Some solar panels are black
in color and some are blue.This color difference depends on the way which light
interacts with two different types of solar panels namely, polycrystalline and monocrystalline.
Blue
vs. black solar panels
Due to the type of
silicon (polycrystalline) used certain set of solar panels are blue. The blue color is mainly due to an
anti-reflective coating which helps to improve the absorbing capacity and
efficiency of the solar panels. Black surfaces absorb
more light so black solar panels (monocrystalline) are more efficient.
Majority of modern
solar photovoltaic panels are made using silicon, a non-metallic element.
This
non metallic element is used due to its ability to absorb most wavelengths of
light and produce an electric charge, also we can commercially produce
near-perfect crystals of it at a relatively low price. Differences in solar
panels is mainly depends on the purity of the silicon used in the module.
Polycrystalline
(blue) solar panels
The silicon is made
from raw silicon that has been melted and poured into a square mold is used in
polycrystalline solar cells.Individual silicon crystals are formed within the
mold as this process doesn’t align the silicon perfectly.The nature of this
individual silicon crystals produces the blue color characteristic of
polycrystalline panels.
The manufacturing
process of polycrystalline cell leads to less waste and energy use is more than
that to produce monocrystalline cells. So polycrystalline solar panels are less
expensive .Due to the lower cost production, about 90 percent of the solar
panels on the market today are polycrystalline and so most of the panels have
blue hue.
Monocrystalline
(black) solar panels
High level of purity silicon
is used to make monocrystalline solar cells.One large silicon crystal is formed
as the silicon is oriented the same way in a monocrystalline solar cell.Depending
on the way in which light interacts with a monocrystalline silicon layer,
monocrystalline solar panels appear black in color.The process of aligning the
silicon into one crystal is known as the Czochralski process. This process is
energy-intensive and wastage of silicon occurs as a result. So monocrystalline
panels have more cost than polycrystalline solar panels.
Black
vs. Blue solar panels: Benefits and Drawbacks
Both Monocrystalline
and Polycrystalline solar panels have benefits and drawbacks.Monocrystalline panels tend to
have a higher efficiency than polycrystalline panels as their uniformity and
the alignment of silicon. Higher efficiency cause higher price so monocrystalline
solar panels are more expensive to produce and buy. Polycrystalline solar
panels have a less concentrated production process,which leads to lower prices
for installers and consumers.
If we consider efficiency,
a monocrystalline solar panel is best option.Likewise, if we consider price, polycrystalline
panels is the best option.
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