Learn about the types of solar cells 

  ? What is a solar panel

solar panel consists of individual solar cells, each made of a layer of silicon, boron and phosphorus. The boron layer provides a positive charge, the phosphor layer provides a negative charge, and the silicon wafer acts as a semiconductor

 

 panels of Solar are used usually for collect solar energy from  sun and to convert it to electricity

Solar modules

The process of solar panel is called  photovoltaic effect, which is why the solar panels are also called photovoltaic panels or PV panels  A typical solar panel is made up of 72 or 90 separate solar cells

When a photon from the sun hits the panel surface, it removes electrons from the silicon "sandwich" and enters the electric field generated by the solar cell. The result is a directional current that is utilized as usable power

Types of solar cells

polycrystalline solar panel

As the name suggests, they come from not one but different silicon crystals. Melt a piece of silicone and pour it into a square mold. This makes the polycrystalline cell much cheaper because there is little waste and gives it a characteristic square shape

However, its less in efficient in the terms of conversion and space as the silicon purity and structure are lower than that of single crystal panels. It also has low heat resistance, making it less efficient in high-temperature environments

monocrystalline solar panel

Also known as monocrystalline panels, these panels are made from a single pure silicon crystal that has been cut into multiple wafers. Because it is made of pure silicone, it is easily identifiable by its dark black color.

Using pure silicon, monocrystalline panels are the most space-efficient and long-lasting of the three types of solar panels

But this comes at a cost. A lot of silicon is wasted to produce one single crystal cell, sometimes reaching 50% or more. This results in a huge price tag

thin film solar panel

Thin-film panels are characterized by very fine layers thin enough to be flexible

Not every bracket panel requires a frame, making it lighter and easier to install. Crystalline silicon panels, which are available in standard sizes of 60, 72 and 96 cells, thin-film panels can be available in a variety of sizes to suit specific requirements. However, it is less efficient than silicon solar panels

Thin film solar panel variants

Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS)

CIGS panels use thin copper, indium, gallium and selenium deposits on glass or plastic supports. The combination of these elements is not as efficient as crystalline silicon panels, but provides the highest efficiency among the thin panel types

Amorphous Silicon (a-Si)

Amorphous silicon panels (A-Si) take their name from their shapeless nature. Unlike monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar cells, silicon is not structured at the molecular level

On the average,  a-Si cell need a fraction of the silicon  which required to produce  silicon cell This allows you to minimize production costs while sacrificing efficiency

Cadmium Telluride (CdTe)

CdTe offers the low cost benefits of crystal cells while having the least carbon, water requirements and energy recovery time from any type of solar panel. However, due to the toxicity of cadmium, recycling costs more than other materials

Solar Panel Types by Power Capacity

Monocrystalline cells offer the highest power capacity thanks to their monocrystalline structure allowing higher power ratings in a smaller package. 

Most monocrystalline panels can reach up to weight  300w for power capacity

Recent advances in solar technology have made it possible for polycrystalline panels to fill that gap. A standard 60 cell polycrystalline panel can now produce 240-30

  monocrystalline panels are still outperform polycrystalline in  power capacity per cell

Because the size of thin film panels is not uniform, there is no standard size for power capacity, and the capacity of thin film panels depends on their physical size. In general, in the same physical space, ordinary crystal plates have more power than their thin ones Movie boards of the same size

The push towards renewable energy sources has led to a surge in solar energy use. In the past decade alone, the solar industry has grown by nearly 50%, driven by federal support such as solar investment tax credits and strong commercial and industrial demand for clean energy.

As the solar sector continues to grow, it is worth studying solar panels, the backbone of the solar industry

This guide explains the different types of solar panels available on the market today, their pros and cons, and which ones are best for your specific use case

Passivation emitter and rear cell (PERC) panel

PERC solar panels are an improvement over conventional monocrystalline cells. This relatively new technology adds a passivation layer to the back of the cell that improves efficiency in several ways

It reflects light back into the cells, increasing the amount of solar radiation absorbed

It can reflect larger wavelengths of light Waves of light above 1180 nm are not absorbed by the silicon wafer, but simply pass through it, eventually heating the metal back sheet of the cell and reducing its efficiency The passive layer reflects these higher wavelengths and prevents the back plate from overheating

PERC panels are ideal for confined spaces as they allow for more solar energy collection in a smaller physical space They are slightly more expensive to produce than traditional panels with the added materials required, but they can be manufactured on the same equipment and their efficiency can lower the average cost per watt

Efficiency of Solar Panel Types

: In contrast, thin-film panels are typically 2-3% less efficient than crystalline silicon on average

