Kates Playground Exclusive

Guide to different types of photovoltaic modules



concentrate on the types of photovoltaic modules currently popular on the market. There are basically three uses, I have already mentioned, the silicon material as semiconduttore.La first type uses silicon monocrystalline. Each cell is made from a silicon crystal structure of homogeneous
(which is why we speak of monocrystalline silicon). These cells possess the highest degree of purity of the material and thus provide the best performance in terms of efficiency. The energy efficiency of the order of 15-16%.

The second type uses, however, the polycrystalline silicon. The cell consists of structurally homogeneous silicon, arranged in grain locally ordered (polycrystalline structure). In this case, the purity of the material used is lower than the previous type and thus efficiency provided is less (11-14%).

The third type uses amorphous silicon, ie silicon atoms are chemically deposited on the supporting surface in amorphous form, according to a disorganized structure. In reality, therefore, we do not have true cells, but simply lay a thin layer of crystalline silicon on
surface of another material (glass or plastic). In the latter case, energy efficiency is quite low, about 5-7%, but at the same cost, amorphous silicon allows for production of energy similar to that provided by crystalline silicon cells.

Of the three solutions we have seen only the last, that of the amorphous silicon allows the decrease of form because there is no crystal structure of the material to prevent relative movement.