Solar panels are rising in popularity for good reason. Not only is sunlight an effective alternative to other forms of energy, but it’s also a free, nonrenewable resource to power your home. When choosing a solar panel for their property, however, a lot of homeowners are hesitant because they assume there’s only one color choice: blue. Fortunately for those that want a slightly different style of solar panel, more and more manufacturers are offering both black and blue options.
Two Types of Solar Panels
There are two types of solar panels: polycrystalline and monocrystalline. Understanding the features of each one can help you decide which is best for your home.
Polycrystalline solar panels are the blue panels you most commonly see on rooftops and in farm plots. They are made of multiple silicon crystals. The manufacturing process for these panels is simple: Manufacturers melt silicon and pour it into a mold, which is made up of several silicon fragments. The way the silicon crystals reflect light and the anti-reflective coating from the solar panels is what gives these installations their famous blue color.
Monocrystalline solar panels, on the other hand, are black. These are less common and slightly costlier to create. To develop monocrystalline solar panels, manufacturers often use the Czochralski process. During this process, manufacturers slowly lift a silicon crystal out of a dish of melted silicon, which forms one larger crystal. This crystal is then cut into squares used inside the solar panel.
Advantages of Blue and Black Panels
There are several benefits to using both types of solar panels. For example, blue panels tend to be more cost-effective and eco-friendly. They produce less waste because there’s no need to individually shape silicon crystals. Additionally, blue panels are less expensive to install and repair, and they follow a less complicated production process.
Black panels have unique benefits as well. They absorb more light, making them more efficient. They also generate higher amounts of solar power and can perform better in warm weather, which means you won’t lose out on energy production –– even when temperatures rise. Lastly, black panels offer a space-saving design and, with proper care, can last longer than blue panels.
Choosing the Right Color
For more than two decades, PES Solar has satisfied homeowners with unique variations of solar panel systems –– in a variety of colors. To get a free quote and learn which solar panel best fits your energy consumption and budget, contact PES Solar today at [company_phone].
