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10/5/2014 Which Solar Panel Type is Best? Mono-, Polycrystalline or Thin Film?
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THE HOMEOWNER`S GUIDE TO SOLAR PANELS
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Contents
Crystalline Silicon
Monocrystalline
Polycrystalline
Thin-Film Solar Panels
Building Integrated Photovoltaics
Best Solar Panel Type for Home Use
The term solar panels will be used to
describe photovoltaic solar panels (the
type that generates electricity), not
solar thermal collectors.
Which Solar Panel Type is Best? Mono-
vs. Polycrystalline vs. Thin Film
Last updated December 6, 2013 by Mathias Aarre Maehlum

You are thinking about buying solar panels, but got confused about which type to go for? Youre at the
right place. Theres a myriad of variables that you should take into account when you are buying a
solar photovoltaic (PV) system our job here at Energy Informative is to help you sort through them!
In this article, you will learn everything you need to know about the different types of solar panels for
home use (mono-, polycrystalline and thin film).
Lets start with the different types of solar panels currently on the market, list their benefits and
downsides, and then look at a few typical scenarios where certain types would be the better than
others (hopefully one of them resonates with you).

Crystalline Silicon (c-Si)
Almost 90% of the Worlds photovoltaics today are
based on some variation of silicon. In 2011, about 95% of all shipments by U.S. manufacturers to
the residential sector were crystalline silicon solar panels.
The silicon used in PV takes many forms. The main difference is the purity of the silicon.
But what does silicon purity really mean? The more perfectly aligned the silicon molecules are, the
GO SOLAR TOP 10 BENEFITS SOLAR BASICS COMPARE ABOUT US
[1]
[2]
better the solar cell will be at converting solar energy (sunlight) into electricity (the photoelectric
effect).
The efficiency of solar panels goes hand in hand with purity, but the processes used to enhance the
purity of silicon are expensive. Efficiency should not be your primary concern. As you will later
discover, cost-and space-efficiency are the determining factors for most people.
Compare Solar Panels is the most comprehensive and up-to-date solar panel
comparison service on the Internet. Compare the specifications of 10,000+ solar
modules. Solar Cell Comparison Chart provides a quick overview over the different cell
types, their benefits and how they compare against each other.
Crystalline silicon forms the basis of mono- and polycrystalline silicon solar cells:

Monocrystalline Silicon Solar Cells
Solar cells made of monocrystalline silicon (mono-Si), also called single-crystalline silicon (single-
crystal-Si), are quite easily recognizable by an external even coloring and uniform look, indicating
high-purity silicon, as you can see on the picture below:

Monocrystalline solar cells are made out of silicon ingots, which are cylindrical in shape. To optimize
performance and lower costs of a single monocrystalline solar cell, four sides are cut out of the
cylindrical ingots to make silicon wafers, which is what gives monocrystalline solar panels their
characteristic look.
A good way to separate mono- and polycrystalline solar panels is that polycrystalline solar cells look
perfectly rectangular with no rounded edges.

Advantages
Monocrystalline solar panels have the highest efficiency rates since they are made out
of the highest-grade silicon. The efficiency rates of monocrystalline solar panels are
typically 15-20%. SunPower produces the highest efficiency solar panels on the U.S.
market today. Their E20 series provide panel conversion efficiencies of up to 20.1%.
Update (April, 2013): SunPower has now released the X-series at a record-breaking
efficiency of 21.5%.
Monocrystalline silicon solar panels are space-efficient. Since these solar panels yield
the highest power outputs, they also require the least amount of space compared to
any other types. Monocrystalline solar panels produce up to four times the amount of
electricity as thin-film solar panels.
Monocrystalline solar panels live the longest. Most solar panel manufacturers put a 25-
year warranty on their monocrystalline solar panels.
Tend to perform better than similarly rated polycrystalline solar panels at low-light
conditions.
The efficiency of individual solar cells is higher than for entire solar panels/modules.
For a complete overview over how the efficiency rates of the various solar cell
technologies have advanced since 1975 check out Best Research-Cell Efficiencies
(NREL). The efficiency rates in this article refer to solar panel/module efficiencies.
Check out What Factors Determine Solar Panel Efficiency? for more information on
this subject.

Disadvantages
Monocrystalline solar panels are the most expensive. From a financial standpoint, a
solar panel that is made of polycrystalline silicon (and in some cases thin-film) can be a
better choice for some homeowners.
If the solar panel is partially covered with shade, dirt or snow, the entire circuit can
break down. Consider getting micro-inverters instead of central string inverters if you
think coverage will be a problem. Micro-inverters will make sure that not the entire solar
array is affected by shading issues with only one of the solar panels.
The Czochralski process is used to produce monocrystalline silicon. It results in large
cylindrical ingots. Four sides are cut out of the ingots to make silicon wafers. A
significant amount of the original silicon ends up as waste.
Monocrystalline solar panels tend to be more efficient in warm weather. Performance
suffers as temperature goes up, but less so than polycrystalline solar panels. For most
homeowners temperature is not a concern.
This article is solely about different types of solar panels. If you want to learn about
what other equipment a photovoltaic system consists of, go to Grid-Tied, Off-Grid and
Hybrid Solar Systems.

[3]
[7]
Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Cells
The first solar panels based on polycrystalline silicon, which also is known as polysilicon (p-Si) and
multi-crystalline silicon (mc-Si), were introduced to the market in 1981. Unlike monocrystalline-based
solar panels, polycrystalline solar panels do not require the Czochralski process. Raw silicon is
melted and poured into a square mold, which is cooled and cut into perfectly square wafers.

