Solar Miner

PV cells are made of light-sensitive semiconductor materials that use photons to dislodge electrons to drive an electric current. There are two broad categories of technology used for PV cells, namely-• Crystalline silicon, as shown which accounts for the majority of PV cell production;• Thin film, which is newer and growing in popularity.The “family tree” gives an overview of these technologies available today. The type of silicon that comprises a specific cell, based on the cell manufacturing process. Each cell type has pros and cons. Mono-crystalline PV cells are the most expensive and energy intensive to produce but usually yield the highest efficiencies. The modules made from Polycrystalline silicon crystals are approximately 14% efficient and are extremely good value for money. Amorphous solar modules are not too susceptible to shading and are suited to low light levels.