If you are considering moving towards solar power energy, there may be several concerns, especially about the equipment used, its features, maintenance, and benefits. A solar cell panel is one of the most critical components of a solar PV system. A PV panel, as it’s also called, captures the sunlight, and changes it into electricity, which is then later fed to the grid or appliances.
As we focus on solar cell panels and their types in the article, let’s try to understand them more deeply.
What is a Solar Cell Panel?
It’s a collection of solar or photovoltaic cells that generate electricity through the photovoltaic (PV) effect. The PV effect is the process by which light is converted into voltage or electric current in semiconductors such as silicon.
The solar cells are arranged in the form of a grid over the solar cell panel. The PV cells comprise layers of silicon, a semiconductor, boron carrying a positive charge, and phosphorous with a negative charge. The sunlight is also made of tiny particles called photons.
When the photons react with the silicon of the solar cell panels, they remove their electrons, starting a DC electric current. This is how energy is generated in a solar power system.
Types of Solar Cell Panels
Based on the usage, efficiency, and solar cell type, there are four broad categories of solar cell panels:
• Monocrystalline solar panels
• Polycrystalline solar panels
• Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact cells (PERC) solar panels
- Monocrystalline Solar Cell Panels
It’s also called single-crystal panels, which are made of a single silicon crystal broken into small cells. The cells have the shape of an octagonal wafer. The monocrystalline solar cell panels can be easily identified due to their black or dark blue color, which is because of the usage of pure silicon.
In addition, there is a Half-Cut cell technology within the monocrystalline solar panels. As part of it, the square-shaped cells are cut into half to form double the number of cells initially present. So, the upper half is connected in a series, and the bottom half is linked in another. This arrangement of solar cell panels allows the continuous generation of electricity.
Benefits:
- Higher conversion efficiency means more kW/hour of electricity.
- Higher heat resistance.
- Polycrystalline Solar Cell Panels
It’s made of several silicon crystals. The silicon fragments are melted into square moulds that are sliced into thin wafers. These wafers are put together to form polycrystalline solar cell panels.
Benefits
- More affordable due to easy manufacturing and low silicon content.
- Low wastage.
- Better durability and longevity.
- PERC Solar Cell Panels
It makes use of advanced technology and ensures that no sunlight is wasted. A layer is added to the back side of the solar cell panel, which absorbs the remaining part of the light. This feature makes the PERC solar cell panels more efficient.
Nowadays, a combination of PERC and monocrystalline panels, known as mono PERC solar panels, are being used for higher efficiency.
Benefits
- Increased efficiency due to more absorption of sunlight.
- Great for smaller roofs.
- Performs well in low-light and high-heat situations.
These are the many types of solar cell panels currently available in the market. You can look at them for domestic or commercial usage based on factors like efficiency, high-heat performance, available space, sunlight exposure, and others.
You may factor in all these but remember to never compromise on the manufacturer. Remember to choose brands like Luminous for the purchase. They are the leading brand in the power backup industry, offering top-notch solar products. Visit their website today to learn more!
