Amorphous Solar Panel
Today we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about amorphous silicon solar cells to help you decide whether or not this sun-fuelled technology will provide the most effective energy solution for you.
Though solar power has been available for a considerable number of years now, developments in the way we can access it has lead to increasingly more versatile and efficient solar installations that allow us to power everything from residential appliances to personal items.
Amorphous technology is a prime example of one such advancement in the evolution of solar that opens up a significant number of doors compared to the often restrictive traditional crystalline cell arrays that were once the mainstay of sun-fuelled technology. Simply read on to find out everything you need to know about it.
What Are Amorphous Solar Panels?
Constructed in a very similar fashion to the typical crystalline panels we’re so accustomed to seeing, amorphous solar panels offer highly efficient renewable energy at a fraction of the cost of the hugely expensive fixed installations that adorn many houses, workplaces, and even vehicles.
Where this variety differs is that rather than having solar cells housed in a dense, cumbersome, and heavy structure, the integrated solar cell technology is instead placed onto a wafer thin and highly malleable platform for application pretty much anywhere.
Once in place, you can then use sheets of amorphous panelling to fuel pretty much anything you can think of. Precisely how they achieve their end result is via the absorption of the sun’s rays, which are then broken down as soon as they strike the cell surface.
The breakdown process results in the creation of an electrical charge that can then either be stored for later use or immediately applied as usable electrical energy thanks to an integrated power inverter system that features on every type of solar panel technology.
Much of the uniqueness on offer with amorphous technology specifically is that it can be used in a wider variety of locations than crystalline variants can. This opens up many possibilities for powering items that you might not have been able to previously.
It’s also worth mentioning that an amorphous solar panel is going to weigh significantly less than a crystalline alternative albeit at the cost of power output. But if you’ve got the space to make up for that loss with the addition of more cells, then this can become a moot point as we’ll soon discuss.
Pros and Cons of Amorphous Solar Panels
In this section, we’re going to cover the various reasons why you should consider using this type of sun power meet your energy needs along with several reasons why you should perhaps think twice. It’s worth noting that there’s no such thing as a “defunct” form of solar power. It’s all useful. How useful it is, though, will depend entirely on your personal circumstances and precisely how much power you need.
Here are the reasons why amorphous panels are great:
- It’s versatile
The thin film application means that you can place this type of solar technology pretty much anywhere, making for hassle-free and dynamic energy consumption in situations that simply wouldn’t be possible with other forms of solar power.
- It’ll save you lots of money in the long term
Solar is the way to go if you want to save yourself a heap of money over the coming years. That’s because it can cut down on your utility bills by up to 80% when used effectively. The more items you can fuel using the sun, the better.
- Not harmful to the ozone layer
Solar technology is loved due to being a green and renewable energy source, but amorphous silicon solar cell technology in particular is great for the environment because it hardly uses any toxic elements in its construction.
- It’s incredibly durable
Durability is a major advantage with amorphous cells because it has been proven that should one section of the cell sheet get damaged, it doesn’t have a large overall impact on the functionality of the unit as a whole, meaning that there’s no interruption to the power flow.
- It barely weighs anything
Due to its wafer thin construction that weighs next to nothing, you can place amorphous cell sheets pretty much anywhere, even in locations where weight restrictions might have stopped you from using crystalline alternatives.
And now, here are a few reasons why you might not want to use amorphous panels:
- It’s less powerful than crystalline technology
The reduced power capacity (8-10% ray uptake on average compared to 14- 20% with crystalline) of an amorphous solar panel means that it might not offer the most ideal solution to your energy needs if you’re looking to power a wide variety of items or an enormous area in general.
- You’ll need to take up more space to provide a larger amount of power
When you consider the different power capacities of traditional solar technology compared to amorphous variants, this means that you’re going to need to put significantly more panels up to achieve the same effect, which could have enormous aesthetic ramifications.
- It’s more expensive
You’re typically going to have to pay more money for amorphous technology than you are for traditional solar variants. This is definitely something to keep in mind before you commit to making a purchase.
Difference Between Amorphous and Polycrystalline Solar Modules
As you’ve probably noticed after reviewing the pros and cons section, there are some significant differences that set amorphous cells apart from the traditional polycrystalline variants. We’ll now sum up the key areas to compare before you decide which type of solar power is going to be right for you.
How They Function
To put it very simply, the crystalline type of solar cell is created out of silicon whereas amorphous types simply make use of silicon as part of their construction. Amorphous cells have a thin foundation that includes a silicon layer to form the conductor cell material. Crystalline cells are formed out of blocks of solid silicon. This results in a more rigid build. Other than that, they both absorb the sun’s rays in the same way.
How They Perform
This is the major difference to take note of. Crystalline cells can absorb and use anywhere from 14 – 20% of the incoming photon rays from the sun. With amorphous cells, it’s a maximum of 9-10% efficiency. This can lead to significant cost differences to cover your energy needs.
Conclusion
No matter which form of solar power you decide to use, it’s going to save you lots of money in the long run without leaving a harmful footprint on the ozone layer. Amorphous solar technology presents a super versatile energy solution that you can place pretty much anywhere. This is going to be incredibly useful for people who can’t make use of “hard” mounted traditional arrays due to surface or weight restrictions. Once your panels are in place, you’ll never want to use mains power again.
