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Note: This blog was originally published in . It was updated in January, to reflect the most recent information. If you have any questions, please contact us.
Conventional silicon photovoltaic (PV) cells have long been the standard in the solar industry. But as the technology matures and approaches hard efficiency limits, researchers and manufacturers have started to embrace a relative newcomer &#; the Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (
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PERC
) solar cell.
In this article, we&#;ll look at the
core benefits
of PERC solar cells, how they work, how they&#;re made, and even how to sell them. But first, let&#;s get into some background about how conventional solar cells work and what limitations they present.
How standard solar cells work
Traditional solar cells contain two layers of silicon, commonly called &#;n-type&#; and &#;p-type&#; for their negative and positive charge behavior. A solar panel
creates electricity
when sunlight hits the solar cells, knocking electrons loose from the n-type layer as the p-type layer accepts them.
These flowing electrons are what create an electric field &#; and by extension &#; clean solar power for the customer&#;s home or business.
Although this basic design has served the solar industry well, plain PV cells suffer from several
types of efficiency losses
, including:
Insufficient sunlight capture either due to light reflecting off panel surfaces or because of wires and other components blocking light
Excessive heat buildup, especially as light hits the back-most surface of the PV cells
Free electrons being knocked out of alignment due to scattered light refraction
Electrons recombining with the silicon material on the front and back of the solar cell
Fortunately, some of these efficiency losses can be mitigated with technology.
For example, adding a front passivation layer can help stop front-side recombination. This strategy also helps to reduce some reflection. To prevent unwanted electrons from moving through the cell and hitting the rear contact, it&#;s possible to add a back surface field layer or place all the wires on the back of the panel during the manufacturing process.
The hardest efficiency losses to manage, however, are excessive PV panel heating and back-side recombination. Because of these limits, the maximum efficiency of standard solar modules
hovers around 20%
in the field.
What are PERC solar panels and how do they work?
First
introduced in
, PERC panels are modified silicon cells that have an
additional layer on the back. Because this extra layer is reflective, it is able to send unused light back across the n-type and p-type junctions to generate more energy. Better still, this reflective surface also helps to reduce rear recombination and prevent longer wavelengths from becoming heat that would otherwise impair the cell&#;s performance.
Early commercial implementations of PERC technology ran into trouble &#; largely due to increased
light-induced degradation
. But with
steady improvements over the years, PERC modules have since achieved solar generation efficiencies up to 12% higher than their traditional silicon counterparts.
As a result, solar PV installers are able to
save time
and
reduce costs
when using the newer PERC standard. This is because fewer panels are needed to achieve the same solar power output. Using fewer panels also helps to reduce the amount of
racking
,
wiring
, and
MLPE
devices needed to connect everything together.
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For example, even if roof space is not a major concern, it may be possible to save
PERC module production
PERC solar modules are structurally similar to other silicon panels on the market, which is a distinct advantage for manufacturers.
Even though there are additional costs when creating passivation and rear contact capping layers, panel manufacturers are able to reuse existing production equipment with minimal retooling required.
This places PERC manufacturing costs on par with conventional silicon cell production. Although PERC panels remain
slightly more expensive, these costs are largely offset by the increased efficiency gains &#; which yield higher lifetime utility bill savings and carbon offsets for the end user. And as the technology continues to mature thanks to economies of scale and R&D, PERC cells will likely continue to benefit from even larger efficiency gains and cost reductions moving forward.
Types of PERC solar modules
Mono PERC cells
Monocrystalline solar cells are cut from a single piece of silicon, making them more efficient than polycrystalline panels. Additional PERC layers can be added to help further increase efficiency rates.
Poly PERC cells
Unlike uniform monocrystalline cells, polycrystalline PERC cells are manufactured using a blend of silicon shards. This mix yields lower efficiencies, but polycrystalline cells are cheaper to manufacture.
Just like with monocrystalline cells, adding a PERC layer can significantly increase the efficiency of polycrystalline cells without dramatically increasing their manufacturing costs. But because higher solar power output is the industry&#;s Holy Grail, the more efficient monocrystalline PERC cell is the preferred standard for most new PV installations.
