What Is The Difference Between Mono And Poly Solar Panels?
Every type of solar panel is the same in basic function. Yet, there is a difference between mono and poly solar panels based on their efficiency, contents, and cost.
One type conquers the other with better working, build quality, and reliability. So, these key factors will help you choose the improved one from these two. Both perform better in their distinct working ailments. If one proves to be efficient and complex to deal with, the other is easy to install and manage. So, every solar panel comes up with its pros and cons. Let’s jump in and see the difference between mono and poly solar panels.
What Is A Mono Solar Panel?
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A mono solar panel does the same work as other solar panels. It catches the sun’s energy and converts it into electricity in the photovoltaic cell. Efficiency is the major difference between mono and poly solar panels.
The mono solar module is made up of silicon. This material traps the sunlight and converts the energy to electricity.
Silicon is an abundant and relatively durable element. Therefore, it is used in almost every crystalline solar panel out on the market. The mono panels are made up of a single crystal. So, we refer to these as pure mono silicon solar panels.
A solar panel comprises sectional areas of different shapes referred to as cells. In the case of a monocrystalline panel, these cells are octagonal and produced from a single silicon crystal.
The shape of cells also differs from polycells. Solar cells of the mono panel are octagonal and black.
The main difference between mono and poly solar panels is their efficiency. The poly solar panel is only 15%-17% efficient. In comparison, the mono solar panel can be up to 24% efficient, all thanks to its pure silicon crystal formation.
Pure crystal use brings many more benefits, such as earlier energy production and longer energy-producing time. It means mono solar panels start producing electric energy from sunlight much faster than poly panels.
The time duration in which energy production takes place also decreases due to the purity of the silicon crystal cell structure. This difference between mono and poly solar panels is due to the single crystal that works efficiently as a whole.
It is less space-consuming and complicated in installation and maintenance. The reason is the panel’s higher efficiency. As the mono panel is more efficient, it will take fewer solar panels to yield the desired output. So, the overall space for induction shrinks. It is one of the prominent differences between mono and poly solar panels.
If you are looking for a minimal, efficient, and less space-consuming solar panel for free electric energy, a mono solar panel should be the one to choose.
What Is A Polycrystalline Solar Panel?
Just as any other solar panel, a poly solar module also traps the sun’s heat to convert it into electricity. It has some general and specific characteristics that make it different from mono solar panels.
All these characteristics influence the difference between mono and poly solar panels. Therefore, making one of them a better choice for you.
Unlike a mono solar panel, it comprises multiple silicon crystals. It reduces the efficiency and makes the panel easy and simple to install.
A poly solar panel comprises multiple silicon crystals, all melted and used together as one. So this panel type is not entirely pure. The impurity affects the efficiency and the panel’s cost.
Solar cells are the physical difference between mono and poly solar panels. The crystalline solar cells are square-shaped and blue with an uneven texture.
The poly solar panel has lower overall efficiency compared to the mono solar panels. It is due to the several imperfections in the build quality. Therefore, this lowers the price as well. Poly solar panels are much cheaper and have proven to be cost-reductive.
These multi-crystal solar panels have a bit shorter service life. The poly panel solar cells have an imperfect design. So, it can work for only 18-20 years with listed guaranteed efficiency. After its lifetime, the panel still supplies the electric energy, but you won’t get the same efficiency you had at the start.
Difference Between Mono And Poly Solar Panels
All solar panels perform the same primary function of converting heat energy from sunlight to electricity. The most efficient panels to do so are crystalline solar panels. The reason is the silicon crystal element that makes it highly energy capturing.
Diverse factors make the difference between mono and poly solar panels completely obvious. Some of them are below.
The chief characteristic in which the poly solar panel differs from the mono solar panel is its efficiency.
The efficiency of a mono panel is 18%-24%
The efficiency of a poly solar panel is 14%-18%
Build and construction is the main difference between mono and poly solar panels.
The poly solar panel has different silicon crystals. Different crystals are melted together to form single collective silicon. That is why you can also call it an impure solar panel.
The mono solar panels have the silicon crystal from a single ingot. This individual crystal of silicone makes the panel pure and more efficient.
The difference between mono and poly solar panels can help you distinguish between these two.
The mono panel is black with octagonal-shaped solar cells. These cells are relatively smooth than polycells with the same texture.
The poly solar panel is blue with an imperfect texture. The cells of the poly panel are square-shaped with blue color.
The efficiency, build quality, and time directly affects a panel’s service life. These also render the difference between mono and poly solar panels.
The service life of a mono solar panel is 25 to 30 years. Some firms give you a guarantee that their product will remain efficient for up to 20% for the next 20 years. This means it will convert 20% of the sunlight into electric energy out of 100% that falls upon it.
A poly panel has a service life of 20 to 25 years. So, it will perform effectively up to the company’s listed guaranteed efficiency for the prescribed period.
Even after the service life of a panel, it will serve its purpose. So, you will get electrical energy out of sunlight. But with elapsing time, the energy extent and efficiency levels keep decreasing.
Service life is the difference between mono and poly solar panels that directly impacts their sales.
