Types of Solar Panels in Singapore: 2026 Comparison Guide

[Updated, September 2026]

Key Takeaways:
Monocrystalline is the only panel type that makes sense on a Singapore landed roof. Flagship 2026 modules convert 22–24% of sunlight captured, against 15–17% for polycrystalline and 10–13% for thin-film. The cheaper types cost less per panel but need 20–70 m² more roof to produce the same output, which is space most terrace and semi-detached homes don't have.

When three different installers pitch three different solar panel types (and a price gap in the thousands) it can be difficult to make a decision. But on a Singapore landed property with 40–60 m² of usable roof space, the panel you choose directly dictates your electricity yield, aesthetics, and ROI for the next 25 years.

Here is how Monocrystalline, N-type TOPCon, and Tier 1 panels actually stack up in cost, efficiency, and real-world performance so you can pick the right system for your roof.

What Are the Types of Solar Panels Available in Singapore?

There are three main types of solar panels in the Singapore market today: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Monocrystalline is the market standard for residential rooftops, and nearly every quote you receive will be built around it.

Beyond these three categories, you may have seen N-type, P-type, HJT or TOPCon on a quote. These are not separate panel types, they are advances within monocrystalline technology.

The industry is moving from P-type panels to more efficient, longer-lasting N-type panels. PERC cell technology is being replaced by TOPCon and HJT, both of which hold their output better in heat.

Bifacial is another term you'll meet on quotes. It describes panels with cells on both faces rather than a fourth panel type, and whether it earns its premium depends entirely on how your roof is built.

Sources: 2026 Manufacturer datasheets (e.g. Trina Vertex S+, JA Solar DeepBlue, Jinko Tiger Neo), GetSolar Singapore quotes.

On a Singapore landed roof, efficiency is the number that matters most. Roof area is fixed, so a higher-efficiency panel is the only way to fit more capacity onto the same space.

Traditional first-generation solar panels are made of monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon. Second-generation panels, made using newer deposition methods, are thin-film.

What Does Each Type of Solar Panel Look Like?

Materials and manufacturing methods differ, so each type looks different. Some panels are black out of the box but may appear blue from a distance, because of the way light interacts with the surface.

Monocrystalline

The characteristic appearance of a monocrystalline panel is a dark or black exterior. The dark colour comes from the anti-reflective coating and the uniform single-crystal structure, which together absorb more light and reflect less of it back. Although you can't change the colour of monocrystalline cells, their frames and back sheets are highly customisable. The most popular frame options are black and silver, while back sheets are commonly black, silver or white.

Monocrystalline cells are square with rounded edges and their corners removed, which leaves small gaps between each cell.

Polycrystalline

Polycrystalline cells are marbled and blue. Sunlight reflecting off the crystal fragments gives this type its blue, speckled appearance. You can choose from different back sheets and frames here too, though frames are usually silver and back sheets silver or white. Polycrystalline cells are square with no gaps between them.

Thin-Film

Thin-film panels tend to be solid black, though they also come in blue depending on the material used during manufacturing. As the name suggests, they are far thinner than the other types. The cells inside are roughly 350 times thinner than the crystalline cells used in monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels. That thinness is their main aesthetic advantage.

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.

What Are Solar Panels Made Of?

Solar panels are made from a semiconductor material that converts light into electricity, and silicon is the most commonly used semiconductor. Our guide on how solar panels work covers the conversion process in full.

Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline

Both are made from silicon wafers. The wafers are aligned and assembled into a rectangular panel, coated with a glass sheet and mounted onto a metal frame.

Their manufacturing processes differ. Monocrystalline panels are formed using the Czochralski method, by setting a pure silicon crystal into a tank of molten silicon at high temperature. The result is thinly sectioned silicon wafers, which are made into cells and put together to form one panel.

Polycrystalline panels are made from multiple crystals. A silicon crystal is placed into a tank of molten silicon, but instead of being removed, the silicon fragments and cools. Cooling forms many crystals in the mould. The fragmented crystal is then sliced into wafers and assembled to form a polycrystalline panel.

