Solar Monocrystalline Vs Polycrystalline

Monocrystalline solar panels remained the number one seller in the industry for many decades yet that s no longer the case.

Solar monocrystalline vs polycrystalline.

Polycrystalline solar panels are also made from silicon. Thin film technology costs less than mono or poly panels but is also less efficient. In recent years polycrystalline silicon solar panels have surpassed monocrystalline to become the highest selling type of solar panel for residential projects. In fact both polycrystalline and monocrystalline solar panels serve the purpose well by producing the required amount of electricity for your home.

Monocrystalline solar cells are more efficient because they are cut from a single source of silicon. The monocrystalline panels typically have an efficiency of between 18 22 while polycrystalline panels achieve between 15 17 efficiency. Polycrystalline solar panels generally have lower efficiencies than monocrystalline options but their advantage is a lower price point. In addition polycrystalline solar panels tend to have a blue hue instead of the black hue of monocrystalline panels.

Monocrystalline panels are more efficient than polycrystalline modules with the top of the range sunpower panels achieving 22 efficiency. In other words you would need less monocrystalline solar panels in your solar power system to generate the same amount of power that say a greater number of polycrystalline solar panels would. However there are certain differences that relate to the types of technology used for the manufacturing of these panels. In addition when you seek polycrystalline solar panels for sale the sellers may highlight the blue hue of these panels compared to the monocrystalline panels black hue.