If you have ever driven through a residential neighborhood in states like California, Arizona, North Carolina, or any of the other top states for solar, it is likely that you have seen the stereotypical blue solar panels covering some of the rooftops. Blue solar panels are very common for several reasons, but they are not the only color that a solar panel may come in.
The color of a solar panel is largely based on the way in which the solar module is manufactured.
Monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels are the two main forms of consumer solar panels and vary in color from either blue or black. Both of these types of solar panels use silicon as the conductive material, but the way the silicon is treated and molded into the solar cell is quite different.
Check out this video to find out the difference between mono and poly crystalline solar panels.
In this post, we will take a look at each type of panel and see why they take on the color they do.
Polycrystalline Solar Panels
Polycrystalline solar panels are the more common, blue colored solar panels that have been widely popular for over a decade in the solar market. Polycrystalline solar panels are manufactured through a process where silicon is melted and poured into a mold. This leads to a solar cell that is made up of several silicon fragments.
The name of these panels comes from the fact that they include many (‘poly’) silicon crystals, whereas monocrystalline panels only include one (‘mono’) silicon crystal in each cell. The reason why this form of the solar panel is much more popular than monocrystalline panels is that they are cheaper to manufacture.
One drawback of the polycrystalline solar panel, however, is that is less efficient. This is a result of the solar cell being packed with numerous silicon crystals, which limits the space available for photons to travel through.
The blue color of a polycrystalline solar panel is a side-effect of both the way the silicon crystals reflect light, as well as from the anti-reflective coating that the panels are treated with.
Monocrystalline Solar Panels
As was touched upon earlier, monocrystalline solar panels make use of one silicon crystal within each solar cell in the panel. The manufacturing process for monocrystalline panels requires more work, and as a result, it is more expensive to produce these units.
The production of monocrystalline solar cells involves the Czochralski process, which in this case is a method used for growing single silicon crystals. This is accomplished by slowly lifting a silicon seed crystal out of a dish of melted silicon. As you lift it out, it slowly forms one larger crystal. These are then cut into squares which are used in the monocrystalline panel as a solar cell.
Monocrystalline panels are black as opposed to blue and are more efficient for a couple of reasons. First, the black is a color that naturally absorbs more light than blue, and secondly, there is more space for the photons to travel through with one silicon crystal in each cell.
Sistine Solar Skins
Sistine solar skins are a relatively new technology coming out of an MIT startup. Their patent-pending technology allows you to change to look of your solar panels to anything you want. These solar skins do not fundamentally change the color of your solar panels, but they do offer a solution for consumers that are looking for something outside of the traditional blue or black color.
This is actually a much bigger issue than one would assume, considering the Department of Energy estimates that there are 13 million homes across the country that decide not to adopt solar because of the appearance of the panels. Solar skins are a great way to address this problem.
Blue Beginnings
It is true that the majority of solar panels you will see around the country are blue in color, which is a result of their cheaper price and wider availability, but there are also other options if blue is not your thing. With black monocrystalline panels, solar skins, and even solutions like Tesla’s solar roof, there will soon be an option for everyone.
If you are looking to get started on your solar project, you can connect with one of our experienced Energy Advisors today!
Household solar monitoring systems change the abstracts of power generation and consumption into graphics and numbers you can scroll through on an app. Hardware connected...
Solar panels and backup batteries get all the attention. But there’s another important piece of equipment to the home solar equation: mounting systems. These sturdy...
Solar.com is committed to providing our customers with the best customer service experience in the solar industry. In light of the ongoing developments around the...
U.S. Installed Solar Capacity: 2 Million Milestone
According to the most recent data released by Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the residential solar market in...
Solar Subcontractors: Should I use one to go solar?
So, youre interested in starting a solar project and now youre wondering, “who should be doing the installation work?” Well, more and more companies are...
5 Most Popular Solar Panels Chosen by Homeowners in 2018
Homeowners demand a lot from the solar panels they select for their rooftop system. These panels need to look good and perform well over multiple decades! Here...
According to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is on track to install 200 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2020. The country is fully embracing...
If you live in an area that experiences extreme weather like hurricanes, hail, thunderstorms, blizzards, heavy winds and more, then you should take the time...
Hyundai and Panasonic are trusted brands and they’ve both expanded into the solar panel industry. Offering quality products for two different price points, each brand...
Should I Get a Solar Thermal System Instead of a PV System?
When you hear about installing solar, youre most likely hearing about PV (photovoltaic) solar cell panels. Theyve become standard in the industry. PV solar cell...
How Utility API Works With Your Utility and Solar Company
Utility API provides software to accelerate the clean energy movement. They do this, in part, by offering secure data on a homeowners energy usage to...
American Solar Panel Manufacturers - 2018 Complete List
There are many reasons why a consumer may want to purchase their solar panels from an American manufacturer or from American Solar brands. They want...
Solar panel mounts are a common component of almost every solar panel array. Although there are newer solar panel technologies coming out that do not...
Top 5 Solar Panels Selected Through Solar.com in 2017
Curious which solar panels are selected most on the Solar.com platform? As an online marketplace connecting quality solar companies to customers, we stay neutral...
SunPower Solar Panels vs. LG Solar Panels - 2018 Update
SunPower and LG are two of the top companies making solar panels. You’ve probably come across them in your research, and you’re wondering which will...
Solar technology has been in existence since 1876 when William Grylls Adams and his student researcher discovered that you can produce electricity by exposing selenium to...
Solar energy is taking shape across industries and geographies. Engineers at top solar panel companies are hard at work developing innovations making solar even more...
5 Reasons to Consider a Career in the Solar Industry
Solar energy, unfortunately, is still viewed as an alternate power source. However, in spite of this designation, it is quickly becoming the primary source of...
Amazon Has Finally Decided To Become A Leader in Renewable Energy
Back in 2015, Greenpeace did a sophisticated research project on the sustainability of the top tech giants in the United States. It covered many areas of sustainability,...
Most solar installation companies provide financial projections to homeowners estimating what their savings will be twenty or twenty-five years after the time of installation. But...
It’s International Women’s Day! Today we recognize and celebrate women all around the world. As a member of Solar.com’s female population, it’s necessary for me...
A Review of LG Solar Panels - When Brand Name Does Matter
LG is a brand you may already be familiar with. They are a South Korean multinational manufacturer that makes televisions, mobile devices, tablets, smartwatches and...
This paper highlights the importance of power tolerance when choosing solar panels. Power tolerance is a measure of how much electrical power a solar panel...
Gauging the Bankability of Small to Mid-Sized Solar Installers
The entire world is going green and moving toward cleaner sources of energy. California hosts a flourishing solar industry with a burgeoning number of solar...
At Solar.com, we believe in supplying quality equipment for our customers. In the last twenty years, solar technology has grown exponentially, costs have plummeted,...
Elon Musk's Gigafactory Should Be Dictating Your Solar Equipment
All solar installations today should be thinking ahead to the not-so-distant future. The main question to be asking is whether your solar system will seamlessly...
We all know why people go solar: investment purposes, immediate savings, environmental concerns, and grid independence. But who are these people? One of Malcom Gladwell’s...
The following letter is from a very reputable company in Solar.com’s installer network to a homeowner who was unfortunately taken advantage of by an installer...
Bankability: What it Means and Why it is Important for Your Solar...
Homeowners who are considering solar typically overlook the manufacturer of their solar panels, despite this being one of the most important factors for the longevity...
The U.S. Department of Energy invests in new technology to revolutionize the landscape of solar data. Reliable solar grid data, the true performance of solar...