
Polycrystalline solar cells
It is cheaper to produce silicon wafers in polycrystalline form, as the conditions for growth do not need to be as tightly controlled. In this form, a number of interlocking silicon crystals grow together. Panels based on these cells are cheaper per unit area than monocrystalline panels - but they are also less efficient. In terms of pounds-per-watt, there is not a great deal of difference between the panels.



