The most important part of a solar-power generator is the sunlight receptor called electric solar panels. Being exposed to the extreme condition – full sun and cold season – they should have high durability and lightweight suitable for roof installation. Most of the home solar panels have lifespan more than 20 years with only a small drop in efficiency. You will be surprised seeing some old designed solar panels are still working until today without serious problems.
The main substance in most of home electric solar panels is a semiconductor named ‘silicon’. However you may find other types of semiconductor such as CGIS (copper indium gallium diselenide) and CdTe (cadmium telluride) in the form of thin film.
Also known as ‘photovoltaic panels’, electric solar panels can be found in the form of Crystalline Solar Panels and thin film.
Crystalline Solar Panels
Crystalline Solar Panels are divided into two groups, monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Monocrystalline panels have a patchwork-like pattern on a large-single silicon crystal. On the other hand polycrystalline panels consist of many tiny silicon crystals in a certain geometric pattern. In term of efficiency monocrystalline panel is superior to polycrystalline panel but the price is more expensive. Generally crystalline solar panels have an efficiency range between 11 to 20 percent. It is still far away from our expectation but they have been the best in the market so far for home-solar electricity application.
Thin Film Solar Panels
Thin film silicon solar panels cost less than crystalline panels but the efficiency is also inferior to the crystalline panels. Due to their low efficiency (around 6 to 10 percent only) they will occupy bigger area to create the same amount of electricity as crystalline solar panels. The only benefit of thin film solar panels is their flexibility.
Solar Roof Shingles
Solar roof shingles – a.k.a. Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) –are another form of the thin film solar panels. They are more expensive than the conventional crystalline solar panels and have inferior efficiency but win some people’s hearts because they can be blended perfectly into the roof and act like roofing shingles. Aesthetically they are the best looking solar panels for home application.
If you are looking for the most efficient electric solar panels, go for monorystalline panels but when aesthetic becomes your first priority you may choose the BIPV panels.
SolarCost.org
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