Advantages
The process used to make polycrystalline silicon is simpler and cost less. The amount
of waste silicon is less compared to monocrystalline.
Polycrystalline solar panels tend to have slightly lower heat tolerance than
monocrystalline solar panels. This technically means that they perform slightly worse
than monocrystalline solar panels in high temperatures. Heat can affect the
performance of solar panels and shorten their lifespans. However, this effect is minor,
and most homeowners do not need to take it into account.

Disadvantages
The efficiency of polycrystalline-based solar panels is typically 13-16%. Because of
lower silicon purity, polycrystalline solar panels are not quite as efficient as
monocrystalline solar panels.
Lower space-efficiency. You generally need to cover a larger surface to output the
same electrical power as you would with a solar panel made of monocrystalline silicon.
However, this does not mean every monocrystalline solar panel perform better than
those based on polycrystalline silicon.
Monocrystalline and thin-film solar panels tend to be more aesthetically pleasing since
they have a more uniform look compared to the speckled blue color of polycrystalline
silicon.

String Ribbon Solar Cells
String Ribbon solar panels are also made out of polycrystalline silicon. String Ribbon is the name of a
manufacturing technology that produces a form of polycrystalline silicon. Temperature-resistant wires
are pulled through molten silicon, which results in very thin silicon ribbons. Solar panels made with this
technology looks similar to traditional polycrystalline solar panels.
Evergreen Solar was the main manufacturer of solar panels using the String Ribbon technology. The
company is now bankrupt, rendering the future for String Ribbon solar panels unclear.

Advantages
The manufacturing of String Ribbon solar panels only uses half the amount silicon as
monocrystalline manufacturing. This contributes to lower costs.

Disadvantages
The manufacturing of String Ribbon solar panels is significantly more energy extensive
and more costly.
Efficiency is at best on par with the low-end polycrystalline solar panels at around 13-
14%. In research laboratories, researchers have pushed the efficiency of String Ribbon
solar cells as high as 18.3%.
String Ribbon solar panels have the lowest space-efficiency of any of the main types of
crystalline-based solar panels.

Thin-Film Solar Cells (TFSC)
Depositing one or several thin layers of photovoltaic material onto a substrate is the basic gist of how
thin-film solar cells are manufactured. They are also known as thin-film photovoltaic cells (TFPV). The
different types of thin-film solar cells can be categorized by which photovoltaic material is deposited
onto the substrate:
Amorphous silicon (a-Si)
Cadmium telluride (CdTe)
Copper indium gallium selenide (CIS/CIGS)
Organic photovoltaic cells (OPC)

Depending on the technology, thin-film module prototypes have reached efficiencies between 713%
and production modules operate at about 9%. Future module efficiencies are expected to climb close
to the about 1016%.
The market for thin-film PV grew at a 60% annual rate from 2002 to 2007. In 2011, close to 5% of
U.S. photovoltaic module shipments to the residential sector were based on thin-film.
[3]
[4]
[5]
[1]

Advantages
Mass-production is simple. This makes them and potentially cheaper to manufacture
than crystalline-based solar cells.
Their homogenous appearance makes them look more appealing.
Can be made flexible, which opens up many new potential applications.
High temperatures and shading have less impact on solar panel performance.
In situations where space is not an issue, thin-film solar panels can make sense.

Disdvantages
Thin-film solar panels are in general not very useful for in most residential situations.
They are cheap, but they also require a lot of space. SunPower`s monocrystalline solar
panels produce up to four times the amount of electricity as thin-film solar panels for the
same amount of space.
Low space-efficiency also means that the costs of PV-equipment (e.g. support
structures and cables) will increase.
Thin-film solar panels tend to degrade faster than mono- and polycrystalline solar
panels, which is why they typically come with a shorter warranty.

Solar panels based on amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride and copper indium gallium selenide are
currently the only thin-film technologies that are commercially available on the market:

Amorphous Silicon (a-Si) Solar Cells
Because the output of electrical power is low, solar cells based on amorphous silicon have
traditionally only been used for small-scale applications such as in pocket calculators. However,
recent innovations have made them more attractive for some large-scale applications too.
[3]
With a manufacturing technique called stacking, several layers of amorphous silicon solar cells can
be combined, which results in higher efficiency rates (typically around 6-8%).
Only 1% of the silicon used in crystalline silicon solar cells is required in amorphous silicon solar cells.
On the other hand, stacking is expensive.
Read more about this technology in Amorphous Silicon Solar Panels.

Cadmium Telluride (CdTe) Solar Cells
Cadmium telluride is the only thin-film solar panel technology that has surpassed the cost-efficiency of
crystalline silicon solar panels in a significant portion of the market (multi-kilowatt systems).
The efficiency of solar panels based on cadmium telluride usually operates in the range 9-11%.
First Solar has installed over 5 gigawatts (GW) of cadmium telluride thin-film solar panels worldwide.
The same company holds the world record for CdTe PV module efficiency of 14.4%.

Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIS/CIGS) Solar Cells
Compared to the other thin-film technologies above, CIGS solar cells have showed the most potential
in terms of efficiency. These solar cells contain less amounts of the toxic material cadmium that is
found in CdTe solar cells. Commercial production of flexible CIGS solar panels was started in
Germany in 2011.
The efficiency rates for CIGS solar panels typically operate in the range 10-12 %.
Many thin-film solar cell types are still early in the research and testing stages. Some of them have
enormous potential, and we will likely see more of them in the future.
Learn more about thin film solar panels here: Best Thin Film Solar Panels
Amorphous, Cadmium Telluride or CIGS?

