comes with a 13-year manufacturing warranty and 30-year linear power warranty. Another excellent option is the Q CELLS QPeak XL Duo, which boasts an efficiency of 21.4% and a claimed 0.45% degradation rate. Both models are also free from LeTID (light and elevated temperature-induced degradation) thanks to the TCO film in the cells.