All categories
Featured selections
Trade Assurance
Buyer Central
Help Center
Get the app
Become a supplier
(266416 products available)
There are three main types of photovoltaic solar panels:
Monocrystalline solar panels
These are made from single crystal silicon, which gives them a uniform dark colour and c shape. Due to the pureness of the silicon, these p v panels can convert more sunlight into electricity and are therefore more effective, usually around 15% to 20%. They occupy less space due to their higher efficiency. They tend to cost more due to the manufacturing process being more complex. Monocrystalline panels are more resilient and are able to perform better in low-light conditions.
Polycrystalline solar panels
Polycrystalline panels are made from silicon crystals melted together. They have a bluish, speckled look due to the multiple silicon crystal blue sees which are visibly apparent once the panels are manufactured. These panels are slightly less effective than monocrystalline panels, usually around 12% to 16% because of the way the silicon is produced. They are often cheaper because the manufacturing process is simpler as it involves melting and pouring the silicon into molds rather than the more complex processes involved in monocrystalline pv solar panel construction. Polycrystalline panels tend to be slightly less efficient in high-temperature conditions than monocrystalline panels.
Thin-film solar panels
Thin-film panels are not made from silicon alone. Instead, they use different materials like cadmium telluride or amorphous silicon to create very thin layers of photovoltaic material. This makes them flexible and lightweight, allowing for different applications like on curved surfaces. They are the least efficient, usually around 10% or lower, largely because the thin films use less effective photovoltaic materials than the silicon-based cells. These panels tend to be much cheaper, however, because the photovoltaic material costs less and the manufacturing process is much simpler.
Electricity generation
PV solar panels convert sunlight into electricity using the photovoltaic effect. This emission-free electricity can power a business' operations, reducing reliance on the grid and lowering energy costs.
Remote power
Many commercial uses of PV solar panels exist in remote locations where connecting to the electrical grid is impractical. These places include rural telecommunications towers and oil and gas exploration equipment that all use PV panels to generate the power they need.
Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV)
These types of PV solar panels, especially thin-film solar panels, are constructed into building materials like windows, facades, and roof shingles. This integration allows buildings to generate electricity while still looking aesthetically pleasing and performing well.
Water pumping and irrigation systems
Solar panels provide the electricity for pumps that supply water to agricultural fields and livestock. The panel's power is also used for solar-powered irrigation systems that help farms efficiently deliver the right amount of water to crops.
Street lighting and signage
Heating systems
Some PV systems can be used to generate heat instead of electricity, such as through solar water heaters for the hospitality industry, like hotels and resorts, where they need hot water for showers, laundry, and heating.
Emergency backup power
Many businesses and commercial facilities install PV systems to provide backup power during grid outages or emergencies. This ensures crucial operations like communications, security systems, and medical equipment in hospitals continue functioning.
Charging stations
Grid-connected and off-grid systems
They can be connected to the electrical grid to sell excess power or be totally off-grid to provide all the electric needs.
Clean, renewable energy
Using the power of the sun, which is abundant and does not deplete natural resources like fossil fuels, PV solar panels generate electricity without greenhouse gas emissions or air pollution, helping combat climate change and protect the environment.
Great for energy independence
They enable reliance on locally generated power rather than imported fossil fuels. This enhances national security by reducing vulnerability to energy supply disruptions, price volatility, and geopolitical tensions while ensuring a more stable and secure energy future.
Economic advantages
They create jobs in manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and related fields. These are all growing areas that enhance local economies. Once installed, solar systems have very low operating costs and can save users money.
Scalability
This means that they can work for small users, like households, or be set up to power vast industrial operations or even utility-scale solar farms. This versatility enables wide adoption across many applications and energy demands.
Low maintenance
They typically have very long warranties, around 25 years, and are designed to last. The materials and engineering that go into them mean they require very little upkeep beyond occasional cleaning.
Grid security and reliability
Increased property value
Efficiency
Warranty and lifespan
Costs
Panel type
Durability
Can they perform in the shade?
Monitoring and maintenance
Inverter selection
PV solar panels work by using the photovoltaic effect. The solar panels are made of silicon semiconductors. When sunlight shines on the panels, the solar energy is absorbed by the silicon. The sunlight energizes electrons in the silicon, causing them to break free. This creates a flow of electric current. Each solar panel produces direct current or DC electricity. An inverter then converts the DC into alternating current or AC electricity, which is used to power a home or building.
The key components of a PV system are the solar panels that capture sunlight, an inverter that converts the DC electricity from the panels into AC electricity, mounting hardware to secure the panels in place, and a monitoring system that keeps track of how much solar power is being produced.
Maintenance of the PV solar panels is minimal. The solar panels should be cleaned periodically to remove dirt, dust, and debris for optimal performance. This can be done with water and a soft brush or by professionals. The monitoring system will check performance. The inverter should be checked and replaced if necessary.
The solar panels are designed to last for many years. Most PV solar panels come with warranties that last 25 years. They are built to withstand harsh weather conditions, including rain, snow, hail, and heat. Some panels may continue to generate solar power effectively for even longer beyond the warranty period.
The cost of the solar panels has decreased significantly over the last decade. The current cost is approximately $3 to $4 per watt, which includes panels, inverters, installation, and other costs. Today the average cost for a residential 5 kW system is around $15,000.
