In addition when you seek polycrystalline solar panels for sale the sellers may highlight the blue hue of these panels compared to the monocrystalline panels black hue.
Monocrystalline vs polycrystalline solar.
Monocrystalline solar panels remained the number one seller in the industry for many decades yet that s no longer the case.
In fact both polycrystalline and monocrystalline solar panels serve the purpose well by producing the required amount of electricity for your home.
Monocrystalline solar cells are more efficient because they are cut from a single source of silicon.
Polycrystalline solar panels generally have lower efficiencies than monocrystalline options but their advantage is a lower price point.
However there are certain differences that relate to the types of technology used for the manufacturing of these panels.
Polycrystalline solar panels are also made from silicon.
Manufacturers use silicon in making solar panels.
The key difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels is that comparatively the monocrystalline solar panels are black in color and are more efficient and durable whereas polycrystalline solar panels are blue in color and are less efficient and less durable.
So monocrystalline solar panels will usually have a higher power output rating than either polycrystalline or thin film modules.
In recent years polycrystalline silicon solar panels have surpassed monocrystalline to become the highest selling type of solar panel for residential projects.
The monocrystalline panels typically have an efficiency of between 18 22 while polycrystalline panels achieve between 15 17 efficiency.
Monocrystalline panels are more efficient than polycrystalline modules with the top of the range sunpower panels achieving 22 efficiency.
The efficiency of polycrystalline solar panels is somewhat lower but the benefit for customers is that this option is more affordable.
In other words you would need less monocrystalline solar panels in your solar power system to generate the same amount of power that say a greater number of polycrystalline solar panels would.
Thin film technology costs less than mono or poly panels but is also less efficient.