Solar panels are a good addition to most homes. Solar panels are not only better for the environment than regular electricity, they also reduce your energy bills.
Installing solar panels in your home is one way to reduce your home’s carbon footprint. Before you leap, you need to decide which solar panel is right for you.
You can choose from four different types of solar panels to suit your needs. Each has its pros and cons.
Monocrystalline
Monocrystalline solar panels are one of the most efficient panels for home use. The panels are made by cutting specially grown silicon into octagonal cells. Octagonal cells are used to maximize efficiency and space. Also, they can withstand heat, so they are used in hotter environments.
These panels are more effective, but that efficiency is at a price. The price per watt is usually higher than thin-film or polycrystalline panels. These panels are great if your space is limited, you need a large amount of power, or you can afford to pay a higher price.
Monocrystalline panels have an average efficiency between 15 and 24 percent. They cost between $1.50 and $1.50 a watt.
The monocrystalline panels are less eco-friendly than other types of solar panels. However, they are still superior to traditional electricity. The silicon used to make the panels is made specifically for them, and the panels have to be cut down to size. This leads to a large amount of waste.
The monocrystalline solar panels have a lifespan of 25-30 years, similar to other residential solar panels.
Polycrystalline
They are similar to monocrystallines, but they also have some key differences. First, they use silicon. Polycrystalline panels melt scraps of silicon together to make a cell. Monocrystalline panels require silicon to be grown for each cell.
The cost of panels will be lower because the silicon is cheaper. The efficiency of the solar cell will decrease if it is not made from a single silicon piece. They are ideal for those who want solar energy but don’t have a lot of cash to spend or space.
Polycrystalline panels can last between 25 and 30 years. They are between 13%-16% efficient on average. They are often priced below one dollar per watt.
PERC
Technically, PERC solar panels (Passivated Emitter & Rear Contact) are a monocrystalline type. These panels can also be polycrystalline. It is said that they have a higher theoretical and actual efficiency. This could make them the panels of choice in the future. They already make up 60% of solar panels.
They are currently the most efficient solar panels for residential use. They are the most efficient option if space is limited or you need to generate a large amount of energy. These panels are slightly more costly than monocrystalline ones. They aren’t solar panels themselves but rather an additional layer on normal solar panels.
It isn’t easy to estimate the price per watt of PERC panels because they are merely a subset of monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels. It is a good idea to assume that the price per watt will be high, regardless of which crystalline type you select. Monocrystalline panels will cost around $1.50, and polycrystalline will cost panels closer to $1. They are typically efficient between 22% and 25%.
PERC solar panels can be installed by most installers, even though they are made with different materials and methods. These solar panels have a lifespan of 25-30 years.
Since the late 80s, they have been used in the industry but have only recently become popular due to the power degradation that occurs when oxygen and silica mix. This was a problem with all solar panels, particularly PERC cells. There are standard methods to reduce the effect.
Thin-Film
The thin-film panels are the most affordable of all solar panels for residential use. This also means, as you may have guessed, that their efficiency is pretty low. The efficiency ranges between 7% to 18%, with the majority being on the lower side. The cost per watt is usually less than $1, and the lifespan of these bulbs is only 10-20 years.
They are extremely thin, with a thickness of less than one micron. They are more affordable because they use fewer materials. It’s not the low price that makes them so popular.
They can be installed on roofs that are not standard shapes. This is important for solar panels. These panels are also useful for roofs on RVs and campervans, where height or weight is an issue. The panels are 100 times lighter than conventional solar panels. This means you can have more power for less weight if you’ve got the space.
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