Solar panels are technological devices whose main mission is to transform solar energy into electrical energy. These panels, also known as solar panels, are made up of photovoltaic cells responsible for capturing solar radiation. But what material are solar panels made of?

Solar panels are becoming increasingly fashionable. Not surprisingly, the use of solar energy means significant savings on electricity bills practically from the first month. But in addition to these savings, the installation of solar panels revalues the house and reduces its carbon footprint by not emitting polluting CO2 emissions.

What material are solar panels made of?

Solar panels are made of different materials. The use of one or the other may vary depending on each manufacturer. However, most of these materials are generally used for all panels.

We have already seen that solar panels consist of photovoltaic cells. These cells, which are interconnected with each other, are made of crystalline silicon (most of them) or gallium arsenide, both conductive materials. If silicon cells are involved, they can be of 3 different types:

  • Monocrystalline silicon (the most efficient, they give the panel a uniform dark blue or black shade).
  • Polycrystalline silicon (less efficient than the previous ones but more economical, they give the panel a deep blue color).
  • Amorphous silicon (the cheapest panels, usually thinner and more flexible than the previous ones).

The silicon used as solar panel material is usually cut into small pieces, either monocrystalline, polycrystalline or amorphous. After cutting, they are polished and wrapped with metallized conductors and other components. You can read more about how are solar panels made in this post.

Copper is another material that is widely used in the manufacture of solar panels. It is estimated that solar panels using copper as a conductor instead of silver are the most economical and efficient on the market. The same is true of plastic, which is very common in junction boxes.

What are the elements of a solar panel?

A solar panel has a series of fundamental elements. The first thing that can be seen is its layer of tempered glass, which usually has a thickness ranging from 3 to 5 millimeters. Glass is a material that also acts as a protector for the panel. This entire glass layer is covered by an anodized or powder-coated aluminum frame, a very rigid metal that protects the solar panel from any corrosion problems.

In most cases, a layer of thermally conductive cement is applied on top of the tempered glass. This material is used to prevent the solar panel from overheating at some point.

Another fundamental element of the solar panel is the back cover. It consists of several layers that can be made of tedlar polyvinyl fluoride, kynar polyvinyl fluoride or polyethylene terephthalate. The main function of this back cover is to protect the rest of the solar panel components.

Finally, the junction box and the encapsulant must be mentioned. The latter is made of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), the most sunlight-resistant material of all.

The panels we use at BSP

At BSP we only work with the best panel manufacturers in the world, to offer you the most powerful panels with the best guarantees in the market, according to Bloomberg’s valuation studies.

We have various ranges to customize your installation according to your needs and budget.

Switch now to clean energy and start saving on your bill, take the solar leap with Blue Solar Panel!