There are essentially just three types of solar panels technologies involved in making a solar panel – monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin film amorphous.

Polycrystalline modules are composed of a number of different crystals, fused together to make a single cell. They have long been the most popular type of solar module, due to the lower cost in manufacturing the cells.

Monocrystalline, is constructed using one single crystal, cut from ingots. This gives the solar panel a uniform appearance across the entire module. These large single crystals are exceedingly rare, and the process of ‘recrystallising’ the cell is more expensive to produce.

Amorphous solar modules have recently become very popular. They offer better performance in higher temperatures, and have some benefits in shady locations. However, the benefits have been greatly exaggerated by some suppliers, and it is important to weigh that up against the negatives of thin film technology.