Different types of Solar Panels

Let’s talk about the basic types of solar panels and how they’re used.

  • Monocrystalline silicon (mono-silicon or single silicon)

    monocyrstalline-silicon-solar-panels-3

    At present, these are the most efficient type of solar panels. In other words, when sunlight hits these panel types, more of it turns into electricity than the other types below. Due to their high silicon content, they are also more expensive, but you need fewer of them ! That’s why they’re ideal for roofs. You can tell if you have a monocrystalline solar panel by its square-ish cells.

  • Polycrystalline silicon (multicrystalline, multi-silicon, ribbon)

    polycrystalline-silicon-solar-panels

    “Poly” panels have lower silicon levels than “mono” panels. In general, that makes them less expensive to produce, but they’re also slightly less efficient. The good news is that their overall construction design can often make up for the efficiency loss, so they’re also good for roofs. You can tell poly-silicon panels by their groovy mélange of silicon woven through thin rectangular conduit wires.

  • Thin film (amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, copper indium gallium (di)selenide)

    Everyone talks about “thin film” because it is really inexpensive to make and are aesthetically pleasing, however the technology is very inefficient currently, which means you’ll see them in big solar farm projects with a lot of land, but not on your roof.

  • BIPV (building integrated photovoltaics)

    solar-shingles

    BIPV’s can look like real roofing tiles (solar shingles are an example). That’s nice, but good looks do cost a lot more. Second, they are significantly less efficient than conventional PV, which means you need a sunny spacious roof to make a dent in your electricity bill. Finally, they may not last as long as regular panels. Solar Communities do not provide this technology currently.

  • Solar hot water (thermal) panels

    solar-thermal-hot-water-collector

    Finally, there’s another type of panel that has nothing to do with electricity. Instead of using your central heating to heat your hot water tank, solar thermal panels produce hot water for your home and/or your swimming pool. Some systems can even provide heat and air conditioning too. Solar Communities currently does not offer solar thermal panels.

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