Monocrystalline solar panels are made of monocrystalline silicon. Their characteristic look is a dark color and rounded edges. They are very efficient due to the silicon’s purity. This is why their efficiency rate can reach above 20%.
Monocrystalline silicon makes them more durable when it comes to high temperatures. They also have a high power output. However, that makes them more expensive.
Polycrystalline solar panels have a distinctive look. Solar panels with squares and uncut angles, mostly blue. Their production is somewhat faster and cheaper because it is done by melting raw silicon.
They are cheaper but have a slightly lower efficiency rate that goes about 15%. They are not so durable when exposed to hot temperatures for a longer period of time.
However, the difference between them and monocrystalline panels is not that drastic. Monocrystalline panels do come with a bit of higher space efficiency, but when it comes to power outputs, they are fairly similar.
Each type of solar panel varies in the amount of power it can produce.
Monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels
Of all panel types, monocrystalline typically have the highest efficiencies and power capacity. Most monocrystalline solar panels often reach efficiencies higher than 20 percent, while polycrystalline solar panels usually have efficiencies between 15 to 17 percent.
Monocrystalline solar panels tend to generate more power than other types of panels not only because of their efficiency but because they have come in higher wattage modules as well. Many monocrystalline solar panels come with more than 300 watts (W) of power capacity, some reaching more than 350 W. Polycrystalline solar panels, on the other hand, tend to have lower wattages.
This doesn’t mean that monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels aren’t physically the same size - in fact, both types of solar panels tend to come with 60 silicon cells each, with 72 or 96 cell variants (usually for large-scale installations). But even with the same number of cells, monocrystalline panels are capable of producing more electricity.
Thin-film solar panels
Thin-film solar panels tend to have lower efficiencies and power capacities than monocrystalline or polycrystalline varieties. Efficiencies will vary based on the specific material used in the cells, but they usually have efficiencies closer to 11 percent.
Unlike monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels that come in standardized 60, 72 and 96 cell variants, thin-film technology does not come in uniform sizes. As such, the power capacity from one thin-film panel to another to another will largely depend on its physical size. Generally speaking, the power capacity per square foot of monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar panel will exceed thin-film panel technology.
The manufacturing processes differ between monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film; as such, each type of panel comes with a different price tag.
($$$)Monocrystalline solar panels
Of all types of solar panels, monocrystalline panels are likely to be the most expensive option. This is largely due to the manufacturing process - because the solar cells are made from a single silicon crystal, manufacturers have to absorb the costs of creating these crystals. This process, known as the Czochralski process, is energy intensive and results in wasted silicon (that can later be used to manufacture polycrystalline solar cells).
($$)Polycrystalline solar panels
Polycrystalline solar panels are typically cheaper than monocrystalline solar panels. This is because the cells are produced from silicon fragments rather than a single, pure silicon crystal. This allows for a much simpler cell manufacturing process, thus costing less for manufacturers and eventually end users.
($)Thin-film solar panels
What you pay for thin-film solar panels will largely depend on the type of thin-film panel; CdTe is generally the cheapest type of solar panel to manufacture, while CIGS solar panels are much more expensive to produce than both CdTe or amorphous silicon.
Regardless of the cost of the panel themselves, the overall cost of a thin-film solar panel installation may be lower than installing a monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar panel system due to additional labor requirements. Thin-film solar panel installations are less labor-intensive because they are lighter weight and more maneuverable, making it easier for installers to carry panels up onto rooftops and secure them in place. This means reduced labor costs, which can help contribute to an overall less expensive solar installation.
Type of panel best for your installation
As you’re choosing the type of solar panel you’d like for your system, much of your decision will come down to the specifics of your property and situation. Monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film panels each have their own advantages and disadvantages, and the solution you should move forward with depends on your property and your goals for the solar project.
Property owners with a lot of space for solar panels can save money upfront by installing lower efficiency, lower-cost polycrystalline panels. If you have limited space available and are looking to maximize your electric bill savings, you can do so by installing high-efficiency, monocrystalline solar panels.
As far as thin-film panels go, it’s most common to choose this type of solar panel if you’re installing on a large, commercial roof that cannot handle the additional weight of traditional solar equipment. These types of roofs can also afford the lower efficiencies of thin-film panels because they have more area to place them on. Additionally, thin-film panels can sometimes be a useful solution for portable solar systems, like on RVs or boats.