What are thin-film solar panels?

Thin-film solar panels are a type of photovoltaic solar panels that are made up of one or more thin layers of PV materials. These thin, light-absorbing layers can be over 300 times thinner than a traditional silicon solar panel. Thin-film solar cells have built-in semiconductors, making them the solar panels the lightest panels available.

What is a thin film solar cell?

What differs Thin-Film solar cells from monocrystalline and polycrystalline is that Thin-Film can be made using different materials. There are 3 types of solar Thin-Film cells: This type of Thin-Film is made from amorphous silicon (a-Si), which is a non-crystalline silicon making them much easier to produce than mono or polycrystalline solar cells.

Are thin film solar panels more efficient?

Thin-Film solar panels are less efficient and have lower power capacities than mono and polycrystalline solar cell types. The efficiency of the Thin-Film system varies depending on the type of PV material used in the cells but in general they tend to have efficiencies around 7% and up to 18%.

What are the pros and cons of thin-film solar panels?

Thin-film solar panels have many pros, while only holding a few cons to them. These are the most important pros and cons of this technology. Higher resistance to degradation. Lower thermal losses at extreme temperatures due to the low-temperature coefficient. Ideal for portable and BIPV applications.

How much do thin-film solar panels cost?

Thin-film solar panels cost an average of $0.50 to $1 per watt for the materials. For example, an average thin-film system would consist of ten panels. The total cost of these panels including materials and installation averages between $2,000 and $8,800, depending on the thin-film technology you use and how many you install.

How efficient are CdTe thin-film solar panels?

CdTe thin-film solar panels reached a 19% efficiency under Standard Testing Conditions (STC), but single solar cells have achieved efficiencies of 22.1%. This technology currently represents 5.1% of the market share worldwide, falling second only under crystalline silicon solar panels that hold 90.9% of the market.