What are the 9 types of solar panel?

Nine primary types of solar panels include monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin film, transparent, Concentrator Photovoltaics (CPV), Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC), perovskite, solar tile, and solar thermal.

Each panel type possesses its unique set of advantages and disadvantages, making them more suitable for certain homes than others.

For a comprehensive overview, here’s an analysis of each panel’s performance concerning cost, efficiency, durability, and current availability for purchase.

Thin film solar panels

Thin film solar panels are crafted by layering multiple thin films of photovoltaic material—such as amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, copper indium gallium selenide, or organic PV cells—on top of each other.

With an efficiency rating ranging from 7% to 13%, thin film panels exhibit lower efficiency compared to other solar panel types. Nevertheless, their primary advantage lies in their flexibility.

Ideal for homes with restricted roof space, these panels can be contoured around objects or suit mobile homes like recreational vehicles. While typically more budget-friendly than monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels, their pricing may fluctuate depending on local suppliers, given their less widespread availability.

Transparent solar panels

Transparent solar panels can be affixed onto glass surfaces, enabling the generation of solar energy while still permitting sunlight to pass through. There’s a vision for their integration into all windows, mobile phones, and greenhouses in the future.

While already accessible for household use, their relatively low efficiency and higher cost often render them less practical for individual homes. Instead, these panels find greater utility in commercial buildings, where the aggregate savings across numerous windows become more substantial.

Current models share similarities with thin film panels, but advancements involve the utilization of a transparent luminescent solar concentrator. This innovation allows for the absorption of light, particularly ultraviolet and infrared, invisible to humans. Some models on the market achieve up to 86% transparency, although the available versions typically fall within the range of 30% to 40%.

Concentrator Photovoltaics (CPV)

Concentrator Photovoltaics (CPV) involves the concentration of sunlight using curved mirrors or lenses, directing it onto small, highly efficient solar cells.

This process achieves intensities surpassing 1,000 suns, notably higher than the ideal scenario for an average household solar panel, which typically operates at an intensity of one sun.

CPV systems often incorporate solar trackers to optimize sunlight exposure throughout the day and cooling equipment to prevent overheating of the network.

Primarily situated in warm regions, CPV arrays are commonly found in countries such as Spain, South Africa, and the US. Typically owned by energy companies, these arrays sell the generated electricity to the national grid.

Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC)

Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC) is a technological enhancement applicable during the manufacturing process of any residential solar panel, providing an efficiency boost.

This system involves rendering the rear side of the solar panel, which faces the roof, reflective. This reflective surface redirects any unabsorbed light back through the cell, affording the front side another opportunity to absorb it. Additionally, the passivation layer is engineered to absorb less heat, resulting in reduced efficiency loss during high temperatures.

However, PERC’s prominence may be waning. Presently, the top-tier solar panels favor technologies such as heterojunction (HJT) or Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon). These advancements, building upon PERC, introduce additional features that significantly enhance a panel’s efficiency, rendering them more cost-effective for household use compared to PERC models.

Perovskite solar panels

Perovskite solar panels utilize perovskite, a synthetic material inspired by the crystal structure of a mineral bearing the same name.

This material is layered onto standard silicon, creating a tandem model. While silicon is proficient in absorbing the red end of the solar spectrum, perovskite excels in absorbing the blue part.

Remarkably, perovskite solar panels can achieve efficiencies of up to 33.7%, as demonstrated by a team of scientists in Saudi Arabia in May 2023 using a single perovskite-silicon cell. Simultaneously, in the same month, the British company Oxford PV announced that its full-sized panel had achieved an efficiency of 28.6%. Oxford PV plans to commence production of these groundbreaking panels for residential customers by the end of 2023.

Solar tile

Solar tiles operate by absorbing sunlight and converting it into electricity, akin to other solar technologies. Notably, these tiles are designed to resemble conventional roof tiles, seamlessly integrating with your roof. However, it’s essential to note that their installation involves replacing the entire roof.

While the aesthetics of solar roof tiles align with the existing roof, the limited market for these tiles and the associated roof replacement drive up costs compared to traditional solar panels. Additionally, solar roof tiles exhibit approximately 40% less efficiency than standard solar panels, resulting in comparatively lower annual savings.

Considering these factors, opting for solar tiles is advisable if you have the financial means, prefer their appearance over solar panels, or reside in a conservation area or listed building.

Solar thermal panels

Solar thermal panels harness the energy from the sun’s rays to warm your household’s hot water, focusing on heating rather than generating electricity.

Also known as solar water heaters, these panels cut a typical household’s heating bills by 50%, making them an important part of one of the cheapest ways to heat your home.

Constructed with either flat plate panels or evacuated tube collectors, these systems gather heat from the sun, warming a blend of glycol and water. This heated mixture circulates to the heat exchanger located within your hot water tank, transferring its warmth to your water supply.

These systems are straightforward to install and can be integrated with boilers and immersion heaters, although they are not a standalone solution.

Next steps

In the realm of residential solar panels, homeowners have the option of selecting from polycrystalline, monocrystalline, and thin-film varieties. The most suitable type for you will hinge entirely on your priorities.

Looking for a streamlined method to discover the ideal set of solar panels for your home? We can expedite this process.

Simply input a few details into this brief form, and allow us to take charge. We will connect you with our trustworthy local installers, who will furnish you with prices for comparison.