Solar panel technology has advanced tremendously in recent years, and a variety of unique solar panels are now available on the market. When evaluating your solar panel options for your PV system, you’ll see that there are two types of panels: monocrystalline solar panels and polycrystalline solar panels. Both of these alternatives are traditional and have been in use for decades.
What is a Monocrystalline Solar panel?
Monocrystalline panels are positioned as a rather premium solar product when looking for them for sale. To persuade buyers, monocrystalline solar panel manufacturers emphasize the panel’s superior aesthetics as well as efficiency.
Silicon wafers are used to make solar cells for monocrystalline panels. Because it uses single-crystal silicon, the panel is called “mono.” Because the cell is made up of a single crystal, the electrons have more room to move, allowing for improved electricity flow. This is why monocrystalline solar panels are more efficient than polycrystalline solar panels.
What is a Polycrystalline Solar Panel?
Polycrystalline solar panels have a lesser efficiency than monocrystalline solar panels, but they are more cheap for customers. Furthermore, when looking for polycrystalline solar panels for sale, vendors may emphasize the blue color of these panels vs the black color of monocrystalline panels.
Although single-crystal silicon is used in polycrystalline solar panels, single-crystal silicon is not used. The wafers for polycrystalline solar panels are made by melting together numerous silicon pieces. They are known as “poly” or “multi crystalline” as a result of this. Because each cell contains several crystals, electrons will have less space to move.
Choosing Between Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline Solar Panels
There are lot of factors to look at when choosing what fits you best. You do not only need to look at the pros of each type but also the cons. Here are some factors you could use.
- Efficiency
Monocrystalline solar panels have a high efficiency rate, which is one of its main advantages.
These items are composed of high-quality silicone with a single-crystal structure. As a result, electricity flows through these cells with little resistance. Polycrystalline solar panels, on the other hand, have several advantages, including a lower price, but their efficiency is lower due to poorer silicon purity. - Price
In comparison to polycrystalline solar panels for sale, monocrystalline solar panels will be more expensive. To select the best decision for you, you should conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis and set your budget. - Lifespan
When comparing the initial installation prices of monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels, it’s also important to consider the average lifespan of each. Monocrystalline solar panel manufacturers typically provide a 25-year warranty due to the product’s extended lifespan. Polycrystalline solar panels have similar lifespans to monocrystalline solar panels, however the manufacturers’ warranty periods may differ.
It becomes easy to make your decision once you’ve evaluated the advantages of monocrystalline solar panels over polycrystalline solar panels. But don’t just consider the advantages; consider the disadvantages of monocrystalline versus polycrystalline solar panels objectively.