Types of Solar Panel

The first practical photovoltaic cell was developed in 1954. For many years, solar power was an expensive and relatively underdeveloped source of energy, with a highly niche market. As technology has progressed, solar power has developed to become a highly competitive mainstream energy source.

Over the years, different techniques have been developed to harness the sun’s powerful rays and convert it into usable energy. In today’s solar energy sector, there are nine main types of solar panels available, or in the pipeline.

Types of Solar Panels Compared

Each type of solar panel offers its own unique characteristics. Discover the facts about each type here.

Monocrystalline Solar Panels – High Efficiency for Homes and Businesses

• Lifespan 25-40 years.
• Efficiency 18-24%.
• Most common solar panel in UK homes currently.
• Made from a single, continuous crystal structure of silicon, which is melted into bars, cut into wafers and treated with anti-reflective coating to improve efficiency.
• Dark colour, sleek, modern design.
• Highly efficient, capturing more sunlight than other types like polycrystalline.
• More expensive than other options.
• Break even around 14.1 years.

Polycrystalline Solar Panels – Affordable Solar Panels

• Lifespan 25-30 years.
• Efficiency rating 13-16%.
• Made by melting multiple silicon crystals and pouring them into a square mould, creating a mosaic appearance.
  One-third less efficient than monocrystalline panels, meaning more panels are required to achieve the same power output.
• Cheaper than other types of solar panels.
• Slightly more eco-friendly.
• Less appealing aesthetically.

Thin Film Solar Panels – Lightweight and Flexible

• Lifespan 10-20 years.
• Efficiency rating 7-13%.
• Created by placing several thin layers of photovoltaic material on top of each other.
• Extremely flexible and can be wrapped objects making them ideal for buildings with limited or no roof space.
• Much lower efficiency than other types.
• Variable price as they are a newer technology, although they are often cheaper than monocrystalline and polycrystalline.
• Perfect for mobile homes, sheds and other structures.

Bifacial Solar Panels – Double Output

• Lifespan 25-30 years.
• Efficiency 22-28%.
• Made with monocrystalline PERC cells, framed with glass on both sides. The front side captures direct sunlight, the back captures reflected light.
• High combined efficiency from both sides.

Transparent Solar Panels

• Lifespan 25-30 years.
• Efficiency 1-10%.
• Can be placed on top of glass to generate energy while letting light into a building.
• Technology is developing meaning efficiency will improve.
• Used on large commercial buildings with multiple windows.
• Expensive to install and limited savings on energy costs.
• Will be rolled out widely as the efficiency improves.

Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIV) – Design with Efficiency

• Lifespan 25 – 30 years.
• Efficiency 10-20%.
• Solar generating materials that are seamlessly built into the structure of a building, for example, roof tiles.
• Often crystalline silicon or thin film.
• Enhanced aesthetics.
• Higher cost and complex installation.

Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell (PERC) Technology

• Lifespan 25 – 35 years.
• Efficiency 17-20%.
• Rear cell technology involves adding a reflective layer to the rear side of existing solar panels to improve efficiency.
• A passivator layer is added to reduce heat so the solar panels lose less efficiency in high temperatures.
• Very popular technology that is slowly being replaced by newer solar panel solutions.
• Cheaper than top-tier panels.

Perovskite Solar Panel Technology

• Lifespan 25-30 years.
• Efficiency 28.6-33.7%.
• Made using perovskite which is a synthetic material which is layered on top of silicon.
• Higher efficiency than any solar panel on the market.
• The same size as monocrystalline panels.
• Emerging technology not currently available.

Concentrated Photovoltaic (CPV) Panels – Supercharged Solar Power

• Lifespan 25-35 years.
• Efficiency 35-50%.
• Utilises a process where sunlight is concentrated with curved mirrors or lenses, and directed onto small, super-efficient solar cells.
• Multiplies solar intensity by 1000.
• Typically used with solar trackers to optimise daily sunlight.
• Generate solar energy with very little light.
• Very expensive, only bought by energy companies.

Commercial Solar Panels

With energy anxiety increasing, more companies are installing solar panels to cut costs, reduce their carbon footprint and improve energy reliability. Commercial solar panels are photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on commercial properties like warehouse roofs. They are typically larger in size with a higher output than residential panels.

Integrating Solar Panels with BESS

When paired with a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS), excess solar energy can be stored and discharged during periods of peak demand. This reduces power fluctuations, making solar power more reliable, flexible, and cost-effective.
Using an intelligent management system optimises solar power and battery energy storage, using real-time data to decide when to charge or discharge the battery based on electricity rates at different times of the day and energy demands.

Integrating Solar Panels with EV Charging

For environmentally friendly transport, EV chargers can also be integrated within a solar panel installation. A solar inverter converts DC energy to AC energy which can be used to power an EV charger. This can also be connected to battery energy storage systems to capitalise further on renewable energy generated by solar panels.

From high efficiency monocrystalline to building integrated photovoltaics, the market for solar panels is constantly evolving.

Why not contact Vital Power to discuss your power needs?