Poly vs Mono solar panels: Which is the best type, and why?

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Poly vs Mono solar panels: Which is the best type, and why?

Jul 13, 2020 | Brand Reviews | 6 comments

MONO VS POLY : WHICH IS THE BEST TYPE ,AND WHY?

If you have considered installing a solar system, the words ‘mono’ and ‘poly’ must have come across your ears at some point. If I am right, these words were used to describe types of solar panels. And the saying goes like: the ‘mono’ type is more esteemed than the ‘poly’ type. The ‘mono’ type gives more power plus it looks darker, and to some the mono type looks better.

Well, today we are going to discuss some useful points about this and we trust you will have more insight after our discussion.

What is MONO SOLAR PANELS and What is POLY SOLAR PANELS?

Mono and Poly, are both shortcuts of the words Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline respectively. So, it goes on to say you have your Monocrystalline Solar panels and Polycrystalline solar panels.

Now, because the words Mono-crystalline and Poly-crystalline are lengthy, boring and complicated to read, we will keep it short. Therefore, we will say Mono when referring to Mono-crystalline, and Poly when referring to Poly-crystalline Solar panels.

Right, solar panels are made of Silicon crystals. Silicon is a chemical element found in dust or sand, and it is extracted in the form of crystals.

Now, when making solar panels, a single type of Silicon crystals is used to make Mono Solar panel cells. This results in solar panels with a uniform black color across all cells. Due to uniform and high concentration of the silicon crystals, mono solar panels collect solar energy more efficiently.

In contrast, poly solar panel cells are made from different types of Silicon crystals. As a result, poly solar panels do not have that uniform black color and they collect energy less efficiently than mono panels. In addition, poly solar panels are cheaper to manufacture than mono solar panels because making solar panels this way does not waste silicon.

POLY VS MONO : The differences

1. How they look

difference in color between mono and poly
the poly looks lighter than the mono

The mono and poly solar panels look different. Mono solar panels look darker than poly solar panels. Usually mono solar panels have a uniform color rendering and look dark blue to almost black in color. On the other hand, poly solar panels do not have a uniform color rendering and they look blue with blackish and grayish granules visible. If color is a concern, you can get the mono solar panels because of a uniformly distributed color across their surfaces. But however, seen from a distance, the poly solar panel looks uniform blue.

Moreover, their frames look pretty much the same and they are all made of silver aluminium. Cable connections from their back panels are virtually of the same mechanism. Therefore, the main difference is on the color rendering.

2.Physical Size

Given two 330 watt solar panels, but with one being a mono and another one a poly, with some manufacturers the Poly will look slightly bigger than the mono. This is a disadvantage for the Poly because you may have a limited roof space to put them. Moreover, it will also mean a heavier payload.

So when space and weight is of concern, you can consider going for Mono solar panels because they produce more electricity per square metre

However, the difference is seen when you are installing more than 20 to hundreds of solar panels, or when you want to make a solar farm, where you need to utilize every space available. Otherwise for basic home usage, the difference might be the same. Moreover, with some manufacturers, they will be of the same size.

3.Price

price of poly solar panels vs mono solar panels

It is a bit more expensive to make mono solar panels than poly solar panels. Subsequently, the poly solar panels will make it easier for your pocket. This is especially felt when you are buying ‘A GRADE’ models like Canadian Solar, Jinko Solar, JA solar and others.

However, the improved technology now used to make the mono solar panels have actually scaled down the cost difference quite significantly. It is now almost the same. In the earlier days of solar technology, mono solar panels would almost double the price of poly solar panels.

Therefore, as it stands, with the few cosmetic upgrades you get from the mono solar panels, but still enjoying roughly the same price, one would prefer mono solar panels. A typical research showed us that a mono solar panel will cost you 15% more than the poly panel. This is so if they are from the same manufacturer and of the same size.

4.POLY VS MONO Performance

Performance of solar panels can be grouped into 3 parts. We shall discuss about power production, temperature coefficient and shading. Please do not be scared to read about temperature coefficient because it is nothing more than just a jargon. Let’s see.

