If you are looking to get solar panels for your North Carolina home, there are a few options to choose from. The different types of solar power offer various levels of performance at separate price points, so you need to determine what you want out of your solar energy when picking a style of panels.
There are three main options for residential solar panels, each with aspects that will appeal to different homeowners with different added home values. Here is a primer on the solar panels you can get for your home.
Monocrystalline Panels
Monocrystalline solar cells are cut from a single crystalline silicon ingot. The attributes of a mono cell differ from the standard, multi-silicon, sandwich model. The mono cells are cylindrical blocks of silicon that are cut and layered on a panel. They provide the highest efficiency of solar panels.
The high efficiency comes from being made from the purest form of silicon. Mono cells also perform better in low light and high heat environments than either of the cells on this list. They also have a distinct look courtesy of the pattern of the arranged silicon wafers.
The quality and the process of creating the silicon sheets make mono cells the most expensive type of solar panel. Though mono cells are better all-around than poly and thin-film cells, they are less sustainable to produce at a large scale.
Polycrystalline Panels
These panels are similar to the monocrystalline type but are not quite as energy efficient. Polycrystalline panels are made by melting raw silicon into molds to make perfectly rectangular pieces versus the rounded, more natural shapes of the other panels.
The imperfect surfaces are why they aren’t as efficient as their Mono cell cousin. The process of creating poly cells is far more sustainable since less raw material is thrown out. They do not have the same aesthetic appeal as the monocrystalline variety because they lack a uniform look.
Poly panels are a much cheaper price point which makes these panels a good option for homeowners looking for more economical options
Thin-Film Panels
Rather than pure silicon, thin-film panels are created with a mix of materials. With this diversity of composition, thin-film panels are extremely inexpensive and are the cheapest option on the market. They also have a uniform look, making them an appealing option visually. However, these panels have very low efficiency, to the point where they are almost unrealistic for residential properties. The space needed to produce optimal energy is often unavailable to the regular homeowner.
Residential solar panels are either monocrystalline or polycrystalline panels. Thin-film panels are only good when deployed at a large scale, making them an ideal choice for commercial and industrial projects.
Solar Experts in Central Florida
If you want to change your home over to solar power, it is important to assess the options and decide what you want out of your investment. At PES Solar, we can guide you through this process and find the best scenario for your specific needs. To learn about the services we offer, call us today at (800) 650-6519.
