1. Monocrystalline solar panels
Monocrystalline silicon solar cells have a photoelectric conversion efficiency of around 18%, with the highest reaching 24%, which is the highest among all types of solar cells. However, their manufacturing cost is very high. Because monocrystalline silicon is generally encapsulated with tempered glass and waterproof resin, it is sturdy and durable, with a lifespan of up to 25 years. (As shown in the picture below, the four corners of the solar cells in a monocrystalline silicon panel are rounded!)
2. Polycrystalline solar panels
The manufacturing process for polycrystalline silicon solar cells is similar to that of monocrystalline silicon solar cells, but the photoelectric conversion efficiency of polycrystalline silicon solar cells is significantly lower, at around 16%. In terms of manufacturing cost, they are cheaper than monocrystalline silicon solar cells due to simpler material manufacturing, lower energy consumption, and lower overall production costs, thus leading to their widespread adoption. However, in terms of performance-price ratio, monocrystalline silicon solar cells are slightly better. (As shown in the image, polycrystalline cells do not have rounded corners, making them easily distinguishable from monocrystalline cells.)
3. Thin-film solar panels
Amorphous silicon solar cells, a new type of thin-film solar cell that emerged in 1976, are manufactured using methods completely different from those of monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon solar cells. The process is greatly simplified, requiring very little silicon material and resulting in lower power consumption. Its main advantage is its ability to generate electricity even in low-light conditions. However, the main problem with amorphous silicon solar cells is their relatively low photoelectric conversion efficiency, which is around 10% at the international advanced level, and it is also not very stable, with its conversion efficiency decreasing over time.
Let's look at the components: 1. Tempered glass, 2. EVA, 3. Battery cells, 4. EVA, 5. Backplate, 6. Aluminum alloy protective laminate, 7. Junction box, 8. Silicone. We'll discuss the specific functions of these components separately.
1. Monocrystalline solar panels
Monocrystalline solar panels have the same components, except that their cells are made of monocrystalline silicon. (Q: What is monocrystalline silicon? A: A single crystal of silicon. It is a crystal with a basically complete lattice structure. Different directions have different properties, making it a good semiconductor material. Purity requirements are 99.9999%, or even higher than 99.9999999%. It is used to manufacture semiconductor devices, solar cells, etc. It is produced by pulling high-purity polycrystalline silicon in a single-crystal furnace.) The advantage of monocrystalline silicon is its higher conversion efficiency compared to polycrystalline silicon, allowing it to generate more electricity in the same area! This reduces land rent and support costs. It also has slightly better performance (attenuation, etc.) than polycrystalline silicon, but its manufacturing cost is higher. Therefore, monocrystalline solar panels are more expensive than polycrystalline silicon solar panels!
2. Polycrystalline solar panels
Polycrystalline solar panels have the same composition and structure as monocrystalline panels, except that their cells are made of polycrystalline silicon. Since their introduction, polycrystalline solar panels have been very popular due to their low price and performance, which is not significantly different from monocrystalline panels. Furthermore, thanks to continuous technological innovation in recent years, the performance and conversion efficiency of polycrystalline silicon solar panels are now almost negligible compared to monocrystalline panels. However, the price difference is significant (before the "531 New Policy," the price difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels could be a few cents per watt). Therefore, polycrystalline silicon was more popular in the market. (However, after the "531 New Policy," due to the excessively high price and poor profitability of monocrystalline solar panels, their prices dropped considerably. As of November, the price difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels was not significant.)
3. Thin-film solar panels
Thin-film solar panels are still more expensive than silicon crystal solar panels. They also don't have an advantage in conversion efficiency, but they are superior to monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels in terms of low-light performance and sunlight blocking. They are more suitable for areas with poor geographical conditions and persistent shade.
In summary: If there are no specific requirements regarding the type of solar panel, then monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels are more cost-effective! If space is limited and you want to install more capacity, choose monocrystalline! If you have poor lighting, are constantly shaded, and are not particularly focused on investment returns, choose thin-film solar panels!