Power production

This one is the most perceived difference. And it is true that mono solar panels have a higher efficiency when converting solar energy to electricity. But how big is the gap?

Efficiency is rated as a percentage. And this is the percentage of the sun’s energy that a solar panel converts to electricity when exposed to the sun light. This is to say, if a panel is 20% efficient, it means of all the sun’s energy that will hit its surface, it is only going to convert 20% into electricity. Sounds low right? We thought as much. Now let’s look at the figures.

In general, the efficiency of mono solar panels is between 17% to 22% and the average efficiency of poly solar panels is between 14% to 18%. In real practical situations however, mono solar panels are seen to be only 2% more efficient than poly solar panels if they are from the same manufacturer.

Temperature coefficient

On yet another note, there is what they call temperature coefficient. When outside temperatures are high, solar panels tend to lose performance too. On this regard, poly solar panels are also more affected by this. Therefore, mono solar panels are said to have a better temperature coefficient than poly solar panels. However, in practical scenarios, this is a minor. Here is why:

Rising temperature reduces power output by a specific amount for every degree above 25°C measured in %/°C. Mono solar panels have an average temperature coefficient (or loss) of -0.38% /°C, while poly cells are slightly higher at -0.41% /°C. This is but a small difference and in real life situations, the difference cannot be felt, especially for residential usage.

Shading

image showing shaded solar panels
solar panels will not perform well if they are blocked by a shade

Finally, mono panels tend to behave a little better in less than perfect light conditions. However, no solar panel, regardless of their type, performs well in the shade. Period. However, if you have slight shading issues, or tend to have hazy skies, mono panels may typically perform a little better.

So what is the best solar panel between Poly vs Mono?

We have gobbled into how the choices will affect your pocket figures, to the figures in the lab themselves. However, in real life situations, we have also seen those figures to be of not a real biggie. So what will help you decide when the Mono vs Poly question pops up next time. Well there is a very important piece of information that you need to think about.

In our humble opinion, the choice of whether to go for mono panels or poly solar panels is not the most important decision that you are going to make.

There are 2 things that you need to consider seriously before you take the next leap:

1.Choose the correct brand

brand awareness is very important

A good brand of solar panel is from a company that invests heavily in the quality of its manufacturing process, as well as in its reputation. Even if you decide that you put Poly solar panels or mono solar panels, when the brand is quaky, your system is not going to perform well. Take a look at some of the brands we sell at Taqon Electrico. They can as well give you an idea of what you should look for.

Alternatively we also made a small research on some of the top brands in the world as of January 2020. Here is part of the list:

Locally, Jinko, Canadian Solar, Panasonic, Trina, JA solar, and Solarcom are available, and we sell them at Taqon Electrico.



2.Choose the right installer

It is equally important that you also choose the best solar installation company around.

Why is that?

There are many external factors that affect your solar system, and they can only be prevented if you find the best solar installation company. These are

  • Panel orientation
  • Shading
  • Temperature
  • Cable sizing
  • Connection configuration
  • Workmanship

At Taqon Electrico we clinically consider all these so that you realize the value for your money because a solar system is quite an investment. Hopefully you have gained a useful insight into the matter. Do not forget to comment on the comments section below and tell us your views.

Contact us if you have inquiries.

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6 Comments

  1. Bornwell Shumba

    Thank you so much for the knowledge looking forward to have more business with you and support your business by advertising your brand

    Reply
  2. Bornwell Shumba

    Am satisfied with your customer care services

    Reply
    • taqon electrico

      thank you very much Bornwell. we appreciate your feedback.

      Reply
  3. Selina Goldak

    I like how you wrote about poly vs mono : which is better and why.
    Taqon Electrico Blog Post.
    I want to share too, most trusted wholesale supplier list: https://bit.ly/31tTure (maybe it will help someone)
    Thanks and keep it up!

    Reply
    • taqon electrico

      thank you very much for the appreciation sir

      Reply

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Taqon Electrico

Taqon ElectriCo is a Solar and Electrical Systems Installer based in Harare Zimbabwe. Our aim is to give the best Electrical and Solar services, therefore, making our customers happy.

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