Mono Crystalline Solar Panels Are More Efficient Than Polycrystalline Panels

The polycrystalline solar panels are also made from silicon.

Mono crystalline solar panels are more efficient than polycrystalline panels.

Performance suffers somewhat as temperature goes up but less so than with polycrystalline solar panels. Polycrystalline silicon p si panels on the other hand are made of wafers from various silicon fragments melted together. Also polycrystalline solar panels tend to have a blue hue instead of the black hue of monocrystalline panels. Thin film technology costs less than mono or poly panels but is also less efficient.

Because monocrystalline solar cells are made from purer grade silicon they lay claim to the most efficient solar panels on the planet at 24 1 efficiency. As a result monocrystalline panels are more efficient than their polycrystalline counterparts. Each panel and its manufacturer should be considered on a case by case basis. The blanket statement that monocrystalline panels are better than polycrystalline cells however is not accurate.

It is mainly used in large scale commercial applications. To make my point let s compare the specs of 2 similarly priced good quality solar panels that are available in australia in 2019 one polycrystalline and one monocrystalline. They are more efficient than polycrystalline cells and can be smaller in size for the same output. Monocrystalline solar panels tend to be more efficient in warm weather.

Monocrystalline solar cells have historically had a higher peak efficiency and were more readily available than polysilicon solar cells. Polycrystalline solar cells are blended from multiple silicon sources and are slightly less efficient. Moreover they need relatively less space as compared to any solar panels monocrystalline solar panels can generate up to four times more electricity than thin film solar panels. Mono cells are also found in ridged panels.

Since they are monocrystalline and perform better in heat these panels are projected to have the longest life. Polycrystalline solar panels generally have lower efficiencies than monocrystalline options but their advantage is a lower price point. They normally have a 335w output for a 72 cell panel. Polycrystalline solar panels generally have lower efficiencies than monocrystalline options but their advantage is a lower price point.

Crystalline panels need to be as perpendicular to the sun as possible to achieve the best performance. However when we turn away from premium ultra efficient panels and look at more standard offerings the efficiency of mono and poly panels are actually quite similar. Instead of black they come in a blue finish with perfectly square wafers making them quick to distinguish from mono si panels.