Solar photovoltaic panels, also called photovoltaic modules, are built using interconnected solar cells, placed in series. In the very essence they convert sunlight into electricity.
The efficiency of photovoltaic panels, which may be otherwise described as rate at which the panels produce electricity under sunlight, is fundamental and depends heavily on the technology of solar cell fabrication. One can distinguish different types of cells that are most commonly used to build photovoltaic solar panels:
– The panels made of mono-crystalline silicon cells offering about 20% efficiency. Those panels are usually more expensive but with long guaranteed lifetime.
– The panels made of poly-crystalline silicon cells offering about 15% efficiency. Less expensive than the monocrystalline counterpart, also come with shorter expected lifetime.
