What is the difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels?

Monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels are both made using silicon solar cells, but they differ in terms of performance, appearance, and price. We’ve summed up the key differences between the two in the following table: * Estimated using a 350 watt (W), 2 m², monocrystalline panel as the basis for calculation

What does a monocrystalline solar panel look like?

These wafers have a black appearance to them, which tends to look more aesthetically pleasing than the blue hue you find in other panels. Having a single-crystal structure means the electrons that produce electricity have more room to move around, making monocrystalline solar cells highly efficient.

What is a polycrystalline solar cell?

Polycrystalline solar cells are also called "multi-crystalline" or many-crystal silicon. Polycrystalline solar panels generally have lower efficiencies than monocrystalline cell options because there are many more crystals in each cell, meaning less freedom for the electrons to move.

What are monocrystalline solar panels made of?

Polycrystalline: Materials Monocrystalline solar power panels are made of pure silicon crystals. Several octagonal-shaped wafers combine to form mono cells. They are made using half-cut technology, where the square-shaped solar cells are cut to produce twice the number of cells.

How do you know if a cell is monocrystalline or polycrystalline?

Another way is to look at the shape of the cell. Usually monocrystalline cells have a rounded shape with cut corners whereas the polycrystalline cells are square. This is due to the fabrication process. The monocrystalline are created in an ingot with a cylindrical shape (by the Czochralski process).

Why are monocrystalline solar panels more efficient?

Having a single-crystal structure means the electrons that produce electricity have more room to move around, making monocrystalline solar cells highly efficient. This increased efficiency also means that monocrystalline panels can easily achieve a higher power output than polycrystalline panels, using fewer cells.