So, you’ve decided to go solar. That’s fantastic news. Did you know that going solar means a choice to buy mono vs. poly solar panels?

Even with the onset of the pandemic last year, the solar market added 19 gigawatts of power. Still, it’s decision time, and you need to know which solar panels are right for you.

To learn all about it, continue reading below.

Mono vs. Poly Solar Panels: What’s the Difference

Perhaps you’ve heard about Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline solar panels already. You may be wondering if there are differences and what are they?

The short answer is, yes, there are some differences between the two types. For example, Monocrystalline panels come from a single source of silicon. This process makes them more energy-efficient than Polycrystalline solar panels. Besides, the “Mono” comes from the way they make these panels.

While polycrystalline solar panels’ energy efficiency is lower, many consumers find the pricing a bit more affordable. The blue color is often seen as an excellent feature when compared to the black monocrystalline solar panels.

You may already be wondering, are there solar companies near me? There are many around, but there is more to know about these excellent solar panels.

Monocrystalline Solar Panels

Aside from manufacturing these panels from a single silicon source, they make the silicon crystals through a method known as the Czochralski process. This method puts a crystal ‘seed’ in a vat of pure molten silicon at high temperatures. Then, when they pull out the seed, the molten silicon forms all around it, creating a large, single crystal.

They will then slice the large crystal called an ingot into thin pieces that make the solar cells. A single monocrystalline panel will generally contain up to 72 solar cells, and a residential solar panel will often have 60 -cell mono solar panels in use.

Most R&D resources for next-generation technologies such as HJT, PERC, and TOPCon are dedicated to mono solar panels. When you consider production volume and efficiency, these panels come out ahead in solar cell technology.

Polycrystalline Solar Panels

Polycrystalline solar panels get cut from blocks of molten silicon. Melted silicon fragments are joined together, creating the cells and giving them a metal flake appearance.

One solar panel installation Newcastle expert states that the lower efficiency is due to the lighter blue colouring on these solar panels. It means they absorb less sunlight than the mono solar panels and, therefore, lower efficiency.

Which Solar Panel Do You Need?

Often the choice of which solar panel to buy comes down to how you will use it. If you plan to install your solar panels on your rooftop, most people choose mono solar panels for this use. The reason is to maximize energy efficiency in a smaller area.

Polycrystalline solar panels are often the choice for larger commercial installations and roof-mounted arrays, large solar farms, traffic-lights, houses, and more. It is advisable to hire a roofing contractor that is an expert in commercial roofing to inspect and perform any required roof repair followed by installing adapting mounts so that it can hold the solar panels.

Decision Time: Mono vs. Poly Solar Panels

There’s a lot to learn about solar panels before clicking on “Buy.” We hope this article has helped shed some light on the question of mono vs. poly solar panels.

Come back and revisit this site for more excellent articles that can help you on various topics.