Monocrystalline vs polycrystalline solar panels – which one do I choose?

It’s the question of the moment in Sydney’s Penrith and Blue Mountains communities, so we break it down

It’s a question that’s been coming up a lot lately. All of the information can be overwhelming, and with the technology behind solar it’s hard to know exactly where the sweet spot is with panels unless you’re working with them on a daily basis.

 This is particularly so for the Penrith and Blue Mountains areas where our clients seek the best possible combination of high quality and competitive pricing. But in doing so, questions arise about technology. In solar it’s important to understand the performance advantages offered by the two different materials. After all, does it matter if you install monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar panels for our Western Sydney climate? Is the choice impacted by our home design, particularly in the Blue Mountains where houses are often designed in relation to the landscape? And does brand really matter?

So let’s take a step back for a minute look at the difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels, as well as our thoughts on which is better for the cities of Penrith and the Blue Mountains.

What’s the difference between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels?

What the panels are made of

Both monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels are built using the same raw material. However the difference comes down to the composition of the silicone substrate used to make the solar cells, which are then used to build the panels. We think of it in terms of “mono” and “poly” – mono means single, where as poly means multiple. This applies to the silicone – monocrystalline means a single crystal, and polycrystalline means multiple crystals. So monocrystalline solar panels are constructed using single crystals, while polycrystalline solar panels are constructed using numerous crystals.

How efficient the panels are

Given that monocrystalline panels are made of single crystals, giving them a higher silicone purity, they’re larger and more efficient. In fact, monocrystalline cells can be over 10% more efficient than their polycrystalline counterparts. This means lower space efficiency – for the same power output as panels made of monocrystalline, you need to cover a larger surface area.

How much the panels cost

But – and there’s always a but – manufacturing a monocrystalline cell takes longer, requires higher temperatures, and produces more waste. And of course increased preparation results in one thing – increased manufacturing costs. But this cost may be offset by the fact that less panels are required.

The pros and cons of monocrystalline versus polycrystalline solar panels

  • Polycrystalline solar panels are ideal for installations with unlimited roof or ground space – suitable for many Blue Mountains homes… but monocrystalline panels are ideal for smaller rooftops or space-confined rooftops as they give more power for the same surface area – suitable for the Penrith CBD
  • Polycrystalline solar panels are ideal for customer to minimise upfront installation costs… but monocrystalline solar panels may offer ongoing savings by maximising your roof space to more harness electricity.

So which is better – monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar panels?

There are arguments each way! Yes, less panels are required if you use monocrystalline solar panels, but then you lack the additional benefit of roof insulation offered by the increased spread of polycrystalline solar panels! OK, so we may be stretching things here but you can see where we’re going… each has their pros and cons.

You also need to remember that there are so many variables to the cost and performance of your system, including your inverter, the orientation of your roof and even the tilt of your solar panels.

So for us, one of the most critical things to consider is the manufacturer.

Why the manufacturer of your solar panels matters

Well here’s our take. Technology is definitely important, but as both monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels are each produced with advanced manufacturing techniques (and use proven technology, of course), we need to look further.

Peace of mind: Choosing a proven, quality-focused manufacturer will not only give you peace of mind that they’ll be around for the long-term, but also that they invest on ongoing research and development to continually deliver improved products.

Reliability: The other element is reliability. For most of us, balancing reliability with affordability is a major component of our decision-making – solar is a along-term investment. So choosing a trusted name means that your 25 or 30-year warranty will remain safe because if your manufacturer does go out of business and something goes wrong with your panels, your warranty will be no longer be serviceable.

Minimising your risk: Think about it in terms of risk management. Invest in slightly more today for a reputable provider who’s done their due diligence and invested in quality manufacturing processes and technologies, or risk the possibility of paying more down the track if panels do need repairing.

This is why we’ve done our research and only partner with reputable companies who:

  • Have a long-standing history in innovative solar panel development
  • Demonstrate best practice and invest in quality
  • Deliver outstanding customer service, and
  • Are proactive in the marketplace.

For our clients, LG is a major favourite because they’re looking to future-proof their home and their investment. When considering roof space, battery storage and the possibility of powering electric vehicles in the future, the LG brand offers a diverse range of options to suit.

Their strong performance history and reliability also gives us confidence they’ll be here to honour their product warranties (25 years for NeOnR and 12 years for NeOn2). They’re a multi-billion dollar diversified company, which undoubtedly lowers risk as, unlike other panel brands, there are no majority shareholders or other players involved. LG also has a local office in Eastern Creek so for Western Sydney, Penrith and Blue Mountains customers, this is a bonus!

And of course, with performance they’re right up there. LG now go up to a 360w panel with the same footprint as a standard solar panel (by comparison, Sunpower goes up to a 415w but on a much larger panel size).

