The most common types of Solar Panels can fit into these four categories:
- Monocrystalline (Mono-SI)
This type of panel (made of monocrystalline silicon) which is the purest one which causes this type of solar panel has one of the highest efficiency rates with the latest ones reaching above 20%. These panels have a high power output, tend to occupy less space and tend to have the longest life span.
- Polycrystalline (p-SI)
These panels can be distinguished by square patterns, its angles are not cut, and it has a blue, speckled look. They are made by melting raw silicon, which is a faster and cheaper process than that used for monocrystalline panels, this makes them cheaper however efficiency is also lower at around 15% and a shorter lifespan.
- Thin-Film (TFSC)
These solar panels are manufactured by placing one or more films of photovoltaic material (such as silicon, cadmium or copper) onto a substrate. These types of solar panels are the easiest to produce and economies of scale make them cheaper than the alternatives due to less material being needed for production. They are also flexible – which opens a lot of opportunities for alternative applications. The main issue is that Thin Film take up a lot of space, generally making them unsuitable for residential installations. Furthermore, they carry the shortest warranties because their lifespan is shorter than the mono- and polycrystalline types of solar panels. However, they can be a good option to choose among the different types of solar panels where a lot of space is available.
- Amorphous Silicon (A-SI)
The amorphous silicon solar cell is among the different types of solar panels used for smaller applications, the one that is used mainly in such pocket calculators or solar battery packs for phones. This type of solar panel uses a triple layered technology, which is the best of the thin film variety. Just to give a brief impression of what “thin” means, in this case, we’re talking about a thickness of 1 micrometre (one millionth of a metre). With only 7% efficiency rate, these cells are less effective than crystalline silicon ones.
- Concentrated (CVP)
