A solar panel (also solar module, photovoltaic module or photovoltaic panel) is a packaged, connected assembly of photovoltaic cells. The solar panel can be used as a component of a larger photovoltaic system to generate and supply electricity in commercial and residential applications. Each panel is rated by its DC output power under standard test conditions, and typically ranges from 100 to 320 watts. The efficiency of a panel determines the area of a panel given the same rated output - an 8% efficient 230 watt panel will have twice the area of a 16% efficient 230 watt panel. Because a single solar panel can produce only a limited amount of power, most installations contain multiple panels. A photovoltaic system typically includes an array of
Solar panels use light energy (photons) from the sun to generate electricity through thephotovoltaic effect. The majority of modules use wafer-based crystalline silicon cells or thin-film cells based on cadmium telluride or silicon. The structural (load carrying) member of a module can either be the top layer or the back layer. Cells must also be protected from mechanical damage and moisture. Most solar panels are rigid, but semi-flexible ones are available, based on thin-film cells. These early solar panels were first used in space in 1958. Electrical connections are made in series to achieve a desired output voltage and/or in parallelto provide a desired current capability. The conducting wires that take the current off the panels may contain silver, copper or other non-magnetic conductive transition metals. The cells must be connected electrically to one another and to the rest of the system. Externally, popular terrestrial usage photovoltaic panels use MC3 (older) or MC4 connectors to facilitate easy weatherproof connections to the rest of the system. Bypass diodes may be incorporated or used externally, in case of partial panel shading, to maximize the output of panel sections still illuminated. The p-n junctions of mono-crystalline silicon cells may have adequate reverse voltage characteristics to prevent damaging panel section reverse current. Reverse currents could lead to overheating of shaded cells. Solar cells become less efficient at higher temperatures and installers try to provide good ventilation behind solar panels. Some recent solar panel designs include concentrators in which light is focused by lenses or mirrors onto an array of smaller cells. This enables the use of cells with a high cost per unit area (such as gallium arsenide) in a cost-effective way
Efficiencies
Depending on construction, photovoltaic panels can produce electricity from a range offrequencies of light, but usually cannot cover the entire solar range (specifically, ultraviolet,infrared and low or diffused
light). Hence much of the incident sunlight energy is wasted by solar panels, and they can give far higher efficiencies if illuminated with monochromatic light. Therefore, another design concept is to split the light into different wavelength ranges and direct the beams onto different cells tuned to those ranges. This has been projected to be capable of raising efficiency by 50%. Currently the best achieved sunlight conversion rate (solar panel efficiency) is around 17.4% in new commercial products typically lower than the efficiencies of their cells in isolation. The energy density of a solar panel is the efficiency described in terms of peak power output per unit of surface area, commonly 2 [disputed expressed in units of watts per square foot (W/ft ). The most efficient mass-produced solar panels discuss] 2 2 have energy density values of up to 16.22 W/ft (175 W/m ).
The difference between monocrystalline vs polycrystalline solar cells is simply that one is produced from a single crystal of silicon and the other is produced from a piece of silicon consisting of many crystals. Since polycrystalline cells contain many crystals, they have a less perfect surface than monocrystalline cells. This means that they absorb slightly less solar energy and produce slightly less electricity per square metre. On the plus side, the process of creating the silicon for a polycrystalline cell is much simpler, so these cells are generally cheaper per square metre.
Polycrystalline
Monocrystalline
Low cost
On balance, the cost of monocrystalline vs polycrystalline based panels per Watt of power output works out about the same, but the polycrystalline panels will be slightly larger than equivalent monocrystalline panels. This is generally not a problem unless you have a very limited area available for the installation, in which case you will want to maximise the power output per square metre.
Monocrystalline and polycrystalline can also look different. Monocrystalline cells will usually have a perfectly uniform appearance, but polycrystalline cells will appear grainy think of how a granite worktop looks and youll get the idea. From a distance this will not be noticeable, so if they are going on your roof this is unlikely to worry you.
