PV Comparison

PV Comparison Table

There are four main different types of solar PV. The table below gives an indication of how they compare to each other, and provides links to specific product sheets.

	'Thin Film'	Polycrystalline	Monocrystalline	'Hybrid'*
Appearance
Efficiency at STC**	Good 7 - 8%	Very good 11 - 13%	Very good 14 - 16%	Excellent 17 - 19%
Efficiency in overcast conditions	Excellent	Good	Good	Excellent
Area needed per kWp*** (for modules)	Kaneka module: 15.5m2 Unisolar modules: 16m2	Sharp modules: 8m2	Sharp modules: 7m2	Sanyo modules: 6.5 - 7m2
Area needed per kWp (for BIPV)	Solar metal roofing: 23.5m2 Glass-glass laminate: 25m2	C21 tile: 10m2 Glass-glass laminates: 10m2 - 30m2 (depends on cell spacing)	Sunslate: 10m2 Glass-glass laminates: 8m2 - 30m2 (depends on cell spacing)	n/a
Annual energy generated per kWp (south-facing system, 30 deg' tilt)	900 kWh/kWp	750 kWh/kWp	750 kWh/kWp	900 kWh/kWp
Annual energy generated per sq m (south-facing modules, 30 deg' tilt)	55 - 60 kWh/m2	90 - 95 kWh/m2	105 - 110 kWh/m2	125 - 135 kWh/m2
Annual CO2 savings per kWp	390 kg/kWp	325 kg/kWp	325 kg/kWp	390 kg/kWp
Annual CO2 savings per sq m	25 kg/m2	40 kg/m2	45 kg/m2	55 - 60 kg/m2

* 'Hybrid' PV combines both monocrystalline and thin-film silicon to produce cells with the best features of both technologies

** Standard Test Conditions are: 25 °C, light intensity of 1000W/m2, air mass = 1.5

*** kWp = kilowatt 'peak'. Solar PV products and arrays are rated by the power they generate at STC