Solar Cell Types Comparison: Mono, Poly, and Thin Film

This article compares different solar cell types: mono-crystalline, poly-crystalline, and thin film.

Mono-Crystalline

• Area (for 1 kWatt): 6 to 9 m²
• Warranty: Approximately 25 years
• Temperature Resistance: Performance decreases by 10-15% at high temperatures.
• Pros:
  • High efficiency.
  • Mature and widely used technology.
• Cons:
  • Higher manufacturing cost due to high silicon demand.

Poly-Crystalline

• Area (for 1 kWatt): 8 to 9 m²
• Warranty: Approximately 25 years
• Temperature Resistance: Less resistant to high temperatures compared to mono-crystalline.
• Pros:
  • Less silicon waste during production.
  • High efficiency with lower cost compared to mono-crystalline.
• Cons:
  • Manufacturing cost is still relatively high due to silicon demand.

Thin Film Type

• Area (for 1 kWatt):
  • 13 to 20 m² (amorphous Si)
  • 11 to 13 m² (CdTe)
  • 9 to 11 m² (CIGS)
• Warranty: Approximately 10 to 25 years
• Temperature Resistance: Tolerates extreme heat well with minimal performance impact at high temperatures.
• Pros:
  • Amorphous Si: Lower price
  • CdTe, CIGS: Lower price and amenable to automated manufacturing processes
  • Polymer Organic: Less manufacturing cost
• Cons:
  • Lower efficiency.
  • Degrades faster compared to crystalline solar panels.
  • Lower availability in the market.