Thin-film modules
Third generation solar cells are advanced thin-film cells. They produce high-efficiency conversion at low cost.
Crystalline silicon forms the basis of mono- and polycrystalline silicon solar cells:
Monocrystalline solar cells are made out of silicon ingots, which are cylindrical in shape. To optimize performance and lower costs of a single monocrystalline solar cell, four sides are cut out of the cylindrical ingots to make silicon wafers, which is what gives monocrystalline solar panels their characteristic look. A good way to separate mono- and polycrystalline solar panels is that polycrystalline solar cells look perfectly rectangular with no rounded edges.
Advantages
Monocrystalline solar panels have the highest efficiency rates since they are made out of the highest-grade silicon. The efficiency rates of monocrystalline solar panels are typically 15-20%. SunPower produces the highest efficiency solar panels on the U.S. market today. Their E20 series provide panel conversion efficiencies of up to 20.1%.[3] Monocrystalline silicon solar panels are space-efficient. Since these solar panels yield the highest power outputs, they also require the least amount of compared to any other types. Monocrystalline solar panels produce up to four times the amount of electricity as thin-film solar panels. Monocrystalline solar panels live the longest. Most solar panel manufacturers put a 25-year warranty on their monocrystalline solar panels.
Tend to perform better than similarly rated polycrystalline solar panels at low-light conditions. The efficiency of individual solar cells is higher than for entire solar panels/modules. For a complete overview over how the efficiency rates of the various solar cell technologies have advanced since 1975 check out Best Research-Cell Efficiencies (NREL). The efficiency rates in this article refer to solar panel/module efficiencies. Check out Solar Panel Efficiency for more information on this subject.
Disadvantages
Monocrystalline solar panels are the most expensive. From a financial standpoint, a solar panel that is made of polycrystalline silicon (and in some cases thin-film) can be a better choice for homeowners. If the solar panel is partially covered with shade, dirt or snow, the entire circuit can break down. Consider getting micro-inverters instead of central string inverters if you think coverage will be a problem. Microinverters will make sure that not the entire solar array is affected by shading issues with only one of the solar panels. The Czochralski process is used to produce monocrystalline silicon. It results in large cylindrical ingots. Four sides are cut out of the ingots to make silicon wafers. A significant amount of the original silicon ends up as waste. Monocrystalline solar panels tend to be more efficient in warm weather. Performance suffers as temperature goes up, but less so than polycrystalline solar panels. For most homeowners temperature is not a concern. This article is solely about different types of solar panels. If you want to learn about what other equipment a photovoltaic system consists of, go to Grid-Tied, Off-Grid and Hybrid Solar Systems.
Advantages
The process used to make polycrystalline silicon is simpler and cost less. This reduces the amount of waste silicon. Polycrystalline solar panels tend to have slightly lower heat tolerance and therefore perform slightly worse than monocrystalline solar panels in high temperatures. Heat can affect the performance of solar panels and shorten their lifespans. However, this effect is minor, and most homeowners do not need to take it into account.
Disadvantages
The efficiency of polycrystalline-based solar panels is typically 13-16%. Because of lower silicon purity, polycrystalline solar panels are not quite as efficient as monocrystalline solar panels. You need to cover a larger surface to output the same electrical power as you would with a solar panel made of monocrystalline silicon. Monocrystalline and thin-film solar panels tend to be more aesthetically pleasing since they have a more uniform look compared to the speckled blue color of polycrystalline silicon.
