Installation cost, aesthetics and energy generation efficiency differs from one type of solar panel to another. With that in mind, understanding what each type of solar panel has to offer will be beneficial in helping you decide which is best suited for your roof. Here’s everything you need to know about the different types of solar panels in Singapore.
What are the types of solar panels available in Singapore?
There are three main types of solar panels available in the Singapore solar market today:monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film solar panels. The most commonly used type in Singapore is the monocrystalline solar panels due to its high quality and efficiency.
Beyond these three main categories, you might have also heard about N-type, P-type, HJT, or TOPCon gaining attention.These refer to advanced innovations within the monocrystalline panels.
The solar industry is transitioning from P-type panels to the more efficient and longer-lasting N-type panels. Similarly, PERC technology is being upgraded to HJT and TOPCon, offering higher performance and durability.
In this article, we’ll break down the appearance, efficiency & performance, and cost of the three main types of solar panels to help you choose the right one. Here’s a quick comparison table to give you an overview of monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film solar panels.
| Type of Solar Panel | Appearance | Efficiency & Performance | Cost | Common Use Cases |
| Monocrystalline | – Dark Black – Rectangular cells with rounded edges. | – Highest efficiency (up to ~20% – Durable, withstands high temperatures | Most expensive | Residential |
| Polycrystalline | – Blue – Rectangular cells with sharp edges | – Efficiency of ~15-17% – Lower durability | More affordable than monocrystalline | – Residential – Commercial – Industrial |
| Thin-Film | – Matte black – Lightweight and flexible | – Lowest efficiency (10-13%) – Requires more panels to produce the same energy – Short lifespan | Least expensive | – Industrial – Areas with large installation space – Flat-Roofs |
Traditional first-generation solar panels are usually made of monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon. On the other hand, second-generation ones, made using innovative technology, are thin-film solar panels.
Comparing Solar Panel Appearance
Given the different materials and manufacturing methods, the outer appearance of each type of solar panel is different. While some solar panels are black out-of-the-box, they can often appear to be blue or have a bluish hue when seen from a distance. This colour difference can generally be seen when light interacts with the panels. Let’s take a look at the different appearances of the panels!
Monocrystalline
The characteristic appearance of the monocrystalline solar panel is a dark or black exterior. The dark appearance is due to the way that sunlight interacts with the material of the solar panel. When sunlight traps sulfur atoms in the silicon it causes these solar panels to appear dark. Although you can’t change the colour of monocrystalline solar cells, their frames and back sheets are highly customisable. Pick from a range of designs and colours when you get solar panels of this type in Singapore. The most popular solar frame options are black and silver while the back sheets are commonly black, silver or white.
Additionally, monocrystalline panels are square-shaped, with rounded edges and their corners removed, causing small gaps between each cell.
Polycrystalline
Unlike monocrystalline cells, polycrystalline cells are marbled and blue. Sunlight that reflects off the crystal fragments gives this type of solar panel a blue, speckled appearance. Just like monocrystalline cells, you can also choose from various different back sheet and frames for polycrystalline options. Often, the solar frames are silver and the back sheet is silver or white. Polycrystalline cells are also square with no gaps or spaces between them.
Thin-Film
Thin-film solar panels tend to be solid black, but can also come in both blue and black shades, dependent on the material used during manufacturing. As the name suggests, they are significantly thinner compared to other solar panel types. Cells within the panels are approximately 350 times thinner than the crystal cells used in both monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels. Its thinness is the greatest aesthetic advantage that it has over the other two solar panels.
Comparing Material of Solar Panels
Wondering how do solar panels work? Well, solar panels are made from a semiconductor material that converts light into electricity. Silicon is the most commonly used semiconducting material during the manufacturing process.
Monocrystalline & Polycrystalline
Both monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels are made from silicon, specifically silicon wafers. These wafers are aligned and assembled forming a rectangular panel. Afterwhich, they’re coated with a glass sheet and mounted onto a metal frame.
While both types of solar panels are made from silicon, their manufacturing process and silicon composition are different. Monocrystalline panels are formed using the Czochralski method, by setting a pure silicon crystal into a tank of molten silicon at high temperature. The end result of this process is thinly sectioned silicon sheets or wafers. These sheets are then made into the solar cell and put together to form one solar panel.
On the other hand, polycrystalline panels are made from multiple crystals. Just like monocrystalline cells, a silicon crystal is placed into a tank of molten silicon. However, instead of removing the crystal, the silicon is left to fragment and cool. The cooling process will result in the formation of many crystals in the mould. Once cooled, the new fragmented crystal is sliced into wafers and assembled rectangularly to form a polycrystalline panel.
Thin-Film
Thin-Film solar panels are made with a variety of materials. They’re produced by placing a thin layer of one or more films of photovoltaic matter onto a solid substrate surface. Examples of these photovoltaic materials include silicon, cadmium, copper and dye-sensitised solar cells. The most widely available thin-film solar panel is made from cadmium telluride (CdTe). During manufacturing, a layer of CdTe will be placed between layers of transparent conductors to capture sunlight. A glass layer is placed on top of the other layers as protection.
While different types of materials result in different forms of solar panels, they still fall under the category of thin-film solar cells. Due to the simplicity of the manufacturing process, the panels tend to be lightweight and flexible.
