Solar Panels

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels convert sunlight into electricity. Panels or modules, as they’re also called, are made from crystalline or amorphous silicon cells. eSolar uses only Tier 1 panels, for the most efficiency per square inch, and all our panels have a 25-year power rating warranty. For your installation, we can choose from many sizes, output wattages and trims.

The solar panel market is extremely competitive, with new products being introduced on a regular basis and prices changing frequently. In particular, research is ongoing to increase solar panel efficiency—how well the panel converts sunlight into energy you can use—while keeping cost down.

All our panels meet Ontario Power Authority’s requirement that 40% of components for the MicroFIT/FIT programs must be sourced in Ontario. That requirement will increase to 60% in 2011, meaning a portion of the solar panel itself must be manufactured in Ontario. Thanks to eSolar’s strong 40-year business history, solar suppliers in Ontario are eager to sell to us and negotiate prices for their products. That means we can mix and match products to select the best fit for your needs.

Panel types

Solar panels generally come in two types: crystalline silicon, also known as glass panels, and amorphous silicon, also known as thin film panels. Glass panels are widely used, efficient, competitively priced and proven in a variety of applications. Thin film or flexible panels weigh and cost less but are also less efficient.

Monocrystalline silicon panels use single large sheets that can be cut to the size of a panel and attached to backing material as a single cell. These panels are more expensive to produce than other crystalline panels, but their higher efficiency levels—on the order of 15% to 18%–may make them more cost-effective in the long term.

Polycrystalline silicon panels use a series of cells joined together and attached to the backing material to create a panel. These panels are less expensive to produce than the monocrystalline type, but their efficiency is lower too—on the order of 12% to 14%.

Amorphous silicon panels are produced using a much different technique than crystalline panels. The silicon in these panels has no structure, so it can be applied as a film directly on a backing material. These panels are far less expensive to produce than the crystalline types and are more versatile, because they can be made flexible. The gains in cost savings are offset by a low efficiency of 5% to 6%. Their light weight makes thin film panels ideal for installations such as large roofs that cannot take the load of regular panels.

All three technologies use conducting metal strips laid over the panel to capture electrons in an electrical current. The first two also require a thin layer of cover glass to protect them.

Panel options

The size of a typical solar panel runs 2’ x 3’ to 4’ x 6’, with an output of 175 to 300 watts. Trim is generally black or silver.