Difference Between Crystalline And Amorphous Solar Panels

Amorphous panels are in the 8 9 efficiency range.

Difference between crystalline and amorphous solar panels.

Like conventional solar panels amorphous solar panels are made from silicon but they are constructed in a different way. Crystalline panels do not perform as well in partial shading compared to amorphous cells and they do gradually lose a small percentage of output as the temperature rises above 25 c. Adding to your system in the future as mentioned the panels we use are some of the best in the solar industry proven long lasting produced in high quantities and will still available for. The difference between a 1kw system and a 1 3kw system may not sound like much but there s a huge difference in power output.

They can also withstand the summer heat where mono or polycrystalline panels lose efficiency in the same ambient temperatures. Crystalline panels need to be as perpendicular to the sun as possible to achieve the best performance. Thin film solar panels are completely different from monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels. Efficiency ratings are a calculation of the amount of power produced compared to the physical size of the panel.

Amorphous panels are also lighter in weight and more portable than monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels producing the same amount of energy. They are solid black without the normal silicon cell outlines you see on the face of a crystalline solar panel. Polycrystalline cells are generally 13 15 efficient. Amorphous is inherently less efficient than crystalline only being around 7 10 efficient at light conversion compared to a crystalline panel of the same size which has typically between 12 15 efficiency.

Instead of being constructed from solid silicon wafers like mono or poly crystalline solar panels amorphous panels are made by depositing non crystalline silicon on a substrate like glass plastic or metal. Amorphous panels can be made for much less than crystalline panels and it seems the industry is set up for self sabotage because they seem to want to do whatever it takes to make sure these amorphous panels stay high at ridiculous prices and or are impossible to get.