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV)
Lastly, we`ll briefly touch on the subject of building integrated photovoltaics. Rather than an individual
type of solar cell technology, building integrated photovoltaics have several subtypes (or different
methods of integration), which can be based on both crystalline-based and thin-film solar cells.
Building integrated photovoltaics can be facades, roofs, windows, walls and many other things that is
combined with photovoltaic material. If you have the extra money and want to seemlessly integrate
photovoltaics with the rest of your home, you should look up building integrated photovoltaics. For
[6]
most homeowners it`s simply way too expensive.
This article covered the advantages and disadvantages of different solar panel types. If
you want to learn more solar power in general, go to Solar Energy Pros and Cons.

Best Solar Panel Type for Home Use
Having your particular situation evaluated by an expert would be the best way to find out what solar
panel type would be best for your household. Here are some of the typical scenarios we see:

Limited Space
For those who dont have enough space for thin-film solar panels (the majority of us), or if you want to
limit the amount of space their PV-system takes up, crystalline-based solar panels are your best
choice (and they would likely be the your best choice even if you had the extra space). There are not
a whole lot of solar installers and providers that offer thin-film solar panels for homeowners at this
point.
You will have a choice of different solar panel sizes. The 180, 200 and 220-watt rated solar panels are
usually physically the same size. They are manufactured exactly the same way, but under- or
overperform when tested, hence ending up in different categories for power output. If size is important,
you should go for the highest rated power output for a particular physical size.
Both mono- and polycrystalline solar panels are good choices and offer similar advantages. Even
though polycrystalline solar panels tend to be less space-efficient and monocrystalline solar panels
tend to produce more electrical power, this is not always the case. It would be nearly impossible to
recommend one or the other by not examining the solar panels and your situation closer.
Monocrystalline solar panels are slightly more expensive, but also slightly more space-efficient. If you
had one polycrystalline and one monocrystalline solar panel, both rated 220-watt, they would generate
the same amount of electricity, but the one made of monocrystalline silicon would take up less space.
We always keep an up-to-date list over the most efficient solar panels on the market
today: What are the Most Efficient Solar Panels?

Lowest Costs
If you want the lowest costs per rated power, or in other words, pay as little as possible for a certain
amount of electricity, you should investigate if thin-film solar panels could in fact be a better choice
than mono- or polycrystalline solar panels.
FACEBOOK 252 TWITTER 42 GOOGLE
To see which solar panels are currently the cheapest, head over to Top 10 Cheapest
(Best Value) Solar Panels.

