Solar might account for a mere 2.8% of all power sources in the US. But consider this from another angle. Solar power can currently offer renewable energy to millions of homes across the country.
With a potential energy crisis looming from rising gas and petroleum prices, there has never been a better time to consider investing in solar panels.
Before you do, get to know the technology that powers this amazing renewable innovation. Here, we’ll outline the three main types of solar panels and what option might be best for you.
Monocrystalline Solar Panel
Monocrystalline (also known as mono panels) are probably the most popular type of panel with customers in the current market.
There is a simple reason for this. It offers the best performance of any solar panel and is highly efficient, particularly in warm weather.
Their performance is around the 20% efficient range, but new technology in solar panel design is pushing that number higher.
A cloudy day without direct sunlight is enough for these roof solar panels to generate power. So as an option for your home, they are a good choice if you live in a location that doesn’t offer year-round sunshine.
Mono panels are distinctly black and made from a pure form of silicon crystal. They have an octagon shape, and if you look closely, you’ll see how these octagons fit neatly together to form a smooth, tight-fitting surface.
Polycrystalline Solar Panel
Mono panels contain single pure-form crystals. In contrast, as the name suggests, polycrystalline (poly) panels are made of multiple fragments of crystals instead.
That makes polycrystalline a cheaper type of solar panel for those who want the benefits of solar but are on a stricter budget.
They generally don’t hit the 20% or higher efficiency performance with mono panels. However, you’ll still achieve a good performance of around 15% for modern polycrystalline panels.
In other words, these panels are still a highly efficient technology. They offer an excellent source of solar power to the average house. Blue Raven Solar provides more information on the likely home costs of switching to solar.
Thin Film Solar Panel
The thin-film panel offers the lowest efficient rating of all panel types. It typically scores around the 10% efficiency level in most tests.
As you might expect, they aren’t as expensive as the other types of solar panels. Commercial units rather than private domestic households more frequently use thin-film-type panels.
Thin layers of material, including copper, indium, gallium, and selenide, make up the surface of this type of solar panel. Manufacturers add this material as a thin layer on top of a solid material such as glass.
Three Types of Solar Panels: Which One Is Right for You?
When you compare these three types of solar panels for a domestic property, you’ll notice that your decision will probably come down to two: mono and poly. What you opt for will depend on your budget.
Will you go for the more expensive mono option to offer greater long-term efficiency? Or the highly effective and more moderately priced poly-type panel?
Why not browse through our tech section for other environmental ideas for your home?
