The Photovoltaic (PV) Cell, commonly referred to as a Solar Panel , converts photons that come from the sun into electricity. There are two common makes of PV cells, namely Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline. These have slightly different compositions, with the Monocrystalline (15-20% efficiency) being the more efficient than the Polycrystalline (13-16% efficiency). Monocrystalline, being the older technology is usually identified by their black colour as opposed to the Polycrystalline with their blue colour, which are newer technology.

The PV cells come in different sizes depending on the amount of energy you wish to produce from the sun’s rays. The most popular sizes vary from 275 watts to 330 watts, although smaller and larger are available. The more power you require means the more PV cells you will install.