PRICE LIST OF SOLAR PANELS Product Name AEE 10W 12V for PV-Direct Circulation Pumps Volts Watts $ / Watt Price
12 V
10 W
$5.90
$59.00
12 V
10 W
$4.20
$42.00
12 V
100 W
$2.15
$215.00
24 V
100 W
$2.55
$255.00
12 V
120 W
$2.13
$255.00
12 V
20 W
$3.55
$71.00
24 V
200 W
$1.50
$299.00
12 V
30 W
$3.47
$104.00
12 V
5W
$5.37
$26.85
12 V
50 W
$3.10
$155.00
12 V
80 W
$2.31
$185.00
12 V
30 W
$7.33
$220.00
12 V
50 W
$5.14
$256.75
12 V
90 W
$4.54
$409.00
12 V
4.5 W
$15.89
$71.50
12 V
20 W
$8.06
$161.20
12 V
40 W
$6.83
$273.00
12 V
10 W
$11.57
$115.70
20 V
245 W
$0.99
$241.45
240 V
215 W
$1.68
$361.00
12 V
1.4 W
$19.29
$27.00
12 V
140 W
$2.04
$284.99
12 V
140 W
$2.06
$288.00
12 V
140 W
$2.21
$309.00
18 V
215 W
$1.42
$305.70
20 V
240 W
$1.38
$330.00
20 V
245 W
$1.38
$339.00
27 V
315 W
$1.27
$399.00
12 V
10 W
$8.10
$81.00
12 V
5W
$12.99
$64.95
12 V
130 W
$3.75
$487.50
20 V
235 W
$1.00
$235.00
20 V
240 W
$0.92
$220.00
20 V
245 W
$1.08
$265.00
20 V
245 W
$1.12
$275.00
20 V
245 W
$1.06
$260.00
20 V
250 W
$1.76
$439.00
20 V
260 W
$1.25
$324.00
12 V
50 W
$3.78
$189.00
20 V
225 W
$1.15
$259.00
20 V
240 W
$1.04
$249.00
20 V
255 W
$1.35
$343.46
12 V
135 W
$2.00
$270.00
12 V
140 W
$2.00
$279.95
12 V
80 W
$2.49
$199.00
20 V
240 W
$0.95
$229.00
20 V
240 W
$0.89
$213.00
20 V
250 W
$0.99
$247.00
24 V
285 W
$0.98
$279.00
24 V
290 W
$1.27
$367.00
12 V
12 W
$10.33
$124.00
6V
12 W
$10.75
$129.00
12 V
18 W
$8.94
$161.00
12 V
24 W
$11.29
$271.00
12 V
3W
$15.33
$46.00
6V
3W
$13.67
$41.00
12 V
6W
$13.00
$78.00
6V
6W
$13.00
$78.00
12 V
30 W
$5.41
$162.40
12 V
40 W
$5.68
$227.00
12 V
55 W
$4.58
$251.72
12 V
85 W
$3.33
$283.00
Volts 20V
Watts 240W
Watt, Solar
20
Volt Panel
Suntech's technology yields improvements to BSF structure and anti-reflective coating to increase conversion efficiency. The STP module's new rigid and reliable hollow chamber frame provides additional grounding options for increased design flexibility and easier installation.
Features
High Power Tolerance (0-5%) High conversion efficiency (up to 14.4%) Withstands high wind-pressure, snow load and extreme temperature variations
Specifications Model Maximum Power at STC* Number of cells Dimensions Weight Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) Maximum Power Point Voltage (Vmp) Short Circuit Current (Isc) Maximum Power Point Current (Imp) Operating Temperature Maximum System Voltage Output Cables Series Fuse Rating Connectors STP240-20/Wde 240 W 60 (6 x 10) 64.6" x 39.1" x 1.4" (1640 x 992 x 35mm) 40.1 lb (18.2 kg) 37.2 V 30.2 V 8.43 A 7.95 A -40C to +85C 1000 VDC (IEC) / 600 VDC (UL) 4.0 mm2 (0.006 inches2), symmetrical lengths (-) 1100 mm (43.3 inches) and (+) 1100 mm (43.3 inches) 20 A MC4 connectors
* STC: Standard Test Conditions - Irradiance 1000 W/m2, Module temperature 25 C, AM = 1.5 UL Listed