Single and multi-crystalline solar panels

What is a polycrystalline solar panel?

Polycrystalline solar panels are also made from silicon. However, instead of using a single silicon crystal, manufacturers melt many silicon fragments together to form wafers for the panel. Polycrystalline solar cells are also called "multi-crystalline" or many-crystal silicon.

What is the difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels?

This is to say Monocrystalline solar panels feature black-coloured cells made from a single silicon crystal, offering higher efficiency. On the other hand, polycrystalline panels have blue-coloured cells composed of multiple silicon crystals melted together, which generally results in slightly lower efficiency.

How are monocrystalline solar panels made?

Monocrystalline solar panels are made from a single, pure silicon crystal. The manufacturing process involves the Czochralski method, where a single silicon crystal is grown into an ingot and then sliced into wafers to form solar cells.

How much does a monocrystalline solar panel cost?

In terms of the cost difference, monocrystalline panels are generally more expensive due to their higher efficiency and complex manufacturing process. Typically, polycrystalline panels cost between $0.40 and $0.50 per watt, compared to the more expensive monocrystalline panels at $0.50-0.80 per watt.