Growth in PERC cell production
Global demand for PERC modules skyrocketed in the late s and continues to see steady growth. In , the
PERC solar sales market
was estimated at around $150 billion and is projected to hit $290 billion by .
While PERC cells are undoubtedly the top panel on the market, some
industry experts
theorize that PERC cells may be phased out in the next few years, favoring N-type solar cells due to their &#;superior conversion efficiency.&#;
Pros and cons of PERC solar panels
There&#;s a reason PERC cells are the industry standard &#; they&#;re highly efficient and a much-improved type of PV technology compared to traditional solar panels. However, compared to the new development of N-type cells, there are some disadvantages. Let&#;s review the pros and cons of PERC solar panels.
Pros of PERC solar panels
More efficient compared to conventional silicon solar panels
Work better in low light and high heat conditions compared to standard solar cells
Are more affordable than N-type solar panels
Cons of PERC solar panels
Slightly more expensive compared to conventional silicon panels
Don&#;t produce as much power compared to N-type cells
Are more negatively influenced by high temperatures than N-type cells
How offering PERC solar panels can increase solar sales
The main selling point of PERC panels is their efficiency. Because they make better use of space, fewer modules are required to produce the same solar output as a standard silicon panel. For customers who may have space constraints, offering PERC panels is a compelling option. The same case goes for customers who don&#;t get as much direct roof sunlight or customers who live in high-heat areas: PERC cells perform better in these conditions compared to traditional cells.
But even if roof real estate or weather conditions aren&#;t factors, it&#;s possible to
save installation time and costs
by using PERC modules. Because PERC cells are more efficient, less panels will need to be installed.
Side-by-side cost comparison: Traditional vs. PERC Solar Panels
Cost will still be a major consideration for many clients. To seal the solar deal, it&#;s easier to outline how PERC solar panels are a better value in the long run, even if they&#;re a larger upfront investment. The table below provides a good visual.
Next steps
A knowledgeable customer is one of our best weapons when selling solar. Make sure your customers have all the information by giving them
Want to learn more about the solar industry?You&#;ll hear from industry experts on everything from what to expect for the rest of , to how AI is affecting the industry, and more.For example, even if roof space is not a major concern, it may be possible to save installation time and costs by using higher efficiency PERC modules. If a site takes 40 standard modules or 38 PERC modules to reach the desired annual production, you&#;re able to reduce the amount of racking, wiring , and MLPE devices needed to connect everything together.A knowledgeable customer is one of our best weapons when selling solar. Make sure your customers have all the information by giving them a free Solar Sales Follow Up Kit . It has all the background a customer needs on the basics of solar, and can help set their mind at ease.
The Benefits of PERC Solar Cells
As we mentioned earlier, PERC solar cells are much more efficient than standard panels, making them an excellent option for someone looking to make the most out of their solar system. This works out for almost anyone interested in solar energy but is especially useful for homeowners without a lot of roof space.
Another reason for the growth in popularity of PERC solar cell technology is that they follow the same manufacturing process as standard cells, meaning that the same materials and machinery are required to build them as regular panels. This allows any silicon cell manufacturer to quickly begin production of their own brand of PERC panels without upgrading their facilities.
Sure, the panel manufacturer has an extra cost with the additional materials and steps required to build a PERC module. Still, it is significantly less than adopting and building an entirely new solar cell technology from scratch. The slight extra cost that will then be passed on to the customer can then be made up quickly from the upgrade in solar cell efficiency they&#;ll enjoy over the life of their system.
Offering PERC cells is also an excellent option for solar companies looking to increase efficiency. Since fewer panels are required to get the same amount of efficiency as you would with simple solar modules, this also results in fewer other materials needed for the installation. This includes less racking and wiring and less time spent on the roof overall.
The Downside of PERC Panels
One major downside of PERC solar cells, strangely enough, is caused by one of its perks. Since these modules can be manufactured with the same equipment and tools as standard panels and are really just considered a modification or regular panels, PERC cells will often have metal ribbons or strips running through them to attach that extra layer. If this metal rips or cracks, the panels will cease to work correctly and require servicing or a replacement.
The cost of PERC panels might also turn off a few interested homeowners from selecting them for their solar installations since not everyone may be able to afford this technology upfront. This, however, can be alleviated by the solar installer with financing options, incentives, and discounts.
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