PV technology is becoming more and more popular since more people are becoming more interested in alternative energy sources. Solar energy is becoming an alternative to traditional electricity that utilizes the solar energy produced by the sun to generate electricity. There are three primary types of PV technologies on the market today. The differences in these three types of PV modules are influenced by each system design and owner.
Single-Crystal
Single-crystal technology is the original PV technology that was invented back in 1955. Modules comprised of single crystals are composed of cells that are cut from a continuous piece of crystal. These types of cells are known to wear out. The form a cylinder that is then sliced into circular wafers and can then be trimmed into shapes. All of the cells have a uniform, dark blue color since they are cut from a single crystal.
Polycrystalline
Polycrystalline, on the other hand, are made of a material similar to that that single crystals are, but they aren’t grown in single crystals. Instead, they are melted and then poured into a mold to form a square block instead of a circular shape. The squares can be cut into other shapes without as much waste as the circles produce when they are cut. As they cool, they form random crystal boundaries and end up looking like sheets of gemstones.
Thin-Film
There are also thin-film technologies that are made with microscopically thin deposits of silicon instead of the thick wafers that single crystals and polycrystalline are made from. PV cells made from thin-film PV technologies use very little of the precious material to make and don’t have any of the waste that the other types of technologies have. Instead, the individual cells are deposited next to each other instead of having to be mechanically assembled together. These types of panels can be made more flexible and lightweight, and they are less likely to experience a power loss.
Regardless of the type of PV technologies that a home or business employs, it could lead to better energy efficiency in the long run. Not only that, it helps support the Green movement by preserving the environment.
