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The range of prices for new solar panels is enormous. Some panels can cost up to a thousand dollars each, whereas for the same amount you can almost buy an entire household installation of a different type of panel. What are the reasons for this price range, and what are the benefits of the more expensive panels?
If you read the descriptions of the types of panels at the different price ranges you'll see a relationship between type and general price bracket. Without fail the most expensive panels are those made from what is called monocrystalline silicon. Somewhat cheaper than these are panels made of polycrystalline silicon. Both these types of solar panels are blue. At the bottom end of the price range are the black panels that are either made from amorphous silicon or are CIGS panels. To make comparisons easy I will only look at the amorphous silicon panels. The CIGS panels require a separate discussion.
How much the panels cost is determined by the effort needed to make them as well as their efficiency and expected lifespan. Even though all three types of panels use silicon, it is the structure of this silicon that separates them. The solar cells in a monocrystalline panel are each made from a single crystal of silicon, hence the name. Such crystals are expensive and slow to grow and so the end result is an expensive solar panel. However, these panels will last and function optimally almost indefinitely. If a monocrystalline panel is working at a lower than expected level it is likely there is a fault with the wiring, and this can be replaced.
Polycrystalline panels are a cheaper version and while they still use silicon crystals, these are grown more rapidly. The result is that cells are made of silicon slices that contain many crystals. This makes the cells less efficient than those of the single crystal design, as the edges of the little crystals in the cells make it harder for the electricity to flow. Therefore the more crystals there are in a solar cell the less efficient it will be.
The last and least efficient type is that using amorphous silicon. The crystal sizes in these panels are tiny and so they are naturally a lot less efficient than either of the other two crystalline types. They are thinner because the silicon can be spread onto the backing material, but this in turn makes them more prone to degradation from extended exposure to the sun. While the reduced amount of materials needed to make these panels results in a lower retail price, they are not as good a long term investment as panels using crystalline silicon.
Considering these factors will help you to find the best deal you can when looking for either individual panels or a household installation. They will also help you to identify good deals on used solar panels, since old monocrystalline panels can sometimes be picked up for a good price.
Learn more about solar power at Visit Roger Vanderlely's website, www.green-planet-solar-energy.com. Read about how to find cheap solar panels that you can use at home or for a variety of applications.
