What types of solar panels are there?

There are mainly three types of solar panels on the market: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film. All solar panels have their unique advantage and disadvantage.

Monocrystalline Solar Panels

This solar panel is the purest one as it made of monocrystalline silicon. Easily recognisable from the uniform dark look and the rounded edges and has the highest efficiency getting above 20%. These solar panels have higher output, occupy lass space, and have a longer lifespan.

Polycrystalline solar panels

Polycrystalline panels produced by melting several pieces of silicon together into a square mould. This process is faster and cheaper than monocrystalline panels which leads to a lower price and lower efficiency, around 15%. These solar panels have lower space efficiency, and shorter lifespan however power outputs are basically the same of both panels.

Thin-Film solar panels

These solar panels require less material therefore are the cheapest on the market. Thin-film solar panels are produced by placing films of one or more PV material onto a substrate and can be made into a flexible panel. Types of thin-film cells are silicon, cadmium, and copper. These panels are the least efficient and require more space.