Welcome to the solar energy blog “Phoenix roofing and solar”. Let’s start with an article “Introduction to solar and monocrystalline solar panel”. Firstly, basic information about the solar PV and after that, a discussion of monocrystalline solar panels and its pros are discussed.
What is Solar PV?
Renewable energy, including solar energy, provides affordable electricity to all developed countries. Our sun is a major source of energy and photons are converted into heat and finally: electricity. Solar energy is more readily available, more affordable, and more common in today’s world than ever before. Photovoltaic (PV) converts solar light into electricity. Cleveland Ohio is blessed with excellent source of solar (PV) energy. Photovoltaic is a process of converting photons into electricity in form of solar energy as photovoltaic solar cells convert sunlight directly into solar energy. A photovoltaic module (PV) commonly referred to as a solar panel is a combination of photovoltaic cells that are connected to each other for the generation of energy and placed in a mineral frame.
Types of Solar Panel
Three major types of solar panel are:
Monocrystalline PV
Polycrystalline PV
Amorphous PV
Each type of solar panel has its own pros and cons. Monocrystalline solar cells are most popular panels in the market as well as most efficient due to operations on all weather conditions and more power generation on less space requirement but it also tends to be more expensive than other panels. Further information about monocrystalline solar cells discussed below to help out which type f solar panel is best for you as per your requirements.
Monocrystalline Solar Panel Structure
Most Efficient and made up of single crystal known as crystalline silicon is called monocrystalline solar panel. Monocrystalline panels have great extraction capacity of solar irradiation as compared to other types of solar panel i.e. Poly and amorphous and occupy a small space. They are made up of many tiny solar cells, each made up from single and pure silicon. Monocrystalline panels are considered to be the most advanced class of solar panels. The structure of these cells is clean because each cell is made of a single piece of silicon, so electrons have more space to flow. The Identification of monocrystalline is easy as if the solar panels are black (dark cell), it is probably a monocrystalline panel. This makes monocrystalline the most efficient solar technology, but also the most expensive also as compared to other solar modules.
Performance of Monocrystalline solar panel
The performance and efficiency of monocrystalline solar panels are generally higher as compared to other types of solar panels. Monocrystalline panel performance ranges 15% to 23% due to its pure silicon composition. Due to this structure, electrons easily pass through the cell, making the panel more efficient than other types of solar panels. In other words, you will need small monocrystalline solar panels in your solar energy system to produce the same amount of energy, i.e., a larger number of polycrystalline solar panels. This feature of monocrystalline makes it suitable for limited roof space as well.
How much are solar cells?
When comparing solar panel prices, you usually look at the price of the entire solar energy system. The total cost of a solar energy system varies depending on the size and number of panels that need to be installed in your home / business. As an ongoing point, it should be noted that the price of solar cells has continued to decline sharply over the years. This is because solar panels and renewable energy are becoming increasingly popular in the community due to advancement in its technology. In fact, solar energy is 99% cheaper to install and purchase than it was in 1979, which is quite impressive. The price of monocrystalline panels is little bit larger than other types of panel but it produces more energy as well.
Features of Monocrystalline Solar Panels
Less Space Requirement and Long Life
The Monocrystalline solar panel requires less space and produces more energy compared to its counterparts. Solar monocrystallines have a longer lifetime and tend to work much longer than their warranty period. The maximum warranty lasts for 25 years but depends on the operating environment and the cleanliness of the solar panel.
More Efficient
Due to the efficiency of the monocrystalline solar panel compared to other panels, more energy is generated on less space (e.g., roof). In order to generate more electricity, monocrystalline panel should be considered. The efficiency of Monocrystalline solar panel is 15-23%.
Minimum Installation and Maintenance Costs
Solar panel contributes 60% cost of the whole system. Installation cost and maintenance cost of monocrystalline panel is less due to higher efficiency and less number of panel installation as compared to poly and amorphous to produce same amount of energy.
Additional Electricity Generation
In addition to generating more electricity per square meter, Monocrystalline panel are preferred to generate more energy and less dependency on the conventional resources.
Safer than Traditional Electricity
It is safer for health as it does not release greenhouse gases emission as conventional energy sources do.
High return on investment
After installation, solar panels provide free power for a few decades. Maintenance costs are also minimal. Therefore, there is a constant return.
Weather Friendly
They work best at low levels of sunlight, making them ideal for cloudy areas as well.
Applications of Monocrystalline Solar Panel
- Monocrystalline solar panels are very popular for industrial, commercial or residential installation systems.
- Depending on the size of the panels, they can be used for smaller applications (<25 W) such as electronic charging, batteries, cameras, etc.
- Larger solar panels (> 40 W) can be used for lighting, microwaves, and refrigerators.
- These are best suitable for water irrigation systems
- These are very useful for lighting gardens.
- These are best suitable for limited space and installation on roof top.
- These panels are suitable for street lighting as stand-alone panels as well.
If you’re ready for solar panel installation, give us a call at 330-524-8323.