Types of Solar Panels

There are four different types of solar panels used for generating electricity – monocrystalline, polycrystalline, hybrid and amorphous silicon. While they’re all made of silicon, the different types of solar PV panels are cut and treated differently. Because of the differences, they vary in cost as well as in efficiency. When you’re comparing the cost of installing solar panels on your property, it’s important to know which type of solar PV panels you’re pricing so that you’re comparing apples and oranges.

Monocrystalline Solar Panels

Monocrystalline solar cells are the most familiar and the oldest type of solar cells in use. They’re more expensive to produce, and thus, monocrystalline solar panels are more expensive to install. They are, however, more efficient and are generally considered to be the workhorse of the solar power world. Monocrystalline solar PV panels are also somewhat smaller than other types of solar panels and can fit on a smaller roof.

Multicrystalline Solar Panels

Multicrystalline – also called polycrystalline – solar PV panels are cut from silicon crystals that grow in multiple directions. They’re less expensive to create and are also slightly less efficient. Because they’re less efficient than monocrystalline solar panels, they tend to be larger and heavier. A new type of silicon could be a big game changer in the field of multicrystalline solar panels, though. These silicon nitride panels are rated as high as or higher than monocrystalline solar cells of the same size.

Amorphous Solar Panels

Amorphous technology, also known as thin film solar panels, is a wild card in the mix. Thin film solar panels are generally less expensive to make than either mono or multi crystalline panels, but their efficiency rating is also considerably lower than either. That means that the solar panels array has to be larger in order to deliver the same amount of electricity – and consequently, they require a larger roof surface for installation.

Hybrid Solar Panels

Solar panels that combine both crystalline cells and thin film cells – generally called hybrid solar PV panels – are the most efficient of all types of solar panels, but are also the most expensive.

Which Type of Solar PV Panels Are Right for You?

There are a few factors to consider when deciding which type of solar panels are right for you. The two most important of these factors are your budget and the amount of space you have to devote to your solar installation. Generally, if you have little space, it’s worth the extra cash to invest in monocrystalline solar panels, which are more expensive, but take up less space and are more efficient. If, on the other hand, you have the room for a larger system, you can save money with an array of multicrystalline solar PV panels.