References: [1] National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), [2] U.S. Energy
Information Administration, [3] SunPower, [4] Renewable Energy
World, [5] Sustainable Energy World, [6] First Solar, [7] SunPower.
Comments
Samuel Boateng says
April 21, 2012 at 8:05 am
Hi,
I am final year student doing BEng Electrical Electronic Engineering at London
South Bank University in UK.
I just bumped into your website whiles researching on types of PV cells
and found that your explanation is very informative and clear to understand.
Reply
gubbal says
April 15, 2013 at 1:06 pm
very good article
Reply
Tom says
April 23, 2012 at 9:05 pm
You state that Polycrystalline solar panels have higher heat tolerance than those
made of monocrystalline silicon then you state Polycrystalline solar cells have
lower heat tolerance than monocrystalline solar cells,which is it?
Thanks
Reply
Mathias says
May 21, 2012 at 5:10 am
Hi Tom,
Sorry for the typo. The article has been updated and corrected.
Monocrystalline have higher heat tolerance and therefore perform slightly
better than polycrystalline modules in a warm climate.
Heat tolerance is usually not something that you have to take into account
unless you`re in a very warm climate. For example, monocrystalline is
recommended in most of Australia, except in for far north where thin-film
perform slightly better in some cases.
Hope this answered your question!
Reply
Cassius Chong says
September 11, 2012 at 4:51 pm
What type of solar panel is the best in Philippines? also what is the
difference of Microinverter and Solar charge Controller?
Reply
Victor Sotelo says
May 22, 2013 at 10:33 pm
What????!!!!!!!!
Check your souces Matt, I worked in the manufacturing/project
development sector of solar for the last 6 years.
Here are the real facts:
Monocrystalline solar panels have the highest efficiency rates since they
are made out of the highest-grade silicon. (Somewhat true, but its
irrelevant as manufacturers now make equally rated panels from poly or
mono material.)
The efficiency rates of monocrystalline solar panels are typically 15-20%.
(yes and no, mono by nature is most efficient than poly but at a module
level a 250W Poly or Mono panels will perform somewhat the same.
KEEP IN MIND PEOPLE, BEING MORE EFFICIENT DOES NOT MEAN
IT WILL PRODUCE MORE POWER (kWh) )
SunPower produces the highest efficiency solar panels on the U.S.
market today. Their E20 series provide panel conversion efficiencies of up
to 20.1%.[3]
(True, but this is meant to be an unbiased informative article)
Monocrystalline silicon solar panels are space-efficient.
(So are poly, a 250W mono or poly panel have the same dimensions and
produce somewhat the same depending on the climate)
Since these solar panels yield the highest power outputs, they also
require the least amount of space compared to any other types.
Monocrystalline solar panels produce up to four times the amount of
electricity as thin-film solar panels.
(Sure, depending on the location they are installed, Thinfilm has a much
higher temperature tolerance than mono)
Monocrystalline solar panels live the longest. Most solar panel
manufacturers put a 25-year warranty on their monocrystalline solar
panels.
(Not true, all manufacturers put a 25 year warranty on any panel
regardless of the material is made out of)
Tend to perform better than similarly rated polycrystalline solar panels at
low-light conditions.
(Totally true, key word low-light conditions)
If the solar panel is partially covered with shade, dirt or snow, the entire
circuit can break down.
(Yes, that happens to any panel being amorphous, mono or poly it has
nothing to do with the material of the cell, its how the actual cells are wired
together)
Consider getting micro-inverters instead of central string inverters if you
think coverage will be a problem. Micro-inverters will make sure that not
the entire solar array is affected by shading issues with only one of the
solar panels.
(Sure, but Microinverters are less reliable than centralized inverters, only
use them if you REALLY need them)
Reply
Mathias says
May 30, 2013 at 7:46 pm
I appreciate your input Victor!
You basically agree with what is written in the article and help
clarifying some of the aspects that might cause confusion.
As for the length of warranty It is true that all reputable solar
manufacturers produce solar panels with a 25-year long warranty, but
this is not true for every solar panel on the market. I actually took the
time to make a separate article on this subject. Check it out here:
Solar Panel Warranty Comparison.
Thanks again Victor
Reply
ed says
December 6, 2013 at 8:51 am
Wow Victor you study your lesson well! That why I tend not to listen
to one voice but to many voices and opinion! luckily there is a internet
that we can get all opinion and if we are lucky get the right one.
Reply
Art says
February 9, 2014 at 9:15 am
People, stick with Mathias, Victor wishes he knew as much as he
thinks he does. Too many subtle errors in Victors post.
Reply
Tom says
July 16, 2013 at 6:40 am
Hi Mathias, I am currently doing a PV yield simulation on PVSYST, i have
compared the energy output of PV farm using LG Si- Polycrystalline
module versus using LG Si- Monocrystalline module. I realised that the
energy production if used Si-Polycrstalline module is slightly more than
that than if Si-Monocrystalline module were used even though Si-
Polycrystalline module has lower efficiency than Si-Monocrystalline
module. Why is this so?
Reply
Andy says
May 24, 2012 at 4:04 pm
Hi Mathias,
I am currently looking to install a 4 kW system. I live in Australia and the
temperature range for where I live is typically between 35 40 deg celsius in the
summer and 0 20 deg celsius in the winter. We do not have limited space on our
roof. The choices I have are GermanSolar poly & SMA Inverter, or Suntech mono &
SMA Inverter the latter being the more expensive by $2,000.00. Which would you
recommend?
Thanks.
Reply
Mathias says
May 25, 2012 at 2:41 am
Hey Andy,
Im not sure if temperature range will matter in your situation (in most it
doesent).
Since you have a lot of available space on your roof, I would go for the
cheapest system and scale as wanted. So what is the cheapest system?
Contact the installer and ask for payback time, lifelengths, any performance
issues down the line and so on (The installer should be able to help you with
this).
I would assume the poly would come out on top, but do the calculations just to
be sure.
Hope this helps!
Reply
darryl lemondine says
September 4, 2012 at 3:40 am
I like the question and answers. The articles on the various panels sound good
and I assume unbiased.
