Often those looking to get solar panels installed will stumble on the phrase P-Type or N-Type solar panels, and to the majority of people that doesn’t mean much. But when it comes to choosing the right solar panel type for your application, it’s important to know the pros and cons of each.
N-Type Panels and P-Type Panels What's the difference?
The difference between the two solar panel types comes down to the way the solar cells are made. This has an effect on the way they catch the sunlight and convert it to usable energy to power your application. The majority of solar panels use a conventional crystalline silicon (c-Si) solar cell. This cell consists of the silicon wafer which has been coated (or often referred to as having ‘been dosed’) with a variety of chemicals to stimulate power production.
The difference between the P-Type and the N-Type is simply which chemical forms the base of layer of the cell and which chemical forms the top layer. The P-Type solar cells are first dosed with a layer of boron to create the cell’s base layer. With boron having 1 less electron than silicon, this creates a positively charged base. It is then dosed with phosphorus to create the cell’s top layer. With phosphorus having 1 more electron than silicon, a negative charge is created as the cell’s top layer, and electricity in this cell will flow from top to bottom.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Between N-Type and P-Type Solar Panels
Although breaking down the pros and cons for the panel types can be an easy solution for determining a better solar panel design, it is also important to consider the location and environment the solar panels will be used in. This can be a main determining factor in choosing the best panel type for your investment.
Which solar panel type is going to be better suited to my specific application or environment?
For Example:
“I have a sea-side home just near Bribie Island and I want to put Solar Panels on my roof to offset my power usage”
N-Type solar panels usually have a better resistance to marine corrosion and externally caused degradation, and may be a more cost effective solution for this client in the long term.
For Example:
“I am a commercial business with a large building in an industrial zone outside the city. I would like to maximise my solar energy generated to minimise my carbon emissions”
For a building that resides in direct sun, and without exposure to excess heat or corrosives, the best solution for the client’s demands would be to maximise solar panels used on their roof. Because of the size of most industrial building this would require a large number of panels, making the less expensive but still highly capable P-Type solar panels the best solution.
However, if the client was not concerned about the price of the panels and wanted to have panels with the longest warranty, least amount of degradation and a higher energy yield across the lifetime of the system, than it would be better for them to invest in the N-Type solar panels.
How does the temperature of my environment affect N-Type and P-Type Solar Panels differently?
For Example:
“I want to decrease my carbon footprint by installing solar panels on my home. I live in north-west Western Australia, where it is regularly 35 degrees and above. My home gets extended direct sunlight and I have no large trees shading my roof”
For a home that gets extended direct sunlight in higher temperatures, it is worth considering N-Type panels for this application. Most N-Type panels are proving to have a lower temperature coefficient, which means that the panels are less affected by decreases in power output as the temperature increases.
How would N-Type Solar Panels and P-Type Solar Panels perform differently under low light conditions?
For Example:
“I want to move my home completely off grid to become fully self-sustainable. My home resides in the heart of the Sunshine Coast Hinterland and my property is surrounded with towering Eucalyptus trees”
With a home that is surrounded by large trees that would cast occasional shade on the roof, it would be beneficial for the client to consider N-Type panels for maximum solar generation. N-Type solar panels have a higher sensitivity to long-wavelength light. This allows them to still efficiently generate electricity in low-light conditions such as cloudy days, partially shaded zones or during sunrise and sunset.
Panel Quality and Longevity
In general, both N-type and P-type solar panels are designed to maintain a high level of performance over many years. Though as expected, both types of panels are subject to some level of degradation over time, through various factors such as sunlight exposure, environmental conditions, severe weather events and fluctuations in temperature.
N-Type solar panels, however, are said to be slightly longer lasting than P-Type panels. Studies suggest this is due to the lower rates of degradation of N-Type panels. Based on their differing cell structure, the N-Type cell is immune to the boron-oxygen defects and light induced degradation that affects P-Type cells. This allows the N-Type cells to have a more stable and consistent performance over the panel’s lifespan.
All solar panels are designed to have a long lifespan, typically between 25 and 30 years or more, although the exact lifespan of solar panels will depend on a variety of factors. Level of panel maintenance, conditions of their use and quality of the panel materials will all have an effect on the lifespan of the solar panels. Due to their decreased degradation rates, it is said that N-Type solar panels last longer than P-Type solar panels. That being said, with proper maintenance and a reputable installer who has provided quality solar panels, P-Type solar panels will not fall short of a long lifespan.
Although this is important to consider when deciding on your solar panel of choice, actual rates of degradation will vary between every person and property as every solar array (and their respective location, environment and application) is different.
