Monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels are the two most common types of solar panels. Like all solar panels, they capture the sun’s energy and convert it into electricity. Both types use silicon, a material that’s abundant and durable.
The most significant difference between the two panels is the silicon crystal technology used. Monocrystalline (mono) panels use a single silicon crystal, while polycrystalline (poly) panels use multiple crystals melted together. Here’s a breakdown of more differences between the panels.
Mono panels contain monocrystalline solar cells with a single silicon crystal. This crystal is grown in a lab and formed into a cylinder shape called an ingot. These silicon ingots are cut into thin discs, or silicon wafers, and shaved into octagonal shapes. This process fits more crystalline silicon cells into a solar panel and eliminates wasted space between cells.
Though more space is saved, the shaved pieces cannot be reused for other mono cells. The manufacturing process is also more expensive, but using a single crystal improves the solar panels’ efficiency.
Poly solar panels also use silicon cells, but the manufacturing process is different. Whereas mono solar panels use single silicon cells, poly panels use multiple silicon fragments melted together. Polycrystalline solar cells are formed into a cube and cut into thin wafers. The multi-crystalline process eliminates wasted space without producing excess waste, as leftover materials can be reused.
Since polycrystalline solar cells aren’t pure silicon, they have imperfections along the surface, making them less efficient than their mono counterparts. However, the production process is less expensive and wasteful, making them more affordable.
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