I am very near to installing a solar system but which one for me?? mono or
poly?
Reply
Mahesh says
May 26, 2012 at 3:51 pm
Really informative and well wrtitten! Thank you!
Reply
Nicole says
May 31, 2012 at 4:15 pm
Hi Mathias,
I want to buy used polycrystalline and monocrystalline silicon.What would you
recommend?
Thanks
Reply
patrice constant says
February 12, 2014 at 1:18 pm
hi a 100watt mono panel rated 21votl 5.4 amp whereas a 100watt poly is rated
21volt 5.8 amp there is no big difference between these two model if you
consider the price poly are better
Reply
Austin says
June 23, 2012 at 9:19 pm
Hi Mathias
I live in the south west of australia. I am building a new house with heated slab and
will be installing solar panels to feed into the grid to offset heating costs. We have
quite cool temperatures and often cloudy days. Roof space is not a problem as our
roof will mainly face North. What panel would perform best in cool temperatures
and often overcast conditions?
Reply
Malik says
July 3, 2012 at 2:51 pm
Hi Mathias,
very well explained!
how can you guide me for 100 KW roof top system on-grid type in Kuwait (Middle
East). here the weather goes upto 55 degrees in summer.
Regards,
Malik
Reply
Mario says
July 12, 2012 at 6:48 am
There is a portable product that I want to buy to charge my cell and handheld
devices made from Monocrystalline when I am off the grid. Its specs optimal
operating temperature: 32 86 F. Where I will be using this product the summer
temperature prior to the humidity factor is at the high end of the temperature given
and normally does not surpass it. Does the humidity factor come into play when
considering the impact on the the optimal operating temperature? The humidity can
make it feel like it is close to 104 F as the weather network often says. This is a
typical summer. The winters do not drop below 32 F even though they come close
and the wind chill factor does not bring it under either. For all the research that I
have done, no one and no company has ever explained if the humidity factor is part
of their optimal operating temperature for their Monocrystalline. With this piece of
information, I can better determine what is best for me. I would appreciate it if you
can answer this question thank you.
Reply
David says
July 22, 2012 at 8:16 pm
We are purchasing an EV and decided that adding a PV array to our roof would not
only lower our electric bill, but would also cover the electricity used to charge our
EV. We are currently in the mono vs. poly battle right now. One company suggests
that we use Ecosolargy polycrystalline panels, which gives us a cost reduction
between $2500 and $5500 over the monocrystalline panels. We are only looking at
a max. 3 kW AC array, because larger would run into shade issues. We are in
central California, near Sacramento, so we obviously get hot in the summer. The
panels suggested by installers are between 235 kW and 255 kW. Obviously the
SunPower panels will offer the greatest production using the smallest area, but we
are having sticker shock with the cost. Are you aware of the quality of Ecosolargy
Orion panels (from 235 kW to 260 kW). Do you believe we would be making a
mistake to purchase these as compared to more expensive monocrystalline panels
from SunPower, SolarWorld, Shco, or Sharp? We have between 87-94% and 91-
97% shade free on the two areas we plan to populate with panels using a Solmetric
Shade Analysis tool. Thank you very much for your expertise and analysis.
Reply
kerry says
August 17, 2012 at 1:00 pm
I live in Townsville far north QLD.
I am unsure weither Poly or Mono is better for me? I seem to read that mono works
better in heat and poly works better in heat? so which one is the best in heat? (the
other is not an option) I also need to concider high humidity. thank you kindly Kerry
Reply
Millie says
August 29, 2012 at 9:56 am
I am prepping in the event of a natural or manmade disaster. So I recently ordered
(have not yet received) a 600 Watt portable solar generator which has a lithium
battery and comes with a 100 Watt foldable solar panel; I do not know if it is mono
or poly. Would there be any advantage in having another solar panel?
How long do they hold their charge when not being used?
I live in southern California near L.A. in a townhome with no yard; solar panels
would have to be placed on back patio which faces the west and gets afternoon
sun. I have a front patio which faces the east but it is open and not secure like the
back patio and Im concerned it would be stolen so I choose not to place the solar
panel on the the front patio.
Can a solar panel be set up inside a house and charged by sun coming thru a
window??? Im a female senior citizen so I do not know anything about these
things! THANK YOU for taking the time to answer my questions.
Reply
Millie says
August 29, 2012 at 10:02 am
I failed to mention that putting solar panels on my roof is out of the question, as I
live in a townhome and the CCRs do not permit it. I dont know if this has any
bearing on the questions I previously asked but thought I should clarify; just in case.
Thanks, again.
Reply
Art says
Solar panels behind a window will charge a battery. I use a 5W poly panel to
keep my 110 ampHr 12V boat battery charged when not in use. Im not sure
what you mean by solar generator. Maybe a marketing name for a solar panel
and battery combo. 100W is a big panel for a battery charger. If you ever need
your emergency plan, plan to move your panel from the east in the morning to
the west in the afternoon. Hours of sun will be very important. Im sure your
panel is poly, it doesnt matter. Do you have plug adapters from your battery to
the gadgets you plan to use? Avoid using inverters when you can, for instance
go straight DC via a cigarette lighter style charger to charge phones, tablets,
etc.
Reply
A.seenivasa Raghavan says
Now only India is interested in solar energy.in this scenario I am interested to do
research in this.please forward related news
Reply
Tina says
I have recently been having quotes for solar pv & was told about a battery called
midnight sun from an Italian company that stores the solar energy you have
generated in battery for later use. I can not find any information on this. The solar
company was much too high priced for me so I dont feel I can go back to them to
ask further. They said they had exclusive rights on this bit of equipment. Have you
heard anything about this?
Also, I have a small roof space & it looks like I am only going to get 6 panels on,
though 2 of the 3 companies so far said 7 panels. At any rate it will be a small
system but I am south facing. From the inormation I have read, it seems that the
