Green home solar energy

What Types Of Solar Panels Are There in 2023?

As the consequences of our carbon footprints become increasingly visible within the climate, many homes are opting to move away from grid energy, which is often reliant on fossil fuels, in exchange for a greener alternative. 

Having a solar installation can not only decrease your carbon footprint, but also increase the value of your home and save you significant amounts of money in the long run. 

These factors make solar a hugely attractive option for many, but for those unfamiliar with the solar industry the details can seem quite confusing. 

That’s why we at Green Home Makeover have put together this blog post, to give you an overview of the different types of solar panels and their pros and cons.

Types Of Solar Panels

What Are The Different Types Of Solar Panels?

There are three main categories of solar panels¹, also known as photovoltaic modules. These are: 

  • Thin film solar panels
  • Monocrystalline solar panels
  • And polycrystalline solar panels. 

The category is determined by the type of solar cell that makes up the panel. Each type of solar cell has different defining characteristics that make them well suited to different circumstances. 

Below is a brief look at what the benefits and downsides of each type are, to help you to determine which option is the right one for your home.

  1. Monocrystalline Solar Panels

Monocrystalline solar panels are the most developed type of photovoltaic modules, and they’re the oldest. They’re also the most popular type of rooftop solar panels currently in use. 

As the name suggests, the monocrystalline solar panels are single crystal silicon solar cells. The process of making them involves placing a silicon crystal into a vat of molten silicon, resulting in an ingot of pure silicon crystal which is then cut into wafers. 

The edges are then cut, smoothed and rounded to help the solar cells produce electricity more efficiently. These days, there is a variety of monocrystalline solar panels to be chosen from.

  1. Polycrystalline Solar Panels

Polycrystalline solar panels, also known as ‘multi-crystalline’, are the mid-range photovoltaic modules. Despite being less efficient and having a shorter lifespan than monocrystalline, polycrystalline panels are a more affordable option.

Like monocrystalline photovoltaic modules, polycrystalline solar panels are composed of silicon solar cells. However, there is a difference in the cooling process which causes multiple crystals to form, instead of just one. 

Unlike monocrystalline solar cells, the edges of polycrystalline cells do not need to be cut on each of the four sides. This results in less waste, which is better for the environment.

The process of manufacturing them is faster and cheaper than producing monocrystalline panels. The polycrystalline solar panels used on residential homes normally contain 60 solar cells.

  1. Thin Film Solar Panels

Unlike their crystalline counterparts, thin film are a type of flexible solar panel and are low in profile, due to the solar cells within the panels being roughly 350 times thinner than the crystalline wafers used in mono- and polycrystalline modules. 

Thin film panels are made from layers of semiconducting materials being placed between transparent conducting layers, with a layer of glass on top to help the solar cells to capture sunlight. 

The type of silicon that is sometimes used in the manufacture of thin film solar panels is not the same as the solid silicon wafers used for crystalline panels – it is a non-crystalline type of silicon.

Solar Panel Efficiency Rating² and Solar Power Output

  1. First Place: Monocrystalline Solar Panels

The award for first place in the solar panel efficiency rating goes to monocrystalline solar panels, with typical efficiency ranging from 17 to 22%. 

This makes them ideal candidates for homes with limited roof space, as you will require fewer panels to meet your energy needs. 

The average monocrystalline photovoltaic modules available today will have a solar power output rating of between 320 to 425 watts, though some produce over 600 watts.

  1. Second Place: Polycrystalline Solar Panels

The solar panel efficiency rating of polycrystalline solar panels is between 15 to 17%, bringing them in at a respectable second place. 

The lower efficiency rating is the result of there being less freedom for electrons to move, as there are many crystals in each cell. 

Owing to their efficiency rating, polycrystalline solar cells have an average solar power output of between 240 to 300 watts.

  1. Last Place: Thin Film

Thin film photovoltaic modules have the lowest efficiency rating by a reasonable margin, with most commercially available thin film panels having a solar panel efficiency rating of between 10 to 13%. 

This means that you’ll have to install more panels over a larger area in order to meet your energy needs than you would if you opted for mono- or polycrystalline panels. 

However, thin film do have one advantage – they tend to have the best temperature coefficient⁴. The temperature coefficient is the gradient at which the efficiency rating and solar power output of panels decreases as a result of increase in temperature. 

It tells you how much the solar power output will decrease by for every 1°C (1.8°F) the panel gets over 25°C (77°F). The standard temperature coefficient for monocrystalline solar panels is typically in the range of -0.17 to -0.28 per °F. 

Polycrystalline solar panels have an even higher temperature coefficient than monocrystalline photovoltaic modules, meaning they will lose more of their efficiency in hot areas.

Thin film, however, have a temperature coefficient of -0.1% per °F, meaning that they are much better suited to hot climates than their crystalline counterparts. 

Ranking by Cost

  1. Highest cost: Monocrystalline Solar Panels

Monocrystalline have always been the most expensive type of photovoltaic modules, due to the manufacturing process and their higher performance. 

However, the gap between mono- and polycrystalline panels has shrunk considerably due to improvement in manufacturing processes and solar panel technology.

  1. Mid-cost: Polycrystalline Solar Panels

Polycrystalline photovoltaic modules have historically been the most cost-effective option for individuals wanting to go solar on a budget, without making a major sacrifice in panel performance. 

However, with the price gap closing, many homes are opting to pay slightly more to benefit from the higher efficiency and power ratings of monocrystalline modules.

  1. Lowest cost: Thin Film Solar Panels

Thin film might have lower efficiency, but they are the most affordable option, owing to the fact that they are easier to install and require less equipment. However, their much shorter lifespan makes them less cost-effective in the long run.

Ranking by Appearance

  1. Most Attractive: Thin Film Solar Panels

While the judgment of this category may be subjective, thin film photovoltaic modules are generally considered to be the most attractive option due to the following features:

  • Clean, black surface 
  • A super-thin design that allows them to lie flat against your roof
  1. Second Place: Monocrystalline Solar Panels
  • Monocrystalline solar panels are also relatively subtle, due to their similarly solid black surface. 
  • They are nevertheless more pronounced than their thin film counterparts due to their thickness
  • They require more wiring and busbars than thin film solar panels.
  1. Least Attractive: Polycrystalline Solar Panels
  • They do not have a uniform appearance
  • The manufacturing process results in a blue, marbled look, meaning that one panel may look substantially different to the next
  • For the above reasons, they’re widely considered the least aesthetically pleasing type of solar panel.

Which Type Of Solar Panel Is Right For Your Home?

For most homes, monocrystalline solar panels are the best option. Despite the marginally higher cost and higher temperature coefficient, they have a subtler appearance and higher efficiency rating and solar power output – making them more cost-effective over their lifetime.

Due to the lower efficiency rating and solar power output, as well as the shorter lifespan, we do not recommend using polycrystalline or thin film solar panels for home installations, and so we only offer the monocrystalline variety.

Other Factors to Consider

The two things that are more important than solar cell type, in our opinion, are the brand of solar panel that you use and finding the right installer. 

At Green Home Makeover, we offer the best service in the industry thanks to our partnership with the most highly skilled installers. Our Sunpower solar panels also come with a 25 year warranty and a 40 year life expectancy.

If you would like to know more about solar panel systems, check out our article Solar Energy in 2022: All Your Questions Answered.

 

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