Mono Vs Poly Solar Panels

How Do Monocrystalline And Polycrystalline Panels Compare On Key Metrics

At the end of the day, its all about the metrics. Heres how monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels stack up against each other in a few key areas:

Mono vs. poly solar panels: key metrics

How Are Solar Panels Created

Solar panels are created from multiple wafers of silicon connected together in series and/or parallel, to form a solar module. These wafers are created from silicon ingots.

These ingots are either block-cast from multiple silicon crystals or grown to form a single crystalline structure . The ingots are cut into slices around 180 to 350 micrometers thick to form the wafers.

The ingots are generally made from p-type doped silicon, and n-type silicon is then applied as a surface layer to the wafer. This creates the n-p junction which allows the flow of electrons in the mono and poly panels.

Anti-reflective layers are then applied to the wafer before metallic connections are made in a grid-like pattern on the front side of the panel, and a plate across the full area of the wafer on the back side. These metallic connections are screen printed using a silver paste on the front and an aluminium paste on the back. The wafer is then fried at a few hundred degrees celsius to create contact between the silicon and the metal electrodes. The wafers are now ready to be connected to form the solar module i.e. your mono or poly solar panels.

Most Attractive: Thin Film Panels

Thin film panels have a clean, all-black look. Their thin design allows them to lie flat against roofs, so they are able to blend in more seamlessly. In fact, with some thin film panels, its hard to even see the individual cells within the panel. They also tend to have less wiring and busbars, meaning theres less white space.

However, because they are so inefficient, you would need to cover your entire roof in thin film panels – which may or may not be your style.

Also Check: How To Stop A Solar Farm

Lowest Performance: Thin Film

Thin film solar panels have incredibly low efficiency ratings. As recently as a few years ago, thin film efficiencies were in the single digits. Researchers have recently achieved 23.4% efficiency with thin film cell prototypes but thin film panels that are commercially available generally have efficiency in the 1013% range.

In order to meet your energy needs, you would need to install more thin film panels over a large area to produce the same amount of electricity as crystalline silicon solar panels. This is why thin film solar panels dont really make sense for residential installations where space is limited.

Fun fact! Thin film panels have the best temperature coefficient

Despite having lower performance specs in most other categories, thin film panels tend to have the best temperature coefficient, which means as the temperature of a solar panel increases, the panel produces less electricity. The temperature coefficient tells you how much the power output will decrease by for every 1*C over 25*C the panel gets.

The standard temperature coefficient for mono and polycrystalline panels typically falls somewhere between -0.3% and -0.5% per *C. Thin film panels on the other hand, are around -0.2% per *C – meaning thin film panels are much better at handling the heat than other panel types.

Calculate your solar panel payback period

Monocrystalline Vs Polycrystalline Vs Thin

The first set of terms describes how solar cells are formed out of raw materials.

Traditional solar cells are made from silicon, a conductive material. The manufacturer shapes raw silicon wafers into uniformly-sized silicon cells.

Solar cells can either be monocrystalline or polycrystalline . Lets look at the differences between the two options.

You May Like: What Is The Carbon Footprint Of Making A Solar Panel

Monocrystalline Versus Polycrystalline Efficiency Table

The chart below indicates the maximum efficiency of the average solar panel types arranged from most to least efficient.

As you can see, technological advances have increased the efficiency of the traditional mono and poly panels, with the N-Type mono panels delivering the best efficiency currently.

Before rushing off and buying the biggest and the best solar panels for your home, discuss your needs with your local solar supplier or installer, as some installations will only require a basic solar panel to get the job done well.

HJT = Heterojunction technology.

N-Type = Negatively charged cells electrons flow from the base of the cell to the top.

PERC = Modified conventional cell generating up to 12% more energy than the equivalent non-PERC solar panels.

So Which Solar Panel Should You Choose

It depends on your preferences and unique situation! A guide on Solar panel review can help you narrow down your choices. If you have a limited amount of roof space and want to maximize your energy output, monocrystalline panels may be your best bet. If youre planning on leasing your solar panels and will pay a fixed rate regardless, polycrystalline panels are a great choice. At the end of the day, the best choice will be whatever fits your specific needs. If you want to discuss your situation, feel free to give us a call at 454-9979 if you want more information on solar, please subscribe to our blog here.

Read Also: Solar Powered Flood Lights Lowes

Which Is Better: Mono Vs Poly Solar Panels

Monocrystalline solar energy panels can produce more energy with greater efficiency than polycrystalline solar panels and maintain this lead over time. This means that mono panels can make better use of the limited space on your roof than poly panels can. However, mono panels are more expensive than their poly counterparts.

What Are Polycrystalline Solar Panels

Polycrystalline solar panels are devices made of crystalline silicon. They have several crystal layers in a single cell. A panel consists of several cells bound together by wires and the wafer.

The configuration is secured in a casing t protect the components from the elements. The connections and junction box are at the back of the panel to provide energy to other devices.