mono-crystalline is going to be best for me. Im in Yorkshire, England & though we
do get some hot summers it doesnt seem that this will be to hot to lower the
systems efficiency.
If you can give any advice on this Id be grateful. Thanks!
Reply
miso says
Which photovoltaics is best for Macedonia, region Gevgelija, choosing between
mono, poly and thin film of amorphous silicon, and which one is less expensive poly
or thin film?
Reply
:) says
Thank you for writing this article. It was most helpful.
Reply
satish babu says
October 16, 2012 at 8:29 am
can you briefly explain how arrangement of atoms(crystalline or amorphous) effects
efficiency? and among crystalline how mono crystallines efficiency is higher than
polycrystallines?
Reply
satish babu says
This is an extension of the previous question. you have said that The more
perfectly aligned the silicon molecules are, the better the solar cell will be at
converting solar energy (sunlight) into electricity can you explain the physics
behind it?
Reply
Mathias says
Hi Satish,
In polycrystalline silicon, there are defects in the crystal structure known as
grain boundaries. Monocrystalline consists of silicon in which the crystal
structure is continuous and unbroken. The more homogenous the crystalline
framework is, the better the semiconducting properties.
Hope this helps!
Reply
Doug says
November 1, 2012 at 1:21 pm
I am on a farm and I have lots of space to create a field of panels.
My location in in the NE of the unites States.
What would my cheapest alternative be considering I could attach as many panels
as I would want to a system?
Reply
Mathias says
Hi Doug,
This is a case where thin-film solar panels might actually be cheapest.
I suggest you call up the solar installers in your area, tell them that you have
lots of space, and ask them specifically for thin-film solar panels. Make sure to
receive and compare quotes from the different installers (Lifetime energy
production (kWh)/Lifetime costs ($)).
Hope this helps!
-Mathias
Reply
Yousuf Sahib says
Really useful article.
Is there any optimum and maximum working temperature for solar panels?
Reply
Ash says
I need to choose between two poly-crystalline solar panels both same output
wattage = 230w
first panel, V = 34.4V , I = 6.68A
second panel, V = 30.15V , I = 7.63A
the two panels are identical except for the specification above.
so is there any suggestion which one should I choose and why ?
it is very urgent please
thanks
Reply
Jeet Bhatia says
You wrote in one of you r replies that because of grain boundaries the consistency
in electron flow is less and this affects the efficiency.
The standard size of a wafer is roughly 15X15 cm.
My question is if we double the size of a wafer, wont it mean a better relative
continuity of electron flow as compared to the current standard sizes? yes that
would mean larger Ingots, but is this a viable solution?
Moreover how much would it affect the efficiency of MCC if they were not
pseudosquares?
Reply
Mark says
Hi,
So I want some panels. Money isnt really an issue, aesthetics and efficiency in
cold-country climates are my issues. So I live in Northern Ireland, where it rains
often which panels are best for me?
Reply
Mathias says
December 25, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Hi Mark!
Cold climate and rain are usually not determining factors. Output is king. I think
you will find some good information here: Top 10 Cheapest (Best Value) Solar
Panels.
-Mathias
Reply
Suresh says
April 26, 2013 at 1:11 pm
Can you suggest which type of module will work well for very hot climate.
Country: India
State: Tamilnadu
Thanks,
Suresh
Reply
sobhan says
July 9, 2013 at 10:43 am
Polycrystalline system will be good for Tamilnadu. As it has 300 days
sunlight. Consider taking high Wp panels because it will reduce
space consumption.
Reply
John says
Hi
I want to setup solar power plant of 5 MW in India. Although it is commercial so
please suggest me which one is better to setup to produce require amount of
electricity and which companys solar modules we have to use.
Reply
B.Sekhon says
Hi John
I am from India living in the state of Punjab on the border of Rajasthan. I have
lots of land and was thinking of setting up a solar power plant and am looking
for a partner who can arrange funds at a lower rate of interest from outside
India as the banks here charge high ROI. the key to success of this venture is
cheaper funds. The state govt. is ready to buy electricity @ RS 8.50 per unit.
The cost for 1 MW works out to be Rs.60 million. You need to produce
minimum of 1.5 million units of power per year. Weather conditions are ideal in
my area with more than 300 days of sunlight.
Let me know if interested
Reply
Dan Parpan says
January 8, 2013 at 4:19 am
I live in Northern Illinois. My roof line faces east south east. Will this be o.k. for solar
panels? Also, what would be the best bang for my $$$?
Reply
Matthew says
Hello
Regarding CTM (Cell To module loss degradation rate)Could you explain which
solar module batter between mono crystalline & multi crystlline solar module
In my opinion, although same efficiency solar cell power is used for making
module,,, I think multi type has batter Pmax,,right?
Reply
kumar says
January 15, 2013 at 1:18 pm
Thank you,very useful article about solar cells.
would you please suggest for low cost which type cell is suitable for bore well pump
application. i would like to use it for 2.2KW, 415 volt,50Hz,3phase pump.Installer
claim they have technology without back up battries,they say DC current is
converted toAC by using a inverter.
Reply
P N Roy Choudhury says
Hi
Want to make a solar charger to recharge four AA cells that Will really go for years
without any maintenance . Here winter season means 2 C and summer is with 40C
. Rainy season is also with cloudless sky .
I need something that would recharge the cells even in cloudy rainy or winter
season and go for years without any maintenance .
Please inform me which type solar panels Will suit me .
Regards .
Reply
frank says
January 25, 2013 at 11:23 am
in terms of efficiency between armophous and the crystaline, which one can best
suit the climatic conditions of my country (malawi) east africa and wat are the best
conditions for these solar cells.. pliz
Reply
Muhammad Zubair says
HELLO,
m a final year collage student,and i am working on a solar powered mobile
charging system ,
i was really confused of which solar panel to use .so cld u plz guide me ,on wh
solar panel to use..
shall be really thankful ,
Reply
shashikanta says
thanks for such great information. I want to know what type of PV is use in space, i
mean for setellite where huge radiation, heat, solar flair, etc. strikes on panel, n
withstand all.
