There are 3 fundamental types of construction of PV panels. All those explained here employ silicon.
Mono Crystalline cells are cut from a single crystal of silicon- they are systematically a slice from a crystal. In appearance, it will have a gentle surface and you will be able to notice the thickness of the slice. These are the most efficient and the priciest to produce.
Polycrystalline (or Multi Crystalline) cells are efficiently a slice cut from a block of silicon, consisting of many crystals. They have got a speckled reflective look and again you can see the thickness of the slice.
Amorphous cells are produced by placing a thin film of amorphous (non crystalline) silicon onto a wide choice of surfaces. These are the very least photovoltaic efficiency and lowest priced to make of the three types. Because of the amorphous nature of the thin layer, it is flexible, and if produced on a flexible surface, the whole solar panel can be elastic.
Based upon the primary idea that a solar cell acquiring more light energy will create much more electricity, concentrating photovoltaic solar panels basically entail a method (generally using a lens or mirrors) to concentrate more sunlight onto a photovoltaic cell. As fewer cells are then required for the same area of panel (or light capturing area) it may then become economical to employ a very effective multi junction cell.
Potentially, this type of panel has the following benefits:
- It has a higher overall performance, capturing more solar energy per meter squared contributing to a smaller area of panels needed for a particular output. Resulting efficiency levels can approach 50%.
- Potentially lower cost per watt of output caused by lower number of solar cells required, while the material cost and production process of the optics (light concentration mechanism) is fairly inexpensive.
- Lower use of environmentally unfriendly chemicals involved in the panel manufacturing process due to lower number of pv cells.
- Where the focus is such that cooling of the photovoltaic module is needed, a panel may have the capacity to output heat simultaneously as electricity.
However, there are drawbacks:
- In all but the lower levels of focus, heat must be dissipated from the cells. Cooling is critical as cell efficiency is significantly reduced at higher temperatures, or in intense situations, cells may be damaged.
- In all but the lower levels of concentration a tracker system will be required to keep the concentrated light aimed at the cells.
- As diffuse light cannot be effectively centered, concentrating PV panels are best suited to areas with a high level of very clear sunshine.
Though research has continued on focusing photovoltaic efficiency for many years, they have not created their mark on the industry, and exactly where they have been used, it has been in large scale projects. CPV panels that have been manufactured have come in \”various shapes and sizes\” with no obvious design leading the field.
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