Also Check: How To Get Off The Grid With Solar Power

The Cost Of Mono And Poly Solar Cells

It is only a few years ago that silicon solar panels were considered to be expensive to purchase and install. This is because high-quality silicon was used, which was much costlier. The process of purification for the silicon before the addition of gallium and arsenic also added to this cost due to it being both expensive and time-consuming.

However, the further development of new technology means that the use of cheaper and lower quality silicon is possible without affecting the overall quality and efficiency of the solar cells. This means that silicon solar cellsare now more affordable than they were before, and the price is only continuing to fall. In addition to this, government subsidies have also contributed to the lowered cost.

Mono Vs Poly Solar Panels: What’s The Difference

Poly-crystalline panels

Poly-crystalline panels are created from block-cast silicon crystals as described above.

This creates a metal-flake effect on the panel. See an example of polycrystalline cells below.

Electrons can be trapped in the crystal grain boundaries between the individual crystals in a Poly-crystalline panel. This causes a lower efficiency rating.

The typical efficiency rating for a Poly-crystalline panel is around the 13.5% mark at 25°C, this will drop by around 15 25% at 50°C.

Recommended Reading: What Metals Are Used In Solar Panels

What Are Solar Panels

The basic purpose of solar panels is to convert solar energy into electricity. Each solar panel consists of a series of cells. The presence of a large number of solar cells allows to capture the maximum amount of sunlight and converts it into electricity.

An independent solar cell is capable of producing only a small amount of energy. However, when they work together in a collaborated circuit, they produce enough power to run our electric appliances.

In order to get maximum power, it is essential that the solar panel must face the sun directly. Hence, when more light strikes the solar panel, it can generate more electricity. Generally, use silicon as a primary material.

All solar panels work on a simple pattern. Each of the silicon solar panels has both positive and negative layers, which create an electric field, as we observe in case of a battery.

Sunlight travels in the form of photons. When these photons hit the surface of a solar cell, they tend to force electrons to leave their atoms. By attaching the conductors to positive and negative sides of a solar cell, an electrical circuit comes into existence.

As a result, electrons start to flow through this circuit, which produces electricity. In order to increase the power, you can align different solar panels into a solar array.

Some Comparisons And Examples

It is not difficult to find examples that illustrate the above points. The below comparisons are not intended to imply that one panel brand is of higher quality than another, but simply to show that some polycrystalline solar modules are more efficient than monocrystalline ones.

First, to compare mid-range products of comparable quality and price, GermanSolar brand 60-cell monocrystalline Premium Line panels have a maximum efficiency of about 15.47%, whereas Conergys polycrystalline PowerPlus modules have a maximum efficiency of 14.13%. This is not far off from the 14.9% that Sun-Earths 190W monocrystalline module boasts.

It is possible to see the same trend in high-end modules as well. For example, premium US manufacturer Sunpowers monocrystalline panels see peak module efficiencies of up to 20.7% , a few percentage points ahead of Suntechs polycrystalline Pluto technologycertain cells of which were recently confirmed as having hit 20.3% in lab conditions. Although commercially produced modules using Suntechs Pluto technology will inevitably have lower peak efficiencies than this impressive rate, it still serves to demonstrate that monocrystalline is not an intrinsically better choice than poly.

Read Also: What To Know About Solar

The Difference Between Mono Poly And Thin Film Solar Panels

Monocrystalline, polycrystalline, or thin film solar panels?

When choosing a solar panel there are 3 types of technologies available on the market today, these include monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin film amorphous. Monocrystalline and polycrystalline are solar cells that are made from crystalline silicon. In the industry these panels are simply referred to as mono and poly panels. Both mono and poly panels are very similar in terms of performance, with mono being a slightly superior panel in terms of efficiency. The purpose of this post is to shed some light on the advantages and disadvantages of the 3 different types of panels and which one you should chose for your next project.

Monocrystalline Solar Panels

As the name suggests monocrystalline solar panels are produced from a single continuous crystal structure. A monocrystalline panel also has a characteristic single flat color. It is one of the oldest and most developed of the three technologies. This panel is the characteristic solar panel and offers a sleek, simple, and aesthetic look.

Polycrystalline Solar Panels

Thin film Solar Panels

Resources Used:

Thin Film Solar Panels

The majority of solar panels deployed today are made from either monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar cells.

There is a third type of solar technology, called thin film panels, which are usually deployed for large-scale utility projects and some specialty applications. Thin film panels are created by depositing a thin layer of conductive material onto a backing plate made of glass or plastic.

Thin film panels typically dont see use in residential installs because theyre much less efficient than mono or poly panels. With roof space at a premium, residential customers go with more traditional crystalline silicon panels to maximize production from the space available to them.

However, thin film technology is less expensive to manufacture, and it becomes a more cost-effective option at a larger scale. For commercial and industrial projects without any space restrictions, the lower efficiency of thin film technology doesnt really matter. Thin film panels often end up being the most cost-effective option in these situations.

