Properties Of Poly Solar Panel

Polycrystalline Silicon Solar Cells

Polycrystalline silicon, also known as polysilicon (p-Si) and multi-crystalline (mc-Si), started appearing on the market in 1981. Somewhere around 45% of today’s solar panels are made of this type of silicon. Polycrystalline silicon is not made with the Czochralski process as its precursor is. Instead, raw silicon is melted and poured into a square mold, which when cooled can be cut into perfectly square wafers.

Advantages

1: The process we use to make polycrystalline silicon (described above) is simpler and cost less. Since the wafers already are square, there is also less waste than with monocrystalline. Therefore, polycrystalline solar panels cost less.

2: Polycrystalline solar panels have higher heat tolerance than those made of monocrystalline silicon. Temperatures affect performance of a solar panel and can also reduce its lifetime. However, most monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels come with a the same warrant of 25 years these days.

3: Tend to perform better than mono crystalline at high temperatures.

Disadvantages

1: Solar panels made of polycrystalline silicon are not as efficient as mono crystalline silicon since the silicon is less pure. Lower heat tolerance also contributes negatively on the efficiency rates. 

2: However, the technology is constantly improving. Polycrystalline silicon panels are getting closer to the efficiency rates of mono crystalline silicon.

3: Therefore, you need to cover a larger surface to output the same electrical power as you would with a solar panel made of monocrystalline silicon.

4: Some people think that monocrystalline and thin film solar panels looks better since they have a uniform color compared to the speckled blue aspect of polycrystalline silicon.

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