Solar cell structure and its impact on energy efficiency

At the heart of every solar energy system, which, as a system, is composed of many different pieces of equipment working in harmony towards the goal of energy efficiency, is the popular solar panel. While other pieces of the system are equally important, it’s the solar panels that take the cake for generating the actual energy. And at the heart of every solar panel is the solar cell; actually thousands upon thousands of solar cells that make up a solar panel. Now, it’s no wonder that the efficiency and energy generation of the system depends on the solar panels, and for solar panels, it all hinges on the solar cells.

So, in this rather technical blog post, we will take a look at the solar cell structure; understand what a solar cell is and how it works, which will then explain how it is able to impact the efficiency and the generation potential of a solar energy system, more specifically, the performance of a solar panel. So, without any further ado, here is the lowdown on solar cell structures and its impact on the energy efficiency of solar panels.

Solar cells: what are they?

Solar cells can be considered the basic building blocks of all solar panels; much like how our body is made out of cells, solar cells make up solar panels. These are small electronic devices that convert any form of light into electric energy, using the photovoltaic principle. As such, thousands of solar cells, working together, constitute solar panels, which, when they receive adequate sunlight, can generate enough energy to power homes, offices and even factories.

However, as stated beforehand, the better your solar panel is, the more energy your system will be able to generate, which means that the entirety of the generation equation is decided on the solar panels. More specifically, the better solar cells your panel has, the more in number, the more efficient the panel is going to be. So now that we understand the causal relationship, let’s proceed on to what solar cell structure is and how it impacts energy efficiency.

Solar cell structure: the basics

As explained beforehand, much of what matters in a solar energy system and a solar panel depends on the solar cells inside it, and more specifically, the solar cell structure. So what is the solar cell structure? Let’s understand it from the three major determinants.

i. Material:

Structure and efficiency of the cell are primarily defined by the material used for the semiconductor that forms the basis of the cell itself. It can be further divided into three categories; monocrystalline (efficient, expensive), polycrystalline (less efficient, less costly) and other materials that aren’t commercially available yet.

ii. Design:

Cell design refers to how the solar cell is designed for minimal energy loss; for example, innovations like IBC or PERC allow cells to further increase their efficiency and reduce the chance of sunlight escaping unutilised. Furthermore, designs like the tandem or multijunction make sunlight absorption even more efficient.

iii. Protective layer:

Layers or coatings on solar cells that protect the cell itself or increase its performance will also affect how the cell operates and how much energy it generates. From anti-reflective coatings to surface textures, all of these allow for better solar cell performance, which in turn, translates to better solar panel performance and efficiency.

Impact on energy efficiency

With a good solar panel, you can expect exceptional solar energy system performance, and efficiency that can even surprise you. Now that you know what solar panels are made out of, it’s easier to understand that the better solar cells perform within the panel, the better the panel itself performs, and you can get even more energy out of it. Therefore, the impact that solar cell structure has on energy efficiency is an obvious and direct one; the better the structure, the more efficient it is.

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