Solar Energy Panels for Homes

Solar panels for homes harness the sun's radiation and convert it to electricity that is an alternative to power derived from traditional energy sources. There are several types of solar energy panels you can buy to effectively provide energy to your home.

Monocrystalline Silicon

• Monocrystalline panels consist of one large single cell that uses crystalline silicon produced in a large sheet. These panels contain metal strips laid over the cell that act as a conductor to capture electrons. These single-crystal panels have a return electricity rate, or the amount of electricity generated from solar energy, between 14 to 18 percent.

Polycrystalline Silicon

• Polycrystalline panels consist of a number of small cells placed together, instead of one large panel, to collect the sun's rays. These panels are slightly less efficient than monocrystalline panels, providing a return rate of 12 to 14 percent. But, they are also cheaper to manufacture.

Amorphous Silicon

• Amorphous silicon is a durable product but does not yield the highest photovoltaic efficiency out of the solar panel group. These panels provide a lower efficiency rate, only between 5 to 6 percent, and require more area of panel size to achieve the same amount of wattage. Amorphous silicon has an advantage of providing improved power output in low-light conditions.