Reply
vijaygupta says
Sir, would u please tell me what type of solar panel is best suited in indian climatic
zone.
Reply
Kriti Tripathi says
helped me very, very, very, very, very, very, very, very much.
Reply
Pat says
March 3, 2013 at 1:35 am
There is a solar company here in Ontario that will put up a solar panel system on a
roof for FREE. They maintain and insure it etc. for 20 years. The hydro generated
goes back to Hydro One and depending on how many panels you have and how
much is generated you can receive anywhere from $200 to $1,200 per year
annually for 20 years. If you sell the house, new owners take it over. If you need a
new roof they come and take it off, you get them or whoever to replace shingles
and they put it back for NO CHARGE. At the end of 20 years you can buy it all for a
buck !!! Does anyone have any comments or experience with this type of deal???
Reply
Brijal says
March 9, 2013 at 2:28 pm
hi
i am final year b.e mechanical enginering student from jamia millia islamia
university new delhi.
your blog is very helpful for me for searching suitable PV module ..
thank you for knowledge
Reply
csaw says
March 12, 2013 at 2:02 pm
Hi,
i want to install 1000w Solar system for home but the problem is to identify the best
Quality of panel,Solar Inverter and charge controller.
can u help me for choosing the Good .
Reply
A.R.M.Alamoud says
March 30, 2013 at 7:49 am
An informative, well written, and to-the-point article. Thanks.
Reply
Werner says
March 26, 2013 at 2:22 am
Hi, I live in Central America,Guatemala, I need to know witch will be the best solar
panel kit for a house at the beach. We go to this house every 2 weekends. 350kv
every month.
I
Reply
DEEPAK says
March 31, 2013 at 12:28 pm
i live in delhi (india).. where climate changes evry alternate day after summers i
want to import solar cells for homes and for shopping malls.. plz suggest me the
best n cheapest solar cells with maximum output efficieny and low maintaince
cost also which dont have performance and breakdown issues plz help me .
just want to go GREEN!!!!! SAVE PLANET
Reply
Rawan Al Oqlah says
March 31, 2013 at 9:12 pm
i live in Kuwait and i am thinking to design a villa which has solar panels. which type
do you think i should use?
Reply
bilal ch says
April 9, 2013 at 7:54 am
Dear,
i would suggest you to have polycrstalline solar modules because they are
more efficient than thin film,and economical.
The other reason for poly panels is that they required less space.
Regards,
Bilal ch
Reply
Ahmad nigeria. says
June 4, 2013 at 10:00 pm
I really appreciate the article. I am into renewable energy business.
Reply
msafiri paschal says
June 5, 2013 at 6:04 pm
thanks for a good article, am a man from Tanzania. what i think is that the mono
crystalline solar panel is good even though have high cost! it is best to buy
something with high cost but lasts longer! thanks.
Reply
Ahmad nigeria. says
June 5, 2013 at 7:57 pm
Pls is there any charge controller that also boosts the current from solar panels?
Reply
Muhammad Emran says
June 14, 2013 at 10:18 am
At 40 to 50 C which solar panel is suitable mono or poly. I am talking about lahore
pakistan where now a days temperature is 45 C.
Reply
manning madison lim says
July 3, 2013 at 11:56 am
i am from the philippines and i am installing two panels of polycrystalline on the roof
, i am just not sure how much energy it will produce coz its my first time to install a
solar panel anyway i will post what outcome will my project makes.
Reply
albert kamara says
July 6, 2013 at 8:08 am
hi,
I bought a 180w monocrystalline solar panel from china, when installed, it could not
produce energy even though the sun was hot.
Is there anything i could do to solve this problem?
thanks
Reply
abdullah says
if its not broken you need a multimeter to test the output, it should give an
output even at a shaded area, if not check the cable/connector or a blocking
diode, if you can find it, if there is no hope it broken and has factory defect!
send it back to china and ask for refund!!
Reply
Thayagaraen says
July 7, 2013 at 2:24 am
Really a good article and use full. The things are simplified and a very
understandable way for information seekers
Reply
denise says
July 7, 2013 at 12:08 pm
Is Amorphous silicon solar panels advisable to be used here in the Philippines? And
how long is its lifeline?
Reply
Evangelia Paraskevadaki says
Yes, a-Si solar panels are suitable for Philippines. They have limited losses in
high temperatures and convert more sunlight to electricity in diffuse radiation
conditions. The good products have guarantee for 25 years, like crystalline
solar panels.
Reply
Arsalan says
July 13, 2013 at 10:12 pm
Respected Sir ,
I am From Pakistan ,And I am looking up to setup a 2 KW System for My
Residence .Here Temperature Ranges From 35 Celsius to 45 Celsius ,Could you
please advice Me which type of Solar Panel is Suitable for my home .
Moreover What Is the Normal/Nominal Operational Temperature for A
polycrystalline,
Mono crystalline and Thin Film Cells .
Your Reply is Very Much Important For me..I will be Waiting
Thanks alot
Reply
mohamed hassan says
July 14, 2013 at 10:04 pm
Really this article is very good and clear for under gradual students and advanced
levels as well
Reply
nicholas mills says
hi mathias,
got a choice between 250w renesola panels and 250w seraphim panels which
would be the best option.
Reply
Giampo says
YOLANDA TYPHOON led us without electricity (and half house..). used to live near
Guiuan, now Im in Italy with a project to install a photovolt.system good for my
family and the neighborhood: some already fix a bit what was left of their houses,
some living under tarpaulin. Even just a small bulb can do a lot in the nightime. then
a couple of ref/freezer in common would help to preserve food.
I have plenty of space and no shade. thinking about a 5kw system.
weather conditions are typical for tropical areas. high heat and big rain.
I just start searching in internet, first contact was with a chinese factory, TANFON.
I need some advices.
thanks a lot
Giampo
Reply
Evangelia Paraskevadaki says
I think that for tropical climates, thin film solar panels are a good solution. In
high temperatures and dense clouds, they would produce more than crystalline
silicon solar panels.
Since you have a lot of space, space efficiency would not be an issue. CdTe
or a-Si based thin film panels would be good candidates.
You should also look for panels that have 25 years guarantee for power output,
in order to ensure that the material is stable and will not suffer from
degradation.
Reply
saba says
hello
i live in a country with weather like England
its too cloudy
I calculate and used a 10W Mono-crystalline panel
