Amorphous silicon thin-film array, fixed ground-mount
Amorphous silicon panels are a thin-film technology, made with a layer of photovoltaic material applied to the panel’s substrate. They contain less silicon than crystalline panels, which can lower costs.
The manufacture of these panels is highly automated – silicon is deposited on a substrate like glass as a gas, and electrical connections are etched by a laser.
Another advantage of reducing the silicon used in a solar panel is that it takes less time for the panel’s output to match the energy used in its construction – its energy payback time. Silicon has a high amount of energy associated with its production.
Thin-film panels are not as sensitive to partial shading as crystalline panels. Their layer of photovoltaic material allows more flexibility in the layout of the electrical contacts. Etching these as long horizontal cells across the panel makes these less susceptible from being blocked by shade.
Thin-film panels are less efficient than crystalline panels, and a greater number is required for a given output. However, their output is less affected by heat.
M&H Power is an Australian company supplying renewable energy products, including Kaneka amorphous panels manufactured in Japan.
| Electricity produced (annual): | 9.7M Wh* |
|---|---|
| System size: | 6.0 kW |
| Array area: | 98.0 m² |
| Number of panels: | 100 |
| Panel efficiency: | 6% |
| Panel type: | Kaneka GEA-60 |
| Panel Rated Output: | 60 W |
| Inverter size, type: | 6kW, SMA SMC 6000A |
| Array Orientation: | True north, at 25º tilt |
*This figure is based on an assumption of 1.622 MWh annually, per kWp of installed solar panels. This may prove to be a conservative estimate for Alice Springs.