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Solar Panel Technologies: Which One Produces The Best Output For Your Home?

Posted on June 15, 2021

Solar Panel Technologies: Which One Produces The Best Output For Your Home?

Solar panels are here to stay. The decades-old technology continues to see huge development. In addition, each iteration takes the technology to the next affordable level. 

The world is looking at solar panels as the best alternative to coal-fueled technology. Three of the world’s biggest countries have adopted solar and use it to offset traditional power consumption. China and the United States lead the world in solar power generation. 

China remains one of the world’s biggest solar technology innovators because it needs to reduce its air toxicity levels. Coal power production is a major contributor to its air pollution.

Therefore, you can be sure the increasing drive in solar tech advancements will reduce solar panel development costs in Littleton, CO. However, you can save up much more on energy bills if you know the best solar technologies and brands that suit your roof.

8M Solar has an excellent post about the various solar panel technologies existing today that you can use to your advantage. Read more about it below.

Monocrystalline Solar Panels

Monocrystalline solar panels are the oldest type of solar panel and the most developed. These monocrystalline solar panels are made from about 40 of the monocrystalline solar cells. These solar cells are made from pure silicon. In the manufacturing process (called the Czochralski method), a silicon crystal is placed in a vat of molten silicon. The crystal is then pulled up out of the vat very slowly, allowing for the molten silicon to form a solid crystal shell around it called an ingot. The ingot is then sliced thinly into silicon wafers. The wafer is made into the cell, and then the cells are assembled together to form a solar panel.

Monocrystalline solar cells appear black because of the way sunlights interacts with pure silicon. While the cells are black, there’s a variety of colors and designs for the back sheets and frames. The monocrystalline cells are shaped like a square with the corners removed, so there are small gaps between the cells.

Polycrystalline Solar Panels

Polycrystalline solar panels are a newer development, but they are rising quickly in popularity and efficiency. Just like monocrystalline solar panels, polycrystalline cells are made from silicon. But polycrystalline cells are made from fragments of the silicon crystal melted together. During the manufacturing process, the silicon crystal is placed in a vat of molten silicon. Instead of pulling it out slowly, this crystal is allowed to fragment and then cool. Then once the new crystal is cooled in its mold, the fragmented silicon is thinly sliced into polycrystalline solar wafers. These wafers are assembled together to form a polycrystalline panel.

Polycrystalline cells are blue in color because of the way sunlight reflects on the crystals. Sunlight reflects off of silicon fragments differently than it does with a pure silicon cell. Usually the back frames and frames are silver with polycrystalline, but there can be variation. The shape of the cell is a square, and there are no gaps between corners of cells.

Thin-Film Solar Panels (Continued)

You can always count on us at Roper Roofing & Solar to provide you with the best solar installation services in Littleton, CO. Contact us today to learn more about everything we can do for you.