The photoelectric conversion efficiency of monocrystalline solar panels is about 15%, and the highest reaches 24%, which is the photoelectric conversion efficiency in all kinds of solar panels.

Monocrystalline solar panels are the most efficient, but expensive to make, and with technological breakthroughs and cost reductions, they can now be widely and universally used in large quantities. Since monocrystalline silicon is generally encapsulated with tempered glass and waterproof resin, it is strong and durable, and its service life can generally reach 15 years and up to 25 years.

Polycrystalline solar panels

The manufacturing process of polycrystalline solar panels is similar to that of monocrystalline solar panels, but the photoelectric conversion efficiency of polycrystalline solar panels is much lower, and its photoelectric conversion efficiency is about 12% (on July 1, 2004, Japan's Sharp listed the world's highest efficiency polycrystalline solar panels with an efficiency of 14.8%). In terms of production cost, it is cheaper than monocrystalline solar panels, simple material manufacturing, saving electricity consumption, and lower total production costs, so the first generation of solar panels has been greatly developed. In addition, the service life of polycrystalline silicon solar panels is also shorter than that of monocrystalline solar panels. In terms of performance-price ratio, monocrystalline silicon solar panels are slightly better.

Amorphous solar panels

Amorphous solar panel is a new type of thin-film solar panel that appeared in 1976, it is completely different from the production method of monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels, the process is greatly simplified, silicon material consumption is very small, electricity consumption is lower, its main advantage is that it can also generate electricity under weak light conditions. However, the main problem of amorphous silicon solar panels is that the photoelectric conversion efficiency is low, the international advanced level is about 10%, and it is not stable enough, and its conversion efficiency decays with the extension of time.

Multi-compound solar panels

Multi-compound solar panels refer to solar panels that are not made of single-element semiconductor materials. There are many varieties studied in various countries, most of which have not yet been industrially produced, mainly as follows:

a) Cadmium sulfide solar panels

b) GaAs solar panels

c) Copper indium selenide solar panels