3 Kinds of Solar Panels For A Solar Home
Silicon Monocrystalline Solar Panels
Silicon monocrystalline solar panels are the oldest among the three kinds of solar panels. These panels are made up of 36 slices of silicon connected in series. The panels are mounted in a rigid frame to protect the silicon crystals, which are brittle and can be easily damaged.
The production of the silicon monocrystalline solar panels require large amounts of energy. Add to that the high cost of pure silicon crystals, it is not surprising that these solar panels are quite expensive.
Silicon Polycrystalline Solar Panels
Silicon polycrystalline solar panels are a modified version of the technology used to created silicon monocrystalline solar panels. Silicon polycrystalline solar panels are made slightly flexible and much stronge than silicon monocrystalline solar panels. The polycrystalline panels are also less expensivce than the monocrystalline panels because less energy is required in making the silicon polcrystalline solar panels.
Thin Film Triple Junction Solar Panels
The thin film triple junction solar panels uses three thin layers of silicon semiconductor on a thin backing, hence the name. These solar panels are therefore flexible and durable. Thin film triple junction solar panels also requires the least amount of energy and materials to be produced.
The thin film triple junction solar panels are less efficient than the two silicon monocrystalline and silicon polycrystalline panels, however. But they are less affected by clouds or shadows and can outperform the two other panels in a northern climate.
