1. Comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of flexible solar panels and rigid solar panels
Flexible solar panels than rigid solar panels are newer products that can make up for some of the shortcomings of rigid solar panels, but flexible solar panels themselves have some shortcomings, the following is a comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of the two solar panels:
1.1 Applicability
Flexible solar panels can probably achieve about 30 ° of bending, thanks to this bendability to make up for the shortcomings of rigid solar panels, so that flexible solar panels can be adapted to more environments, for example, you want to lay solar panels on a rounded roof, flexible solar panels can be very good at the job, a better use of limited space.
1.2 Cost of panels
Flexible solar panels use materials with higher prices (such as the surface of the copper indium gallium selenide thin film or cadmium telluride thin film), and the structure of flexible solar panels is more complex compared to the rigid solar panels, you want to produce flexible solar panels, you need more advanced equipment, and due to the late start of the flexible solar panels, resulting in flexible solar panels on the market can be produced by the manufacturer of the panel There are not many manufacturers that can produce flexible solar panels, which leads to the higher price of flexible solar panels.
According to relevant data, the price of flexible solar panels is about three times that of rigid solar panels, i.e., the market price of flexible solar panels is 0.3$/W, and the market price of rigid solar panels is 0.1$/W. This means that if you want to generate electricity from flexible solar panels, you will need to spend quite a lot of money.
1.3 Service lifespan
Polycrystalline solar panels have a service life of about 25 years, monocrystalline solar panels have a service life of about 25 to 30 years, and flexible solar panels have a higher service life of cadmium telluride solar panels have a service life of about 10 to 15 years, which is enough to reflect that the service life of rigid solar panels is much longer than that of flexible solar panels.
1.4 Post maintenance cost
Rigid solar panels itself mechanical strength and encapsulation technology is much higher than flexible solar panels, which makes rigid solar panels maintenance costs are greatly reduced, according to relevant data show that rigid solar panels basically will not fail, the failure rate is only about 0.5%, and most of the failures are due to the panels have been more than the use of life or damage by external factors and need to be replaced.
Flexible solar panels are more prone to physical damage such as scratches and tears due to their softness, which results in a higher failure rate and higher maintenance costs.
1.5 Conversion efficiency
As flexible solar panels use thin film technology, like copper indium gallium selenide thin film, cadmium telluride thin film and amorphous silicon thin film, these thin films due to the light absorption layer is much thinner than the traditional silicon wafer batteries, resulting in the absorption and conversion of light energy is limited, and the flexible solar energy carries fewer conductive materials, which further makes the conversion efficiency of flexible solar panels is low.
According to relevant data, the conversion efficiency of monocrystalline solar panels is roughly between I 25% and 30%, while polycrystalline solar panels have a conversion efficiency of between 16% and 20%, it is clear that rigid solar panels have a greater conversion efficiency than flexible solar panels on the whole. If your space is limited, but your demand for electricity is high, then monocrystalline solar panels would be the best choice.
1.6 In terms of installation and transportation costs
You should know that the installation of rigid solar panels basically requires solar racking, while flexible solar panels can be directly affixed to objects such as the top of a car, etc. Meanwhile, rigid solar panels are heavier and bigger in size, then you may need more time to install these rigid solar panels, which makes the installation cost higher.
Moreover, rigid solar panels have to avoid bumps and cannot be bent, then you may need to make a few more trips for transportation compared to flexible solar panels, which makes the transportation cost higher as well, which is something you need to consider.
1.7 Weather resistance
Compared with rigid solar panels, flexible solar panels have a variety of surface materials, such as copper indium gallium selenide and cadmium telluride materials, which can show different performance in different environments to cope with a variety of environmental conditions.
As for the material of the rigid solar panel itself, high-purity monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon, due to the internal structure of silicon is very stable, resulting in its own chemical properties are very stable, and has not bad mechanical strength. The materials used to protect the solar panels are high-strength glass and aluminium alloy frame, and the encapsulation of rigid solar panels is very tight, and EVA adhesive film will be used to fill the gaps between the glass panels, back panels and frames, so its performance in special environments such as hail and rain is better.
1.8 Thermal performance
Flexible solar panels are usually only about 1mm thick, the internal structure is intricate, and you need to know that the thermal conductivity of the film material used in flexible solar panels is far worse than that of rigid solar panels.
Secondly, the back plate of rigid solar panels will be coated with a thermal coating to enhance the effect of radiant heat dissipation, or installed with heat sinks to promote convective heat dissipation by increasing the heat dissipation area. In short, the heat dissipation of rigid solar panels is much stronger than that of flexible solar panels.
1.9 Recycling cost
First of all, flexible solar panels in order to pursue the thin characteristics, resulting in the substrate and film tightly fitted together, want to dismantle the flexible solar panels have a certain degree of difficulty, and composite materials such as copper indium gallium selenide and cadmium telluride require a complex process to separate the various materials.
Secondly, copper and cadmium are both heavy metals, which makes the heavy metal content of flexible solar panels higher, so you want to dispose of flexible solar panels will be more troublesome, if you are not careful, the heavy metals in the flexible solar panels may cause serious contamination of the soil or water source. If you need greener solar panels, monocrystalline solar panels are mainly composed of silicon, with very low internal heavy metal content, which will be a good choice for you.
1.10 Portability
Flexible solar panels are more portable than rigid solar panels, for example, when you need to move the solar panels to other places, flexible solar panels can be rolled up and put in the trunk of your car, which won’t take up much space for you, while rigid solar panels, you may need to ask the truck driver to do the job for you.
2. Summary
An in-depth understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of flexible solar panels and rigid solar panels can help you pick the right solar panel for you, but of course, you need to consider carefully, the one that suits you is the best.
