When shopping for roof solar panels,Roof Solar Panels: How They Have Changed Articles not only are there a number of brands, but also various types of roof solar panels to choose from. And each type has its pros and cons.
So what kind of roof solar panels are there? And how do they differ from one another?
To date there are 3 kinds, which we will explore in this article.
Monocrystalline Solar Panels:
The first and most widely used type are Panneaux muraux acoustiques monocrystalline solar panels. Since they were the first to be produced, they have dominated the solar market for quite some time. They are your typical blue iridescent panels with rounded cells packed in uniform rows and visible from all directions.
Monocrystalline solar panels tend to be very costly to produce since they require a single silicon crystal grown in a very complicated process. This results in higher prices for consumers. In fact, at the time of writing this (Dec 2008), monocrystalline solar panels are about 41% more expensive per watt compared to thin film solar.
The advantage of these photovoltaic panels is that they take up the least space, making them a good choice for people with not much space. And although the cells are very fragile, they are secured in a rigid frame and can last for over 25 years.
Multicrystalline Solar Panels:
The second type to be produced are multicrystalline solar panels. Also known as polycrystalline solar modules, they are manufactured from a large block of numerous silicon crystals. This gives them a mosaic-like or shattered glass look. And since they are not made from just one silicon ingot, they are slightly less efficient but also cheaper than monocrystalline solar panels.