Flexible Solar Panels
The cell in the monocrystalline, polycrystalline and Sunpower solar panel is the most important, which may be a little thinner than a human hair. To protect the cell inside, surface materials such as glass, ETFE and PET are generally used for lamination and packaging. The surface materials are generally ETFE and PET for flexible solar panels. First, they have good light transmittance, which can ensure that the solar panel can receive sunlight and enable it to generate electricity normally. Second, ETFE and PET can maintain their original toughness after lamination.
Generally, there are certain requirements for bending when flexible solar panels are selected. Single crystal and polycrystalline are generally not selected for flexible solar panels, because these two types of solar cells are too brittle. Insufficient power or inability to generate electricity will happen if they are generally used or placed improperly. Therefore, the general flexible solar panel uses Sunpower cells. First, the conversion efficiency will be higher than that of monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Second, the curvature is 15° to 20°.
There is also another kind of flexible solar panel, which is not common to be seen on the market now, called thin-film solar panels, which do not use conventional silicon wafers-CIGS. The biggest obstacle to such flexible solar panels is that they are much less efficient than rigid panels. Today's average efficiency of the rigid solar panel is about 16 to 20%. However, the efficiency of thin-film flexible solar panels is only 7 to 15%, which means you need more flexible panels to generate the same amount of power as rigid panels. This thin-film flexible solar panel has higher cost than monocrystalline solar panels, polycrystalline solar panels, and Sunpower solar panels.
CIGS flexible solar panels
Flexible solar panels may not be suitable for rooftop energy production, but they are a great option for those who need a lightweight and portable power source. Flexible solar panels have light weights and are durable, which are ideal for small-scale, mobile applications such as RVs, boats and other energy needs that do not require high power output. Compared with glass (rigid) solar panels, the flexible solar panel has weather resistance, while glass (rigid) solar panels will have a longer service life.
Generally, there are certain requirements for bending when flexible solar panels are selected. Single crystal and polycrystalline are generally not selected for flexible solar panels, because these two types of solar cells are too brittle. Insufficient power or inability to generate electricity will happen if they are generally used or placed improperly. Therefore, the general flexible solar panel uses Sunpower cells. First, the conversion efficiency will be higher than that of monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Second, the curvature is 15° to 20°.
There is also another kind of flexible solar panel, which is not common to be seen on the market now, called thin-film solar panels, which do not use conventional silicon wafers-CIGS. The biggest obstacle to such flexible solar panels is that they are much less efficient than rigid panels. Today's average efficiency of the rigid solar panel is about 16 to 20%. However, the efficiency of thin-film flexible solar panels is only 7 to 15%, which means you need more flexible panels to generate the same amount of power as rigid panels. This thin-film flexible solar panel has higher cost than monocrystalline solar panels, polycrystalline solar panels, and Sunpower solar panels.
CIGS flexible solar panels
Flexible solar panels may not be suitable for rooftop energy production, but they are a great option for those who need a lightweight and portable power source. Flexible solar panels have light weights and are durable, which are ideal for small-scale, mobile applications such as RVs, boats and other energy needs that do not require high power output. Compared with glass (rigid) solar panels, the flexible solar panel has weather resistance, while glass (rigid) solar panels will have a longer service life.
