have a smooth surface structure and achieve the highest efficency. Their production is complex and more expensive than the production of poly crystalline modules and thin-film modules. The technical lifetime of mono crystalline modules is high. Low light or high temperatures is restricting the efficiency. Round about one third of the worldwide produced solar modules are having a mono crystalline structure.
have a lower efficiency than mono crystalline modules. The manufacturing process of poly crystalline modules is less expensive than mono crystalline modules; therefor they are cheaper. Light and thermal behavior as well as technical lifetime are comparable to mono crystalline modules. Half of all solar modules are poly crystalline.
are significantly lighter than thick-film modules and reach a thickness of only one micron. Their production is simple and therefor thin-film modules are cheaper. Low light or high temperatures don't influence the efficiency as much as thick-film modules. Technical lifetime of thin-film modules are lower than of mono crystalline or poly crystalline modules.