Silicon Vs Thin Film Efficiency Solar Panel

Thin film solar panels have the lowest cost out of the three solar panel types because of their low performance.

Silicon vs thin film efficiency solar panel.

Quite often we re asked about the advantages of monocrystalline panels and polycrystalline solar modules over their amorphous thin film counterparts. These lightweight durable solar modules can be made in several different ways and with many unique materials. Amorphous cadmium telluride cdte copper gallium indium diselenide cigs and organic solar panels. Types of thin film solar panels.

In all our grid connect packages we only use good quality poly or monocrystalline panels except in very specific circumstances for the. There is a competitive price advantage of thin film modules over crystalline silicon pv modules. Thin film solar panels even in the form of scrap crystalline silicon wafers are not exactly inexpensive based on the efficiency levels they achieve. Thin film modules are primarily composed of a rare metal called tellurium that can absorb solar rays better than silicon crystalline modules which is a factor in the price gap between the two technologies.

Because thin film panels are made of much thinner layers of silicon their efficiency 6 12 is typically lower than the rigid monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels as the thin layer cannot absorb as much of the light. When it comes to performance efficiency thin film solar cells are rated between 7 to 13 while manufacturers promise that upcoming models will have a performance efficiency of up to 16. Thin film pv is quite popular especially in the u s. Small layers of semi conductive material are coated over a more durable material such as metal or plastic and then covered by a transparent weatherproofed layer.

Where the residential sector accounts for 20 of all photovoltaic module shipments. Some estimates say crystalline panels may well produce useful levels of electricity for up to 50 years. Particularly in home solar power grid connect systems and how they affect the life of a solar panel. Despite the fact that the global thin film module production capacity have increased significantly since 2007 the price of crystalline silicon modules have sharply decreased.

Enter thin film solar cells which are. Thin film is similar but that s after a 20 initial loss that happens the first time it s exposed to the sun. C si cells only lose about 1 in power output each year. Thin film solar panels are made with electricity producing layers hundreds of times thinner than those in traditional silicon panels.

They are also easier to install than crystalline silicon panels which drops their price even lower.