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Why are my solar panels blue in color?

23/12/2018

7 Comments

 
Solar panels are blue
​You must have noticed that the color of the solar panels is generally blue. The function of the solar panel is to absorb the sunlight and convert it into the electric current. The more it absorbs the sunlight, the more it produces the electric current. 
​This is a fact that the black color absorbs the maximum light, you will feel more heat wearing a black T-shirt than wearing a red one. Despite this we find that the blue colored solar panels are more prevalent than the black ones

Silicon

​The silicon is generally used in making the solar panels. It is a non-metallic element with properties of absorbing most of the visible light and produce electricity.
There are two kinds of the solar panels:
  • Polycrystalline solar panels (Blue in colour)
  • Mono-crystalline solar panels (Black in colour)
​
Out of total panels installed, almost 90% of them are poly-crystalline. Hence, we see blue colored solar panels around us. Well there is valid reasons for this, because it is relatively easier and cheaper to commercially produce them.

Reason

  1. ​When the raw silicon in the molten form is poured in the molds, it does not settle and align perfectly rather forms many crystals of silicon hence called as poly-crystalline. Also, the nature of the silicon element is such that it absorbs most of the red and yellow light and reflects green and the blue light, thereby appears blue or greenish blue.
  2. The other factor is the coating of anti-reflective layer over it. It has higher refractive index than air, so when the light falls on it some of its get reflected in the surroundings. The anti-reflective layer of Silicon Nitride and Silicon oxide is generally used to reduce reflection of light hence increasing the absorption capacity and the efficiency of the panel.
The combination of the above factors gives blue appearance to the poly-crystalline solar panels.
  • In the black colored mono-crystalline solar panels, the silicon is aligned in the same way, forming the large single crystal of silicon. It has high light absorption capacity than the blue colored poly-crystalline solar panel hence appears black in color (black color absorbs more sunlight than the blue color). They are more efficient than the poly-crystalline solar panels.
  • The mono-crystalline solar panels are expensive as the process involved in making them is costly and time consuming. Mono-crystalline panels have higher efficiency and are generally used where the more output is required at the limited space. Whereas the poly-crystalline solar panels are widespread due to their low prices.
​The manufacturing process along with coating of the anti-reflective layer give blue color to the poly-crystalline solar panels.

Related Articles:

  • How to size the panels of your solar power system?
  • Are solar panels attractive investment or a big expense?​
  • Do solar panels work in night and in cloudy weather?
7 Comments
Charu Singh
18/6/2018 09:59:44 am

You have shared unique information in this post...
Keep writing...

Reply
Yash Kumar link
18/6/2018 02:29:57 pm

Thank you for reading the post.

Reply
Sungold Solar link
17/1/2019 09:51:12 pm

Thanks for your great informative article. As an expert I want add something like this <a href=https://www.sungoldsolar.com>solar panels</a> are blue due to the type of silicon (polycrystalline) that is used for a certain set of solar panels. The blue color is largely due to an anti-reflective coating that helps improve the absorbing capacity and efficiency of the solar panels.

Reply
YASH KUMAR link
18/1/2019 12:48:27 pm

Yes, you are right.
Thanks for reading the post.

Reply
Beyond Solar link
2/5/2019 05:43:44 pm

As do white deflects heat, dark colors absorb so does solar panels. Simple science taken into the trendy energy bill saver. Thank you for pointing the common question asked with regards to solar panels.

Reply
Beyond Solar link
6/5/2019 11:39:23 am

Black photovoltaic modules are made of high-quality single-crystal silicon, known as monocrystalline. Because of their manufacturing process, they absorb more of the sun’s energy. This makes them exceptionally efficient. Also, they tend to perform better in low light conditions.

Reply
Solar Power Nation link
20/12/2019 12:23:41 pm

Very informative article

Reply



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