But something to think about…

One thing we’re becoming more aware of as innovators such as Elon Musk continue to deliver advancement in the solar industry is the potential of the technology. We already have battery systems and electric cars – where else will the harnessing of solar energy take us? So with this in mind, think of your future needs. At some point, the amount of solar energy we’re able to use will only be limited by the size of the surface area we can place the panels on. So if you want to get the most out of your roof space, maybe think about module efficiency. But remember – it’s not the only consideration!

Over to you

Do you have any thoughts, experiences or questions on monocrystalline or polycrystalline solar panels? Let us know! We’d love to hear your thoughts and answer your questions.

Why now the right time to invest in solar panels for your business

With costs increasing, more and more commercial clients are looking to run leaner. With solar, you can too – and now is the perfect time to install

With rising electricity costs and a significant decrease in the cost of solar systems, solar power has become an incredibly cost-effective energy alternative for businesses.

The larger corporations are definitely leading the charge, but many small and medium-sized companies are now actively investigating exactly how solar energy can have more of an impact on their bottom line. Here, we show you how save money with solar energy for your business.

Why now is the best time to install solar for your business

Solar panels have never been cheaper or so effective – but the cost will rise

We’re seeing it more and more – companies are running leaner to keep up with the rising costs of business. They’re introducing efficiencies and processes, reducing headcount, and even cutting back on some of the essentials of running a business (we’re not talking coffee which is a definite essential, but we are talking things like marketing initiatives).

But many don’t see their ‘fixed’ costs as being something they can actually influence. And electricity is one of those fixed costs. You can run financially leaner by reducing the cost of your power bills with solar panels.

For a business, now is the right time. 2018. The price has come down exponentially over the last 5+ years. From our perspective, ten years ago we used to purchase a 150-watt panel for approximately 80% more than we currently spend for a 360-watt panel. Yes, you read that right! We pay 80% less today for a far superior product.

In addition, the panels are the same size but offer increased efficiency. So think about it – they cost about a third of what they did, yet their efficiency has more than doubled. Why?

Ongoing industry investment has seen incredible development in manufacturing processes. Research and development has seen organic matter cost less per watt to produce while also offering increased solar efficiency. And evolving innovations that look for further solar technology opportunities are spiking commercial interest.

But it will plateau. And we believe it will be soon.

We’ve come an incredibly long way in ten years. But the reality is, we’re working with specialist products that are significant in size. Regardless, there’ll still be shipping charges, docking costs, wholesaler tariffs, and the cost to get them to our door. And like everything else, these costs will continue to increase over time. So while the price point for solar panels has plateaued for a few years, now is undeniably the time to buy.

Government incentives are decreasing

With the Australian Government’s commitment to green energy, we’ve seen an investment in Small Technology Certificates, commonly known as STCs, which are essentially the Government rebate.

But the number of STCs you’ll receive each year drops.

Not only that, but the STC price rises and falls depending on market demand. When it falls, the price of your system increases significantly. It’s currently quite high, saving you money on installation, but it won’t stay like this forever! For business, this presents a significant saving opportunity. Jump on it.

You can currently claim a rebate when investing in solar for your business

We’re no tax accountants, but you do get tax incentives for installing solar panels in your business.

If you own your premises, you can claim your solar panels as capital improvement.

If you lease your premises, you can claim your solar panels as a leasehold improvement.

The investment is depreciated over time. However if you’re a small business, you can also look at the $20k instant tax asset write-off. Provided you use electricity as part of producing your income, you can claim the entire deduction straight away.

Case Study: Commercial business invests in reducing $20k/week electricity costs

We recently provided a ballpark quote for a commercial client. This client currently pays a whopping $20,000 a week for their electricity.

After calculating the numbers, we identified that they required 1,000 panels on a single site. They’re currently investigating the options from an investment perspective as they lease the premises but, regardless, their system will pay itself back well before the lease ends.

But if they don’t do it this year, they’re mad. On a system of this size, the rebate will have a significant impact – thousands of dollars every week and reducing their power requirements from the grid by 50%. And of course, the longer they wait the more the system will cost. So really, every day it’s not on the roof is costing them money.

Historically speaking, there’s never been a better time to install solar panels for your business

From a commercial perspective, the time to install solar panels in your business has never been better.

When you combine the decreased cost of panel prices (alongside the increased efficiency they’re providing), as well as the increasing cost of living, construction industry increases and decreasing rebates – why wouldn’t you do it now?

There’s no point putting it off for a year or two because, just like our client, every day they aren’t on the roof is costing you money.

Over to you

What do you think? Is now the right time for commercial businesses to install solar? Let us know! We’d love to hear your thoughts and answer your questions.