Thin-Film

Thin-film panels are made by placing one or more thin layers of photovoltaic material onto a solid substrate. Those materials include silicon, cadmium, copper and dye-sensitised cells. The most widely available thin-film panel uses cadmium telluride (CdTe), placed between layers of transparent conductors, with a glass layer on top for protection.

Different materials produce different panels, but all fall under thin-film. The manufacturing process is simple, so the panels end up lightweight and flexible.

How Efficient Is Each Type of Solar Panel?

Monocrystalline

Monocrystalline panels have the highest conversion efficiency. Mid-range modules sit around 20–21%, and flagship 2026 modules reach 22–24%. They contain the highest silicon purity of any panel type, and because they are crafted from a single silicon crystal, electrons move faster between cells. They also hold their output better at high temperatures, which matters in Singapore where panel surfaces run at 50–65°C on a typical afternoon. These panels generally contain 60 to 72 solar cells.

Within monocrystalline technology there are two subcategories:

• N-type panels. Made with phosphorus-doped silicon. They resist light-induced degradation (LID) and carry a lower temperature coefficient, so they lose less output in heat. GetSolar uses N-type i-TOPCon modules from brands including Trina and Jinko.
• P-type panels. Made with boron-doped silicon. The more traditional and cheaper option, but more prone to LID and slightly less efficient. Still common because of price and compatibility with PERC.

Three cell technologies sit on top of these:

1. PERC (Passivated Emitter Rear Contact). Adds a localised back surface field that reduces energy loss. Widely used in standard monocrystalline setups at a competitive cost.
2. TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact). An upgrade on PERC, adding a thin silicon dioxide layer for higher efficiency and better durability.
3. HJT (Heterojunction Technology). Combines thin-film and crystalline silicon layers. It delivers the best temperature coefficient of the three, typically -0.24% to -0.26% per °C, which makes it the strongest performer in sustained tropical heat.

GetSolar also offers flexible glassless monocrystalline panels, which are not the same as thin-film and do not carry thin-film's efficiency penalty. These suit curved roofs or stick-on installations on glass surfaces where drilling isn't possible.

For the full set of specs that predict real-world output here, see our Singapore solar panel buyer's guide.

Polycrystalline

A polycrystalline panel also needs 60 to 72 cells. It costs less but produces less, because the fragmented silicon crystals make it harder for electrons to move through each cell. Conversion efficiency lands around 15 to 17%.

Thin-Film

Thin-film has the lowest conversion efficiency of any panel technology, between 10 and 13%, regardless of the material used during manufacturing.

Thin-film also doesn't come in uniform sizes, so system capacity depends heavily on panel dimensions. To match the output of a monocrystalline or polycrystalline setup, you need considerably more thin-film panels and considerably more roof.

Are Bifacial Solar Panels Worth It in Singapore?

Bifacial panels carry solar cells on both faces. The front works as normal. The rear collects light that bounces off whatever sits beneath the panel. Manufacturers quote rear-side gains of 5–20%, and installers tend to present that as a straight upgrade.

The gain is conditional, and the condition is physical. The rear face needs something bright to look at, and enough distance to see it.

Where bifacial earns its premium: Flat concrete rooftops with the array raised on a tilt frame. Pale concrete reflects a useful share of the light hitting it, and around 1 m of clearance gives the rear cells a wide enough view of that surface to collect anything meaningful. Car park canopies, ground mounts and raised flat-roof arrays all qualify.

Where it does nothing: Flush-mounted installations on pitched metal or tile roofs. Rails hold the panel 10–15 cm off the roof deck. At that spacing the rear face looks at a dark surface, most of it shaded by the module's own frame and mounting hardware. Rear-side gain drops to near zero.

Most Singapore landed homes have pitched clay tile or metal roofs, and flush mounting is the standard method on both. On those roofs you pay the bifacial premium and collect monofacial output.

How Much Does Each Type of Solar Panel Cost in Singapore?

