Do you know the different types of solar panels?

Regardless of the solar technology, its characteristics, or its price, a solar panel uses solar energy to transform it into electricity or heat, or electricity and heat in the case of hybrid solar panels. Each solar panel has its own technical characteristics, performance and price. Let’s take a closer look at the different types of solar panels.

What are the different types of solar panels?

In common parlance, the generic term “solar panels” is used to refer only to photovoltaic solar panels. However, it is very important to remember that the term “solar panels” refers to three types of solar panels:

• The photovoltaic solar panel, which transforms the solar energy received into electricity.
• The solar thermal panel, which transforms the solar energy received into heat, allowing the production of hot water.
• The hybrid solar panel that transforms the solar energy received into electricity and heat simultaneously.

– The photovoltaic solar panel –

The best-known solar panel is the famous photovoltaic panel. It’s the one that everyone hears about in everyday life, especially since the boom of interest in renewable energies. The photovoltaic solar panel is made up of photovoltaic cells that allow it to generate electricity when the sun’s rays hit it. There are two main types of photovoltaic panels:

• The crystalline silicon (monocrystalline) solar panel is composed of a single silicon crystal. Monocrystalline solar panel has a darker appearance than polycrystalline panel. In general, it is made up of a single crystal, which allows for a very effective performance of 14 to 18%. However, this type of panel is very expensive because it is difficult to produce.
• The crystalline silicon (polycrystalline) solar panel is made up of several silicon crystals. Its blue color makes it much more visible and, therefore, less attractive. Polycrystalline panels are less efficient than monocrystalline panels. However, their simpler manufacturing process makes them more affordable.
• Amorphous silicon solar panels are more flexible than crystalline silicon solar panels. Amorphous silicon is generally used as a solar membrane, so it is easier to install than conventional panels due to its flexibility. However, their ease and lightness come at a price: their efficiency is usually only 8%, which is still very mediocre. On the other hand, they are usually less expensive to install.
• The Copper-Indium-Selenium (CIS) or Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) solar panel. In this case, the raw materials for CIS or CIGS cells are much easier to obtain than the silicon used in conventional photovoltaics. Its efficiency of the power conversion is the highest to date for thin-film photovoltaic cells, but they require a larger surface area to achieve the same efficiency as crystalline photovoltaic panels.

– The solar thermal panel –

A solar panel is not only intended to produce electricity, despite to popular belief. In fact, solar thermal panels can be used to produce domestic hot water (DHW). Specifically, this type of solar panel consists of a circuit through which heating water, or a heat transfer fluid circulates. In the first case, nothing too complicated: the heating water circulates through pipes directly exposed to sunlight. In the second case, the heating fluid is first heated by the sun’s rays before being sent into a hot water tank. You can then return its heat to the heating or hot water circuit.

In summer, this type of solar panel can provide all the hot water a house needs, especially for homes with a swimming pool. However, when the cold weather arrives, solar thermal panels are not enough. To compensate for this, it is necessary to install a backup heater that takes over when temperatures are too low.

– The hybrid solar panel –

Is it possible to produce electricity and hot water at the same time with the same panel? Of course! It’s the famous hybrid solar panel that offers a two-in-one solution. In particular, this type of solar panel is made up of photovoltaic cells at the front and high-efficiency thermal collectors at the rear. The advantages of this device are manifold. First of all, a hybrid solar panel allows greater energy savings compared to a classic solar panel. Both electricity and heating needs can be partially met.

Secondly, when exposed to the sun, photovoltaic panels can reach very high temperatures, up to 80°C.  Thermal collectors are used to prevent overheating and maintain the effectiveness of the panels despite high temperatures.

What are the different efficiencies and performances of solar panels? ?

Now let’s talk about the performance of these different panels and try to understand their efficiency. To begin with, let’s study the case of the famous photovoltaic solar panel. It can capture 20% in the form of photovoltaic energy. The remaining 80% of the energy is lost due to the reflection of the sun’s rays and heat loss.

The simple PVT, on the other hand, integrates a photovoltaic panel and a water circuit at the rear. In theory, it converts thermal losses from the rear of the panel (40%) into solar thermal energy. This results in an efficiency of 60%.

However, in practice we are far from it. In fact, heat loss to the rear is lost through the front. Only 5% is converted into solar thermal energy. Therefore, the total efficiency is only 25%.

Abora Solar’s hybrid solar panel is equipped with aHTech technology to reduce heat loss. Solar thermal energy increases to 70% and photovoltaic to 19%. The performance of the hybrid solar panel with aHTech is therefore 89%. aHTech technology has made the hybrid solar panel the most efficient solar panel on the market with an energy production equivalent to that of 4 photovoltaic solar panels and energy losses are reduced as the aHTech hybrid solar panel takes advantage of 89% of solar irradiation.

What are the different methods of installing solar panels?

Finally, it is important to know that there are several ways to install solar panels. The type of installation will depend on the type of building and the installation, but also on the model of solar panel chosen.

Here are the two methods of installing solar panels:

• Installation on the roof: The classic installation of a solar panel is naturally on the roof. The panels are fixed to an existing roof, allowing them to store energy.
• Integrated installation in the building: It is also possible to install solar panels directly into the structure of a building. In this case, the solar panels are attached directly to the roof structure. This type of installation is more expensive, but allows you to sell electricity at the best power tariff.
• Floor installation: Finally, it is possible to mount a solar panel directly in a garden. However, this type of installation is reserved for solar thermal and hybrid panels, in particular to heat a pool or the house’s water. It is not very effective for photovoltaic panels, which will receive more solar energy if they are high up.

To calculate your hybrid installation, we invite you to fill out our My Hybrid project or contact us directly, where we will answer all your questions!