its working correctly in sunny and normal day but my battery doesnt charge
completely in cloudy day
do you know witch panel is better to use in this kind of weather?
i only can find mono / poly and amorf in my country
thank you
Reply
Tsungai says
Hie Mathias
i stay in Zimbabwe and would like to buy a solar system to power my 20 energy
savers, for my television radio and phone charging system
which one is teh best to buy
Reply
ADAM says
hi,
im from middle east, in summer (20-50 c) which is the best type of solar panel suit
this area ???
thank you
Reply
SDButt says
I am using Kaneka Hybrid solar panel
Pls reply with comparison to other panel types, I chose them as they have a better
output and temperature resistance the temperature is higher than 40 degree
Celsius
Reply
Timcat100 says
Good article.
I am 54 now, I have been researching solar systems for over ten years.
I know that I will never live long enough to get all my money back from an
investment in PV just by factoring in the monthly power savings from a system.
Looking at my retirement savings though and what the banks are paying me on my
investments. Example 10,000 Cad sitting in a savings account is paying squat 1%
at best, now 10,000 invested in PV is really looking like an viable option to earn on
money just sitting there. I guess the only risk is how much did I earn in return when
I retire and what is the system worth if I downsize and sell my home with the PV
investment? Anybody out there with a crystal ball? If I get into this as a hobby or
just bragging rights I am ready to drop 10 k into it but if I could make more return
somehow I am ready to invest 100 k in covering every square inch of my property
and sell the extra power to my neighbours instead of the grid tie system. Why not
just over produce my needs and sell it to the homes next door and let them Grid
tie? Bets are though this has already been shot down and not allowed by the
utilities people unless the power is actually generated on their property. Even if I
made only .01% on my investment its still better than what the banks are paying.
I am thinking of in terms of me over producing my needs with no grid tie and
running a 100 amp service to my buddy next door and he puts his own grid tie in or
he buys all his needs from me. I am terrified of this grid tie bull crapI think we are
being trapped into being slaves to the gridand with this new grid tie stuff that they
are bending over backwards now to allow a grid tie is because utility companys are
afraid that we could actually easily pull the plug on them.
Reply
Alche says
May 14, 2014 at 12:52 pm
Any advice most welcome!
I have just been quoted for 7 solar panels and 1 invertor. I was informed that for this
I will get money back from the government FIT = 140 per month and have to pay
finance of 106 pm leaving me with a saving of 34 pm (this apparently has been
worked out on the rate of 2.9 hours of daylight, so we should get a lot more)?
My brother got his panels a few years back when the FIT was double the present
tarrif, he has 14 panels and 2 invertors and he is only getting around 100 per
month back from his FIT. I am very dubious as to how this company have worked
out my figures as if they are incorrect i wouldnt be able to afford the direct debit for
finance.
I need urgent advice as we are due to have them fitted on Saturday!
Thanks
Reply
Arwin says
June 6, 2014 at 3:19 pm
Hi Pat,
In the process of installing this FREE panels. It is not actually free. What you have
to do is actually pay the solar company for the energy the panels produce. Kind of
like a RENT to OWN theory. No money up front but at the end you pay twice as
much more for the panels. But, in my experience paying more for the panels still
saves me money because the kilowatt price is cheaper than what my current
electric company is charging me. The solar company makes a good profit but I also
save money. So, realistically the only one getting hurt is my current electric
company because I dont have to pay them.
Reply
ARandhawa says
June 16, 2014 at 10:54 am
Still it is not clear in your main writing that which panel (mono or poly) is
temperature sensitive.
Please correct it in your research.
Thanks
Reply
adnan siddiqui says
June 16, 2014 at 12:48 pm
Wonderful Article , i have complete information regarding solar panels after read
this article please do inform me through email if some thing new comes in the
market.
warm regards.
Adnan Siddiqui
karachi.
Pakistan
Reply
reji mathew says
July 16, 2014 at 8:01 pm
which type of pannels is best in Indian situations.
mono or ploy?
we are getting only 5 to 7 hours sunlight in all south Indian Places.
In indian market mono and poli are available,,
so .. which type you are recomending for home use?
pls reply on this coments
Reply
Egg says
August 1, 2014 at 7:44 pm
Thank you! I was wondering what in the hell was going on with the info since it was
written in 2013 and should be better up to date on facts.
Was wondering if this site is a marketing outreach for some monocrystalline
manufacturer, perhaps SunPower.
The whole thing about temperature and lack of info about cloud/dust conditions was
interesting. If the info was good, why couldnt they just put up a chart averaging 5
top sellers in terms mono, poly and the amorphous varieties?
Reply
Rajesh Kannan says
Hi,
Thank you very much for this Article.
Actually i have going to install 3 HP motor pump set instead my Diesel Engine , so i
want to clear about which type of Cells are best for money and efficiency, i got clear
idea in this blog
Thanks again
N.Rajesh kannan
Reply
Ade says
Which type of panels is best for Nigeria.
Also, Is it sunlight or daylight that we actually need?
Reply
Vijay says
August 17, 2014 at 3:17 am
Best Article. This gives lot of clarity regarding solar panels. I like Thin Film solar
panel most. But they have least efficiency. But thanks for information.
Reply
Elvis Chu says
Wonderful article, i want to ask a question: For the working temperature of poly-Si
module and mono-Si module under the same irradiation condition, which is higher
and why?
Reply
Chetan Dewangan says
i want to basic requirement for roof top solar grid system for 1-10 Kwp. so what kind
of device requirement and if any one change in 1 Kwp panel is use 100, 200, 250
wp panel arrange in the system. so please give me some details. and which is best
for us.
Reply
Dan says
Thank you so much for this well- coordinated and educative talk. Please I want to
ask if hybrid PV modules are taken into consideration in Australia. And what are the
prospects of this option, now and in the nearest future?
Reply
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