The efficiency of polycrystalline solar panels is somewhat lower but the benefit for customers is that this option is more affordable.
Monocrystalline vs polycrystalline solar.
Polycrystalline solar panels generally have lower efficiencies than monocrystalline options but their advantage is a lower price point.
Monocrystalline solar cells are more efficient because they are cut from a single source of silicon.
Polycrystalline solar cells are blended from multiple silicon sources and are slightly less efficient.
In other words you would need less monocrystalline solar panels in your solar power system to generate the same amount of power that say a greater number of polycrystalline solar panels would.
Monocrystalline panels are more efficient than polycrystalline modules with the top of the range sunpower panels achieving 22 efficiency.
Therefore the primary component of a solar cell is silicon.
So monocrystalline solar panels will usually have a higher power output rating than either polycrystalline or thin film modules.
Manufacturers use silicon in making solar panels.
The key difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels is that comparatively the monocrystalline solar panels are black in color and are more efficient and durable whereas polycrystalline solar panels are blue in color and are less efficient and less durable.
The monocrystalline panels typically have an efficiency of between 18 22 while polycrystalline panels achieve between 15 17 efficiency.
Polycrystalline solar panels are also made from silicon.
However there are certain differences that relate to the types of technology used for the manufacturing of these panels.
Thin film technology costs less than mono or poly panels but is also less efficient.
In addition when you seek polycrystalline solar panels for sale the sellers may highlight the blue hue of these panels compared to the monocrystalline panels black hue.
In addition polycrystalline solar panels tend to have a blue hue instead of the black hue of monocrystalline panels.