Comparison of Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline Solar Modules
Liang Jiang, Sai Cui, Peng Sun, Yanyan Wang, Chao Yang
Abstract
As the typical representative of clean energy, solar energy generating systems has the characteristics of long development history, low manufacturing cost and high efficiency, and so on. Polycrystalline silicon modules and monocrystalline silicon modules have become the mainstream products in the photovoltaic market. Based on the comparisons of the microstructure, macrostructure and physicochemical properties, we can draw the following conclusions: monocrystalline silicon cells have the advantages of perfect lattice structure, high material purity, low grain boundary energy, weak internal resistance, and high efficiency, meanwhile, the monocrystalline modules show the good aesthetic value because of the color uniform and no spots. At present, the polycrystalline and monocrystalline modules are mainly used in the rooftop or ground photovoltaic systems, the monocrystalline module has the good power generation yield and save the cost of land or rooftop with the same installed capacity. The actual power generation yield of monocrystalline is higher than polycrystalline with the same amount of modules. If the PERC monocrystalline modules are used in solar energy project, more power generation yield will be generated than traditional modules.