Panel type is one of the largest single line items in a solar quote. Here is how the three compare on installed cost for a landed home.

Sources: GetSolar Singapore (2026), installer quotes. Costs are indicative and vary by roof complexity.

Monocrystalline costs the most per panel and still wins on a Singapore roof, because the cheaper types charge you in area rather than dollars. Fitting 10 kWp of polycrystalline needs roughly 20 m² more roof than monocrystalline, and most terrace and semi-detached roofs don't have it to give.

Monocrystalline

Monocrystalline panels cost more because the manufacturing process is energy-intensive and uses a pure silicon crystal, which is expensive.

Polycrystalline

Melting whole silicon crystals is faster and cheaper than the Czochralski method, so polycrystalline panels are more affordable. That low cost made them a large share of residential installations between 2012 and 2016. Their shorter lifespan and weaker efficiency pushed buyers back to monocrystalline over the years, and few Singapore installers quote them today.

Thin-Film

Thin-film panels are the least pricey, and they install easily, which lowers labour costs further. They also have shorter lifespans and degrade faster, so they need more frequent maintenance and replacement. Check the solar panel warranty terms closely before considering them.

Cost is only half the picture. What decides whether a system pays for itself is generation across 25 years, which our guide to the solar panel payback period in Singapore works through with a full example.

Which Solar Panel Type Is Best for You?

The right panel depends on your property type, available roof space and energy needs.

We always recommend monocrystalline. They are space-efficient, install easily onto residential rooftops, and routinely function well beyond their warranty period, which makes them strong value across 25 years.

Polycrystalline and thin-film both have uses, but rarely in a Singapore home. Polycrystalline needs far more roof for the same output, which cancels out the lower price per panel. Thin-film suits industrial setups and large flat roofs, where space isn't the constraint and the weight of the mounting equipment isn't a problem.

Before you commit, check whether your roof can support a solar installation and confirm the solar inverter specified in your quote matches the panels. Panel choice and inverter choice work as a pair. If you're still sizing the system, our 2026 cost guide for home solar sets out what a full installation runs to.

FAQs About Solar Panel Types

What are the 3 types of solar panels?

Monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Monocrystalline is the only one commonly installed on Singapore residential rooftops.

Which type of solar panel is most efficient?

Monocrystalline. Flagship 2026 modules reach 22–24% conversion efficiency, against 15–17% for polycrystalline and 10–13% for thin-film.

What is the difference between N-type and P-type solar panels?

N-type panels use phosphorus-doped silicon and P-type use boron-doped silicon. N-type resists light-induced degradation better and loses less output in heat, so it holds performance longer. P-type is cheaper.

Is monocrystalline or polycrystalline better?

Monocrystalline, for almost every Singapore home. It produces more electricity per square metre, lasts longer and holds its output better in heat. Polycrystalline only makes sense where roof space is unlimited and budget is the sole constraint.

Are thin-film solar panels worth it for a home?

Rarely. Thin-film needs roughly twice the roof area of monocrystalline for the same output, and it degrades faster. It suits industrial roofs and large flat installations instead.

Are bifacial solar panels worth it on a landed home?

Only if the array sits on a flat concrete roof with around 1 m of clearance on a tilt frame. Flush-mounted on a pitched tile or metal roof, the rear cells face a dark surface 10–15 cm away and add almost nothing, so you pay the premium and collect monofacial output.

How many solar cells are in one panel?

Both monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels typically contain 60 to 72 solar cells.

Pick the Panel That Fits Your Roof, Not the Cheapest Quote

Panel type decides how much electricity your roof produces for the next 25 years. On a landed home with limited usable area, monocrystalline is the only type that makes the numbers work, and the gap between a mid-range module and a premium N-type one compounds across every hot afternoon for two and a half decades.

Once you have settled on the type, the next questions are which brand, which installer, and what happens if the system underperforms. Our complete guide to solar energy in Singapore covers the rest of the decision.

Check out our free solar calculator to calculate your potential roof savings, or chat with our solar advisors for a no-obligation assessment.