As an increasing number of people opt to harness the sun’s energy to power their daily life, solar panel technology has dramatically improved over the years. A range of innovative solar panels are now either in the pipeline or already on the market. These potential technologies have changed our perceptions about energy production in general, not just solar. Today, solar energy no longer necessitates enormous plots of land or roof space.
When choosing solar panels for your photovoltaic system, there are three primary types of panels to consider: monocrystalline solar panels, polycrystalline solar panels, and thin-film solar panels. All the three types of panels produce energy from the sun, but they each have different features and characteristics. Read on to take a closer look at the polycrystalline solar panel.
What is a polycrystalline solar panel?
Polycrystalline solar panels, also known as multi-crystalline panels, are made from silicon, just like their monocrystalline counterpart. These solar panels are square in shape and they have a surface that looks like a mosaic. Since they are made up of several crystals of silicon, they have a shining blue hue. They are very popular among homeowners who are looking to install solar panels on a limited budget. Polycrystalline solar panels for home are available in 40 watts – 330 watts. Also, the output efficiency of polycrystalline solar panels is typically between 13-17 percent. The useful life of a these solar panels is generally assumed to be 25-40 years and they can transform your house a green power generating home!
Polycrystalline solar panel construction and performance
Polycrystalline solar panel are made up of several silicon fragments melted together to form the wafers for the panel. Instead of using a single crystal of silicon, however, polycrystalline manufacturers melt together many combined fragments of silicon to form a single PV cell. During the production process, the silicon crystal is placed in a vat of molten silicon. However, polycrystalline cells do not undergo the same cutting process as the monocrystalline cells. Instead, the crystal is allowed to fragment and cool on the panel itself. The shattered silicon is then thinly sliced into polycrystalline solar wafers after the fresh crystal has cooled in its mould. To make a polycrystalline panel, these wafers are assembled together.
Polycrystalline solar panels allow less mobility of electrons inside the cells because each cell has multiple silicon crystals. The sun’s energy is captured by these solar panels and converted into electricity.
Cost effectiveness of Polycrystalline solar panel
Polycrystalline solar panels are less expensive to manufacture than monocrystalline panels, allowing them to gain a major share of the residential installation. However, while they are still less expensive than monocrystalline panels, the difference in price is not very significant. Because of this, as well as its reduced performance, monocrystalline solar panels have become more popular over time. That said, if you’re on a tight budget, polycrystalline panels might be more affordable for you.
Temperature coefficiency of Polycrystalline solar panel
Polycrystalline solar panels have a lower degree of heat tolerance as compared to monocrystalline panels. So, they have low efficiency at higher temperatures. The acceptable maximum temperature of polycrystalline solar panels in which they work best is 85 °C while the acceptable minimum temperature is -40 °C.
Polycrystalline Solar Panel application areas
Polycrystalline panels are suitable for
- Roof-mounted arrays
- Large solar farms
- powering traffic signal systems for rural areas
To Wrap it up
| Parameters | Polycrystalline Solar Panels |
| Design | Made of multiple silicon cells |
| Cost of Panel | Moderate |
| Efficiency | Moderate |
| Performance | Low in cloudy weather |
| Temperature Coefficient | Low |
| Appearance | Looks Blu-ish in colour |
| Lifespan | Around 25 years |
| Power Output | Low, up to 340 Watts (mostly) |
| Rooftop Space Required | Occupies larger space |
| Cost | Relatively inexpensive |
Given that it is both socially responsible and economically viable, Polycrystalline solar panels are rising quickly in popularity and efficiency.
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