Difference Between Mono And Poly Solar Panels

Monocrystalline solar panels have solar cells made from a single crystal of silicon while polycrystalline solar panels have solar cells made from many silicon fragments melted together.

Difference between mono and poly solar panels. Quick facts monocrystalline solar cells are more efficient because they are cut from a single source of silicon. Both mono and poly panels are very similar in terms of performance with mono being a slightly superior panel in terms of efficiency. Thin film technology costs less than mono or poly panels but is also less efficient. The main difference between the two technologies is the type of silicon solar cell they use.

A solar panel consists of solar cells copper wire aluminum frame and coating but the efficiency of the solar cells determine the overall output of the solar panel and the solar power system which is made of solar panels. Polycrystalline acts as a cheaper alternative to this. Polycrystalline cells have a somewhat lower efficiency ranging from 10 to 14. Polycrystalline solar cells are blended from multiple silicon sources and are slightly less efficient.

This is primarily due to the fact that the four sides of each cell are cut resulting in large amounts of waste. Most solar panel manufacturers assemble solar panels from both mono and poly cells.