Solar power system has been widely used in various neighbourhood’s, but the utilization of solar energy is not really efficient. Many solar panel designers try to adopt different ways to convert as much solar energy as possible into electricity for our use.

Nowadays, the most important technology to increase the utilization of solar energy is PERC solar panel technology, which stands for Passivated Emitter and Backside Contact together to utilize solar energy to generate more electricity in the same space. If you are interested in this technology, we will take you through the issues related to PERC solar cell wafers below.

1. What are PERC solar panels?

PERC solar panel is a new type of solar panel which can capture more photons to increase the utilization of solar energy by the solar panel. PERC solar panel adds a passivation layer and a metal contact layer on the back of the solar panel. The passivation layer plays an important role in reflecting the photons back to the silicon layer, so that the PERC solar panel can absorb more photons for power generation.

2. Advantages of PERC solar panels

Efficient power generation: According to the principle that PERC solar panels can generate more electricity, PERC solar panels essentially improve the power generation efficiency of solar panels, which ensures that ERC solar panels still have high power generation efficiency under low light.

Reduce the temperature of the solar panel module: As the passivation layer reflects the sunlight from the backsheet to the power generation layer of the solar panel, it reduces the heat in the PERC solar panel module, which reduces the probability of hot spot effect.

Stronger PID resistance: PERC solar panels can accelerate the sublimation of saline and alkaline substances in the air because of the passivation layer, so that these substances will not condense on the surface of the solar panels, which reduces the damage caused by PID to the solar panels.

3. Disadvantages of PERC solar panels

Higher cost: PERC solar panels as a new type of solar panels, its production process is more cumbersome, requiring certain technology and equipment investment, and PERC solar panels have a relatively complex structure, in the manufacture of a variety of materials to be combined together, a variety of reasons have led to the status quo of PERC solar panels with higher costs.

Photoluminescence attenuation: PERC solar panels because of photoluminescence attenuation is a serious problem, this is mainly because the PERC solar panels contain more boron, sunlight irradiation of the surface of the PERC solar panels, boron and then combined with the oxygen in the air, photoluminescence attenuation occurs, which usually leads to a decrease in the power generation efficiency of the solar panels.

4. Difference between PERC solar panels and ordinary solar panels

Difference in the path of light:

On the front side of PERC solar panels, the light directly irradiated on the PERC solar panels can generate electricity, but on the back side of the PERC solar panels, the light emitted through the passivation layer can be irradiated on the PERC solar panels again, which means that there are two paths of the light in the PERC solar panels. Ordinary solar panels can only accept light irradiation on the solar panel, and will not reflect the light again at all.

Difference in structure:

As can be seen from the cross-section diagram of a PERC solar panel, it will have more layers, including anti-reflective glass, negative (n-type) silicon layer, positive (p-type) silicon layer, localized rear surface area, passivation layer, dielectric capping layer, etc. And ordinary solar panels are tempered glass, EVA, cell, backsheet, aluminum frame.

Difference in performance:

PERC solar panels can utilize more photons, its photoelectric conversion rate has been significantly improved, usually in the range of 20% to 25%. Ordinary solar panels have a simple structure and the photoelectric conversion rate is usually 15%~20%.

Difference in working principle:

PERC solar panels on the basis of ordinary solar panels, because the passivation layer and the metal contact layer, reducing the electron-hole pair complex, improving the open circuit voltage and short circuit current. Ordinary solar panels to improve the silicon layer to absorb photons, generating electron-hole pairs, to guide the flow of electrons to achieve photoelectric conversion.

6. Price of PERC solar panels

Nowadays, the price of PERC solar panels is generally in the range of $0.12/W to $0.15/W. This is only the ex-factory price of PERC solar panels, and the price of PERC solar panels has to be determined according to the specific conditions. Generally some of the first-class brands of PERC solar panels will naturally be more expensive.

Conclusion

PERC solar panels are more efficient than regular solar panels, which means that PERC solar panels can maximize the amount of power generated for our use and can generate more power for a limited space. However, the cost of PERC solar panels is still high, but with the development of PERC solar panels, it will be widely used one day.