• Solar Panelssolar panels image by Yali Shi from Fotolia.com
  
  Solar radiation is an abundant energy source, making solar panels a major part of the global energy equation. There are several different types of solar panels, each one unique in its application. In fact, new technologies and research into the materials of solar panels are evolving the entire solar industry at a rapid rate.
  
  

Flexible Solar Panels

• Flexible solar panels are currently reserved for free-energy enthusiasts who like to have their power on the go. These thin, portable panels can easily charge cellular phones and other small energy devices, but cannot sustain an entire household. The solar module itself is composed of amorphous silicon cells rolled onto a conductive surface like stainless steel. The end result is a lightweight solar module that measures one meter wide by five-and-a-half meters long. According to a recent article in Technology Review, flexible solar panels achieve an 8 percent efficiency rate, which is far less than other panel types on the market today. Primarily, this technology only represents the future of solar panels. However, Science Daily reports on recent developments at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT), where researchers are building organic flexible panels. These new panels have carbon nanotubes 50,000 times smaller than a follicle of human hair. These microscopic carbon tubes are better than copper wire at conducting electricity, which means that solar panels in the future can be made thinner and more efficient.
  
  

Monocrystalline Panels

• The most common type of solar power device is the monocrystalline solar panel. These rectangular panels can be seen gracing the rooftops and walls of solar-friendly homes and businesses all over the world. They can be distinguished by their thin, black and iridescent blocks of solar cells. These cells are cut from a single, pure silicon crystal. The process of making these silicon wafers is quite expensive but produces a higher range of energy output than other solar panels on the market. A 175-watt panel can weigh as little as 33 pounds. A solar industry resource, Solar Power Fast, recommends monocrystalline panels for their great power-to-size ratio. Although costly, they're more readily available and can meet the ever-growing energy demands of modern society.
  
  

Polycrystalline Panels

• At a glance, you might recognize the polycrystalline solar panel by its shattered-glass appearance. The surface appears to be made of tiny bits of reflective chips. In actuality, polycrystalline panels are made from a large block of silicon crystals and are then sliced into thin wafers. This manufacturing technique lowers the overall cost of solar photovoltaic systems and is quickly becoming the preferred choice for homeowners looking to save money. Cooler Planet reports of a recent collaboration between Renewable Energy Corp. and the Energy Research Center of the Netherlands to create polycrystalline panels. The joint operation produced a polycrystalline, sometimes referred to as a multicrystalline, solar panel that boasts a 17 percent power conversion rate. With more research and development, polycrystalline panels may soon overtake their monocrystalline counterparts.