Monocrystalline vs Polycrystalline Panels: Which Is Best?
Explore the key differences between Monocrystalline vs Polycrystalline Panels to choose the best solar panel for your home.
They're both made from silicon; many solar panel manufacturers produce monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels. Both monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels can be good choices for your home, but there are key differences you should understand before making a decision.
The single cells of monocrystalline cells provide an efficiency of 15-25%, whereas the multiple crystals of silicon used for polycrystalline panels limit their efficiency to 13-16%. The efficiency of monocrystalline panels is intricately linked to their manufacturing process, which utilizes singular silicon crystals grown in controlled conditions.
Typically, monocrystalline solar panels are more expensive to produce than polycrystalline panels due to their manufacturing function and higher efficiency. However, the cost gap has been narrowing over time, and both types are now more competitively priced, with only modest cost differences.
Polycrystalline panels generally have an efficiency rating of between 13% and 16%. While only a few percentage points less than monocrystalline panels, it's a difference that can count for a lot when compounded across many solar panels. Pros
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