The working cost is yet another change-bearing factor in choosing a solar panel.
Poly solar panels are more inexpensive than mono solar panels.
It is because of the premium build quality and single silicon crystal usage.
What Are the Advantages Of A Mono Solar Module?
As you already know, the difference between mono and poly solar panels is quite apparent. That is why both of these have specific pros and cons, making them best in certain conditions. Some of the advantages you will get with mono solar panels are:
The efficiency of a mono solar panel is greater than a poly panel due to the silicon crystal. The crystal used in a mono panel is pure and from a single origin. Due to the panel’s purity, they are highly efficient in certain conditions.
A mono solar panel is up to 18% to 24% efficient, which is the major difference between mono and poly solar panels.
Longer Service Life:
If you are looking for a solar panel that continuously provides you with free electric energy for a decent duration, a monocrystalline panel is the one you should go for.
A mono solar panel has even textured solar cells that enhance efficiency. It, as a result, increases the effective working duration of the panel. Its textured solar cell is the main difference between mono and poly solar panels.
A mono solar panel has a service life of 25 to 30 years.
Mono solar panels are more space-efficient than poly panels. As the efficiency of these panels is greater than the others, it generates more electrical energy per square. So this increased electrical output from a relatively small space makes it space-efficient for you.
What Are The Disadvantages Of Mono Solar Panels?
Disadvantages that exhibit the difference between mono and poly solar panels are as follows:
The mono solar panel is more expensive than the poly panel. Using silicon crystal from a single crystal ingot elevates its price efficiency.
Specific Working Environments:
Some solar panels work only in extreme high-temperature environments. The mono solar panel is one of them. It will require certain environmental conditions to work efficiently. This difference between mono and poly solar panels is a major drawback.
What Are The Advantages Of Poly Solar Panels:
Some of the advantages of poly solar panels are as follows:
poly solar panels are cost-effective and easily available. These solar panels are inexpensive if compared to mono solar panels. Its fair pricing is one of the differences between mono and poly solar panels, encouraging customers to buy poly panels.
These solar panels have a lower heat tolerance. They make them efficient even in areas where the temperature is not that high. That is the reason poly panels have widespread use all over the globe.
What Are The Disadvantages Of A Poly Solar Panel:
Just as advantages, the disadvantages also point out the difference between mono and poly solar panels.
These panels are less efficient than mono panels. The use of different silicon crystals blended together decreases its overall efficiency.
The central difference between mono and poly solar panels is their efficiency. A poly panel can be 14% to 18% efficient.
Less Space Effective:
As the efficiency of poly panels is lower, You will need more panels for desired electrical output. So, they will consume more space.
Which Is Better? Mono Or Poly Solar Panel?
The difference between mono and poly solar panels can make it difficult to choose one. This query can emerge in your mind throughout the article. Which one is better? The facts say it all!
Both these types of panels are precisely perfect for distinctive persons. There are specific differences between mono and poly solar panels. If you are a person who lives in a template region with high temperature and need a highly efficient, less space-consuming solar panel — A mono solar panel will suit you best. However, if your requirements remain the same and the environment changes, the choice might change.
The price difference between mono and poly solar panels makes the poly panel inexpensive. Polycrystalline solar panels have more than one crystal in a single cell. So, it revokes the free movement of electrons and reduces efficiency to some extent. Therefore, this easy production procedure lowers the overall cost and makes it budget-friendly.
In general, due to the befitting difference between mono and poly solar panels, monocrystalline panels are considered better than other types of solar panels. As these panels are highly efficient and space reductive, that is why they stay on the top of the preference list and are the better choice.
Following link has a complete comparison between these two.
What Are The Prices And Ecological Footprints Of These Solar Panels?
The price of solar panels is another impacting difference between mono and poly solar panel. As far as the ecological footprint is concerned, it also varies across the types.
The price of a basic poly solar panel is $ 0.40 to $ 0.50, while the price for a mono solar panel is $ 0.50 to $ 0.80 per watt.
The mono and poly solar panel are both made up of silicon crystals. The extensive material loss during the production of the mono solar panel increases its ecological footprint. However, its high efficiency compensates for the ecological footprint rapidly. The price of panels influences the financial difference between mono and poly solar panels.
Poly Or Mono Solar Panel: Which One Should I Choose?
Every difference between mono and poly solar panels helps in choosing your perfect crystalline panel. The establishment of an ideal solar panel depends on the functions and aims required by the clients.
If you require a decent amount of electrical output without any boundary to the space, poly solar panels are the ones you should go for.
On the other hand, if you are conscious about space and efficiency, without any limit on the price, mono solar panels should be the ones you choose. It is Because no difference between mono and poly solar panels can overcome the efficiency of mono panels.
Every solar panel can use sunlight for electricity production. However, crystalline solar panels are the best type of solar panel that efficiently generates electricity. The difference between mono and poly solar panels induces a change in their merit. The conductive silicon crystal used in the crystalline solar panels enhances the generation of electricity from solar radiation inside the photovoltaic cell.
Higher efficiency, lower cost rates, and easy-to-handle product exposure make these pv panels an optimum choice for the clientele.