What is the difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels?

Both monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels will generate free and clean electricity for your home using energy from the sun. Both types will do this very efficiently, but there are some differences between the two. The difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels lies in the silicon cells used in their production.

What is a polycrystalline solar panel?

Polycrystalline solar panels are also made from silicon. However, instead of using a single silicon crystal, manufacturers melt many silicon fragments together to form wafers for the panel. Polycrystalline solar cells are also called "multi-crystalline" or many-crystal silicon.

How are monocrystalline solar panels made?

In order to produce monocrystalline solar panels the silicon is formed into bars before being cut into wafers. The cells are made of single-crystal silicon which means that the electrons have more space to move around and can therefore generate more energy.

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.

How do monocrystalline cells differ from Polycrystalline cells?

What differs monocrystalline cells from polycrystalline cells is that monocrystalline panels are made of a single pure silicon ingot. Making a single pure silicon ingot was really hard until Czochralski discovered this brilliant way. First, you dip a seed crystal, which is a small rod of pure single crystal silicon into the molten silicon.

Are solar panels still made out of monocrystalline silicon?

Solar panels have come a long way since then, but many are still made out of the same material: monocrystalline silicon. Monocrystalline solar panels remained the number one seller in the industry for many decades, yet that’s no longer the case.