The types of photovoltaic systems now paint a very colorful picture, so even less experienced customers can easily get lost in the dense solar panel field. In today’s article we take a look at what types we find on the market and what advantages and disadvantages they have.
What is a photovoltaic system?
Photovoltaic systems convert solar energy into electricity that can also be used in the home. They function as part of a complex solar panel system consisting of the solar panels themselves, the structure supporting them, cables and the inverter that converts the energy.
The process works briefly as follows: sunlight falls on the surface of the solar panel, which absorbs it. The energy transfer releases electrons that begin to flow, creating an electric field and voltage. This energy, direct current, is converted by the inverter into alternating current, which can then be used to charge and power various electrical appliances, heating, cooling and lighting.
However, before we take a look at the different types of PV (solar panel) systems, let’s first clarify a common, confusing difference, which is the difference between a solar panel and a solar collector.
Solar panel vs. solar collector
Although their names are very similar and both use the sun’s energy, there is a big difference between the way solar panels and solar collectors work. While the former produces electricity thanks to the photovoltaic effect, that is, directly uses solar radiation, the latter heats the fluid circulating in the system. Therefore, the solar collector is used for heating and hot water production.
Now that we know what photovoltaic systems, or solar panels are and how they work, we will present the types available on the market, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the types of PV systems.
Types of solar cells
Basically, we distinguish between two main categories: There are crystalline solar cells and solar cells based on thin-film technology. Let’s look at these first and then present some alternative solutions.
The crystalline solar cells
The technology used by crystalline solar cells is quite mature, being the oldest and most popular type. This is due to the fact that they operate at high efficiency and can provide good performance. By the way, their name comes from the fact that the panel is made of silicon cells.
There are two types, monocrystalline and polycrystalline, which actually differ in the way they are manufactured.
Monocrystalline solar cells
Monocrystalline solar cells are made by dividing a silicon block into equal parts, octagons. This makes them easy to recognize when placed next to other types. The technology can achieve an extremely high efficiency of up to 21%, which is why it owes its popularity.
It performs best when exposed to direct sunlight rather than diffused light, which has several disadvantages, such as the fact that its performance decreases in cloudy weather and it is very sensitive to the angle of inclination and orientation. Since its price is higher than the polycrystalline version, it often lags behind the competition for financial reasons.
Polycrystalline solar cells
Polycrystalline solar cells use several silicon blocks that are also divided into equal parts, but in this case they are square. They are most easily recognized by their purple color and square cells.
Unlike monocrystalline solar cells, these solar cells use stray light very efficiently, so they perform well even in cloudy, slightly shady locations. The price, however, is that direct sunlight is not handled as well, although their efficiency is only minimally behind mono, about 20%. As for the price, it is also important to point out that the production and purchase price of polycrystalline solar cells is cheaper than other crystalline solar cells.
Thin-film, amorphous solar cells
In addition to crystalline solar cells, the thin-film solar cell is another defining type. Silicon still does most of the work here, but it is evaporated onto the surface and a very thin layer is formed. Let’s look at the advantages and disadvantages!
The advantages are clearly strengthened by the fact that thin-film solar modules are not too sensitive to heat, which means we don’t have to worry about the PV system letting us down on a hot summer day. Likewise, they’re not too picky about orientation, which is especially important when conditions aren’t the best. And what makes it even more interesting is that it can be manufactured at a much lower cost.
The downside, however, is that power and efficiency are lower, so more panels are needed to achieve the same result. In addition, their lifespan is also shorter and so is the manufacturer’s warranty.
A very popular subtype is the amorphous version. Amorphous solar cells differ in that they are made of an amorphous crystal, while semiconductor silicon is made of silane gas.
Hybrid
The special feature of hybrid solar panels is that they combine the advantages of a solar panel and a solar collector, so that the system can produce both hot water and electricity. In addition to the panel system, there is also a water system that is also suitable for cooling the solar panels, which can avoid the reduction in power due to heating.
Polymer
Polymer solar cells represent a novel line that is inexpensive to produce and flexible to use. However, their disadvantage is that the technology is not yet mature, as evidenced by the fact that their efficiency is low and large-scale production has not yet begun.
Solar roof tiles
There are also so-called solar tiles, which are very practical, because the roof tiles themselves perform the function of solar panels. However, this solution is currently available only at a very high price.
Insular or networked
In addition to the types of solar modules and PV systems, it is also important to mention that it does not matter how the modules form an overall system. This is possible in two ways: islanded and networked.
In the case of islanded systems, the property is completely independent of the power grid and the excess energy is stored in batteries. In the latter case, on the other hand, the plant is connected to the grid, which means that it is recharged here and any excess production and deficits are compensated from here. Therefore, it is also necessary to purchase an electricity meter that measures in two directions, which can be used to monitor production and consumption.
Photovoltaic systems are the most accessible means of generating green energy. Thanks to various subsidies, users have increasingly widespread access to this environmentally friendly technology.
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