In addition, if youve ever seen flexible solar panels on an RV or boat, thin film technology is what makes those possible.

Because they are much thinner than a traditional silicon wafer, the thin film can be deposited onto plastic to create flexible solar panels. These panels are especially nice for RVs and mobile use when you might not have a flat surface to mount the panel.

Recommended Reading: How Long Are Solar Panel Loans

The Pros And Cons Of Monocrystalline Solar Panels

While they are the most efficient solar cell on the market, several advantages and disadvantages come with monocrystalline solar panels, each of which is listed below.

Advantages of monocrystalline solar panels

• The highest level of efficiency at 17% to 24%
• Require less space compared to other types due to their high efficiency
• Last the longest, a 25 to 35 years warranty
• Optimized for commercial use
• Perform better in low levels of sunlight, making them ideal for cloudy areas
• Reduce the amount of electricity needed from local power plants
• Reduce the use of limited fuel sources and greenhouse gases in the environment
• Can be easily and without great effort installed, and Its maintenance effort is low

Disadvantages of Monocrystalline Solar Panels

• The most expensive solar cells on the market
• The performance levels tend to suffer from an increase in temperature
• A lot of waste of material
• Circuit breakdown when the solar panel is covered with dirt, shade, or snow

Lowest Cost: Thin Film Panels

Thin film solar panels have the lowest cost of the solar panel types, largely because they are easier to install and require less equipment. However, they also have much lower performance abilities and require a substantial amount of space to generate enough electricity to power a home.

Plus, thin film panels degrade much faster than other panel types, meaning they need to be replaced more often, which leads to more long-term recurring costs.

Dont Miss: How Can I Get Free Solar Panels For My House

You May Like: How Much Does The Solar System Cost

Which Is Better: Monocrystalline Vs Polycrystalline Solar Panels

Its a question every solar super-optimizer asks: are monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar panels better for a rooftop solar system?

Solar panels can add value to your home and decrease energy consumption by reducing your monthly electric bill. However, they can be a costly upfront investment, making it vital for you to maximize your return. How do mono and poly solar panels differ in performance and cost, and is one type better for your needs?

Contact Bell Solar Electrical Systems today!

What Is The Difference In Performance

The efficiency of a solar panel is the ratio between the amount of energy it collects compared to the amount of energy it produces, the rest being lost in heat. An efficiency of 20% means that 20% of the solar radiation is transformed into electricity and that the missing 80% is transformed into heat. The higher the efficiency, the greater the amount of electricity produced.

That said, monocrystalline solar panels perform better than polycrystalline solar panels due to the fact that monocrystalline solar cells are composed of a single crystal rather than a conglomerate of crystals, which increases their spectral response and thereby their energy production.

Concretely, the efficiency of monocrystalline solar panels varies between 16 and 24% while that of polycrystalline solar panels varies between 14 and 20%. That means that on an equal surface, monocrystalline solar panels are more efficient. These panels are often suggested for those whose space is a limiting factor.

Another great advantage of monocrystalline solar panels is that the crystal purity of their cells means that their production starts earlier and stops later than a polycrystalline solar panel. Not only being more efficient, this type of panel will have a longer energy production period than that of a polycrystalline solar panel.

Also Check: Are Solar Screens Worth It

Monocrystalline Or Polycrystalline Panels: Which One Is Right For You

Once you have considered the pros of monocrystalline solar panels versus the pros of polycrystalline solar panels, it gets easier to make your decision. But dont focus only on the pros, and also dispassionately evaluate the cons of monocrystalline solar panels versus the cons of polycrystalline solar panels. In addition, the following considerations should help you determine which one is the right choice for you:

Mono Vs Poly Solar Cells: Quick Facts

• Monocrystalline solar cells are more efficient because they are cut from a single source of silicon.
• Polycrystalline solar cells are blended from multiple silicon sources and are slightly less efficient.
• Thin-film technology costs less than mono or poly panels, but is also less efficient. It is mainly used in large-scale commercial applications.
• N-Type cells are more resistant to light-induced degradation than P-Type cells.
• PERC Cells add a reflective layer to give the cell a second oppportunity to absorb light.
• Half-cut cells improve solar cell efficiency by using smaller ribbons to transport electrical current, which reduces resistance in the circuit.
• Bifacial solar panels absorb light on both sides of the panel.

Solar manufacturers are constantly testing new technologies to make their solar panels more efficient.

As a result, solar manufacturing has branched into a wide range of cell technologies. It can be confusing to try to figure out why you should pick one option over the other.

Ever wondered about the difference between monocrystalline vs. polycrystalline solar panels? Or N-type vs. P-type cells? Youre in the right place. This article will give a high-level overview of the major solar cell technologies in play and explain the pros and cons of each.

Don’t Miss: Indoor Solar Lights With On Off Switch