|
|
Solar power is one of
the world’s most common sources of renewable
energy.
Solar panels generate free power
from the sun by converting sunlight to electricity
with no moving parts, zero emissions, and no maintenance.
The photovoltaic modules are made of
semi-conducting materials that attract sunlight while
freeing electrons from atoms. As the electrons flow through
the panel, electricity is produced which is measured in
KW per hours. The solar energy gained from the solar panels
can be used to power your home, business or school. Solar
power is a great way to reduce your environmental
impact and save money on your electricity bill. Excess
energy gained on a grid-tie system can be sold back to
the home's electricity retailer, typically for credit.
Off-grid PV systems use deep-cycle batteries to store
excess electricity.
As time goes by, we begin to see new and more efficient
solar panel designs. This is making the use of photovoltaic
power over fossil fuels much more viable to homeowners
and businesses.
Monocrystalline solar panels are among
the oldest, most efficient, and most dependable of technologies.
Monocrystalline solar cells use very pure
silicon and involve a complicated crystal growth process.
They are made from just one crystal, not multiple crystals
fused together, and the process of making them is one
of the most complex and costly ones around. This means
every panel will cost more. However, that increased cost
is buying additional efficiency, meaning one panel will
produce more power than lower priced options. The lifespan
of a monocrystalline cell is a minimum of twenty-five
years and can be more than fifty, making them a worthwhile
investment for long term use. If space is a concern (which
it often is with solar panels), monocrystalline solar
panels will be the best type to use.
A polycrystalline solar panel is made
from a block of silicon that has multiple crystals. These
panels are square in shape, and may have a surface that
looks somewhat like a mosaic. That’s because of
all the different crystals that make up the module. Because
there are numerous grain boundaries inherent in the design,
the product is cheaper but the efficiency of the polycrystalline
device is not as great as monocrystalline devices. However,
they are much simpler to produce, and cost far less to
manufacture. This makes them much less expensive for buyers.
The durability and longevity of the polycrystalline and
multicrystalline panels are comparable to monocrystalline
modules.
Polycrystalline solar panels have pros and cons, but in
the end, they can be an inexpensive way to put together
a solar power system.
|
and