    . The efficiency range of CIGS panels is 13-15%

. The CdT range is 9-11%

 . a-Si have the low efficiency with percentage at 6-8%

Of all panel types, crystalline solar panels have the highest efficiency

. The efficiency class of monocrystalline panels is over 20%

. PERC panels add 5% more efficiency thanks to the passivation layer

. Polycrystalline panels are between 15-17%

Efficiency of Panel type

Amorphous silicon (a-Si)  6-8% for

Copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) 13-15% for

Monocrystalline 20% and up for 

 .Cadmium telluride (CdTe) 9-11% for

 . Polycrystalline 15-17% for

 ? What type of solar panel must I use

limited space

People living in densely populated areas with limited space should choose high-efficiency monocrystalline modules to make the most of their physical space and maximize utility savings. If your budget allows, using PERC panels can lower your energy generation costs much lower in the long run

Crystalline and thin-film panels have their pros and cons, so ultimately your choice of solar panel will

 depend on your specific properties and condition settings

For thin-film solar panels, it is best suited for locations where crystalline silicon cannot be heavy and labor-intensive. These locations may include commercial buildings with tight spaces or thin roofs. small spaces such as recreational vehicles and ships; Areas requiring flexible installation instead of rigid panels

great attribute

Products with sufficiently larger properties can use polycrystalline solar panels to save upfront costs. However, a larger footprint can also mean extra labor costs, so getting more cheaper panels isn't necessarily cheaper. Initial costs may be low, but in the long run, they can eventually be offset by reduced efficiencies and increased operating costs

Solar panels are designed for long-term installation, up to 25 years. So, whichever type you choose, do your homework to make sure it's the best option for your needs

Cost of Solar Panel Types

Because polycrystalline modules use the remaining crystal fragments from single crystal production, the price is low, which simplifies the manufacturing process and reduces production costs

Single crystal panels (or modules that are technically known) have a significant price tag, because the efficiency of all silicon crystals is only 50 due to a high-consumption and inefficient production process

While the total cost of residential systems has decreased by more than 65% over the past decade, the soft cost of systems has actually increased from 58% of total system costs in 2014 to 65% in 2020

 thin film solar panels, CIGS are the high expensive price, which followed by the CdTe and amorphous silicon. In addition to lower purchase costs, thin film modules reduce labor costs due to their lighter weight and easier flexibility

hail grade

Solar panels are also tested for hail effects

UL 1703 and UL 61703 deal with hailstorms by dropping 2-inch steel spheres onto solar panels from a

51 inch high shooting 1 inch ice balls on photovoltaic panels with air cannon to simulate hail Because of their thicker structure, crystalline panels can withstand hail strikes at speeds of up to 50 

mph, while thin-film solar panels receive lower ratings due to their thin and flexible nature

Light-induced degradation (LID)

LID is a performance loss typically seen in crystalline panels during the first few hours after sun exposure

This happens when sunlight reacts with the effects of oxygen remaining in the production process, which affects the structure of the silicon network

LID loss is directly related to manufacturing quality and can range from 1-3

Hurricane Rating

Although there is no official solar classification rating for hurricanes, the Department of Energy recently expanded its recommended design specifications for solar panels to protect against adverse weather conditions

: The new recommendations are

.Modules rated for highest ASTM E1830-15 for snow and wind loads, both front and rear

.Fasteners with true locking function based on DIN 65151 standard

.Use of through-bolt modules with locking fasteners instead of clamping fasteners

.Anti-torsion and increased rigidity with 3-frame rail system

.Tubular frame over open C channel

.Fencing around PV systems to slow wind power

Factors to consider

fire rating

 International updated 2012 of Building Code which  requires solar panels to match the rating of fire of the roof in which they are installed

 This is to ensure that the module does not accelerate flame spread in the event of a fire. (California went a step further by requiring that all PV systems, including rack systems, have the same fire rating.)

Temperature

The temperature of the solar panel can affect its ability to produce energy

This output loss is reflected in the temperature coefficient, which is a measure of the panel's power output decrease for every 1°C rise above 25°C (77°F)

The temperature coefficient of monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels ranges from -0.3%/°C to -0.5%/°C, while thin-film panels are close to -0.2%/°C.

This means that thinner panels can be a good choice for warmer environments or places that get more sunlight year-round

So solar panels now have the same classification as roofs

class C

Effective for light fire test exposure

Flame spread must not exceed 13 fee

class A

Effective for severe fire test exposure

Flame spread must not exceed 6 feet

Required for wasteland-city interface areas or areas with high fire severity and wildfire risk

class B

Effective for medium fire test exposure

Flame spread must not exceed 8 feet

I hope the article was useful, and thank you very much

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