1. Photovoltaic solar panels
Monocrystalline: As they are made of a highly pure form of silicon, they offer the highest efficiency rates currently available on the market, between 15% and 20%. Main benefits: generate high power, long useful life, and their size, perfect for homes.
Polycrystalline: These solar panels, easily identifiable due to their blue hue, are made from raw silicon. They are cheaper than monocrystalline panels, but they are less efficient, around 15%, although their power generation is similar. They take up more space and are more sensitive to exposure to high temperatures, so they are not recommended for very hot climates.
Amorphous or thin-film solar cells: These types of solar panels use materials such as amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride, or gallium with photovoltaic properties. As such, a flexible and lightweight panel can be made. They are not as efficient as conventional photovoltaic panels, between 7 and 10% less, their useful life is shorter, and they require much more space. However, they are more economical, so they are commonly used in large installations, such as industries or public facilities.
2. Thermal solar panels
These have a panel to collect sunlight and a tank or collector where a fluid capable of transferring heat to domestic heating and hot water systems. The panels heat the transfer fluid circuit, which passes to the heat exchanger, located in the storage tank, where the hot water is stored.
Some types of solar thermal panels, such as concentrating solar-thermal panels, transform this heat into steam to power a generator’s turbines, for example.Low-temperature collectors: These solar thermal collectors reach temperatures of up to 50ºC. They are commonly used to supply energy to heating and domestic hot water systems in homes or businesses. Medium-temperature collectors: These types of collectors work in a similar way, although they have a transparent cover to prevent heat losses. As a result, they are capable of reaching temperatures of up to 90ºC. High-temperature collectors: These solar panels have two covers which generate a vacuum, allowing them to operate at temperatures of up to 150ºC. High-temperature collectors are used for electricity generation in thermal power plants.
3. Hybrid solar panels
Hybrid solar panels are capable of transforming sunlight into electricity and heat, increasing the performance of photovoltaic cells by up to 15%. Additionally, these systems can also be combined with other renewable energies, such as wind power, to obtain a greater energy contribution.