Comparing Solar Panel Efficiency and Performance
Monocrystalline
Monocrystalline solar panels have the highest conversion efficiency at approximately 20%. This is because they contain the highest silicon purity among all solar panel types. These panels are crafted from a single silicon crystal, thereby allowing for faster electron flow between cells. They’re also more durable and can withstand higher temperatures, making them one of the most suitable types of solar panels in Singapore. Overall, these panels generally contain 60 to 72 solar cells and are some of the most efficient on the market.
Within monocrystalline technology, there are two subcategories:
- N-Type Panels: Made with phosphorus-doped silicon, N-Type panels are known for their durability and resistance to light-induced degradation (LID). They also absorbing sunlight from both sides for increased energy output. For instance, the Trina Vertex S+ panels, used by GetSolar, utilize advanced N-Type i-TOPCon technology, combining high efficiency and reliability.
- P-Type Panels: Using boron-doped silicon, P-Type panels are a more traditional and cost-effective option. However, they are more prone to LID and slightly less efficient compared to N-Type panels. They remain popular due to their affordability and compatibility with technologies like PERC.
Modern monocrystalline panels integrate cutting-edge technologies to further boost efficiency and durability:
- PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Contact): Improves efficiency by adding a localized back surface field (BSF) that reduces energy loss. PERC is widely used in standard monocrystalline setups, offering high performance at a competitive cost.
- TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivation Contact): A next-gen enhancement to PERC, adding a thin silicon dioxide layer for higher efficiency and durability.
- HJT (Heterojunction Technology): Combines thin-film and crystalline silicon for superior performance, durability, and allowing energy absorption from both sides. It offers better efficiency and temperature performance with simpler manufacturing. For instance, REC Alpha Pure panels
Reference : SunPro Power Website
Reference : Maysun Solar Website
GetSolar also offers flexible glassless monocrystalline panels with Sunman eArc, which are different from thin-film solar panels that have lower efficiency. These panels combine flexibility with the high performance of monocrystalline technology.
Sunman eArc panels are great for curved roofs or stick-on installations on glass surfaces where drilling isn’t possible. They are perfect for unique designs or situations where traditional installation methods don’t work, while still providing excellent energy efficiency.
Polycrystalline
For a polycrystalline solar panel, 60 to 72 solar cells are also needed to form one panel. Polycrystalline solar panels, while more affordable, are much less efficient in nature.
This is due to the fragmented nature of the silicon crystals, which makes it more difficult for electrons through each solar cell. This polycrystalline structure causes it to have a slightly lower conversion efficiency rate at around 15 to 17%.
Thin-Film
The thin-film technology has the lowest conversion efficiency of all solar panel technologies. The conversion efficiency rate of thin-film solar panels tends to be between 10 and 13%, regardless of the material used during manufacturing.
As thin-film technology doesn’t come in uniform sizes, the energy capacity of a thin-film solar panel system is largely dependent on the size of the panels. This means that to produce equal amounts of energy as monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panel setups, more thin-film solar panels are needed.
Comparing Cost
Monocrystalline
Due to the manufacturing process of monocrystalline solar panels, they’re significantly more expensive than other panels. This is because the entire process is energy-intensive and uses a pure silicon crystal which is expensive.
Polycrystalline
The manufacturing of polycrystalline solar panels involves melting pure whole silicon crystals. This is a faster and cheaper process compared to the Czochralski method used in monocrystalline panel production. Thus, these panels are more affordable. Due to their low cost, polycrystalline panels began making up a large portion of the market share for residential installations from 2012 to 2016.
However, as a result of the shorter lifespan and efficiency of polycrystalline panels, buyers have been going back to monocrystalline panels over the years.
Thin-Film
While they have low performance, thin-film panels are the least pricey. The ease of installation of these panels compared to the other panels also helps to further lower installation costs. However, they’re known to have shorter lifespans and degrade faster, which can mean that more frequent maintenance and replacements will be required.
So, which solar panel type is the best for you?
Choosing the best solar panel for your installation depends on your property type, available space, and energy needs. Each panel type has its advantages and limitations, so it’s important to consider factors like conversion and your roof’s capacity to support the installation.For us, we almost always recommend customers to purchase monocrystalline panels. This is because they’re space-efficient and can easily be installed onto residential rooftops. Also, they often have a long lifespan and function well beyond the given warranty period, which make them really great value for money.
While polycrystalline and thin-film panels have their uses, we typically don’t recommend them for residential applications. Polycrystalline panels have lower efficiency and require significantly more space, making them less cost-effective. Thin-film panels, although lightweight and flexible, are better suited for industrial setups, as the residential roofs are largely unable to withstand the weight of the large equipment required for the setup.
Before deciding on which solar panel is right for you, you should also check if your roof is suitable for installing solar panels. If you have a flat roof, thin-film solar panels would be suitable as they are flexible and can be modified into automatic panels. Automatic panels follow the sunlight throughout the day, maximising the amount of sunlight being absorbed. Although they’re less efficient compared to monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels, they may be able to produce more electricity on a flat roof.
This article was first published on 27 October 2020 and last updated on 27 November 2024 to include additional details.
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