Types of Solar Panels in the UK - 2024 Comparison

The type of solar panels you choose to have installed with your system matters a lot since they can have a major impact on the overall performance of your system. 

Not only does the type of solar panel you choose impact their efficiency and power output, but certain solar panels like the heterojunction variety are designed to work best in low-light conditions - ideal for cloudy places like the UK. 

Therefore, if you are thinking of investing in a solar panel installation for your home, there are many important considerations to take into account. 

So, on that note, what are the various types of solar panels and how do they differ?

And maybe the most important question of all - is which type of panels are best to use in the UK? 

Let’s explore...

PS We offer MCS-certified solar panel installation nationwide. Simply answer these questions, get your fixed price and arrange your free design.

Types of Solar Panels UK Key Points: 

• There are a few major types of solar panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin film and hybrid. 

• Some hybrid panels have efficiencies as high as 23% and provide excellent performance in low-light conditions - ideal for a place like the UK. 

• Monocrystalline solar panels are made from high-purity silicon and are highly efficient, but also more expensive.

• Polycrystalline solar panels are made from multiple fragments of silicon and are slightly less efficient than monocrystalline panels, but also less expensive.

• Thin-film solar panels are made from layers of photovoltaic material deposited onto a substrate and are generally less efficient than crystalline solar panels but can be more flexible and lightweight.

• Bifacial solar panels can generate electricity from both sides of the panel.

• The best type of panels for you depends on your goals, budget, installation site and aesthetic preferences. 

Still learning about solar panels? Explore our helpful guides on various topics, including solar panel grants, payback periods, the mechanics of solar energy, determining the number of panels you need, and solar car charging solutions.

Best Type of Solar Panel for Your Home?

The best type of solar panels for your home ultimately depends on your goals and can be limited by things like your budget and roof size. 

For example, if you have a small roof and want to achieve a certain annual power generation, it may be advised to opt for more efficient and more expensive solar panels in comparison to those with a larger roof that have more space and therefore have the option to choose less efficient panels. 

In general, in the UK, the best type of solar panel installation is one optimised for low-light conditions.

This is because the UK has cloudy conditions throughout the year, so a system optimised for these conditions will perform better. 

For example, hybrid solar panels that utilise M10 Topcon solar cells work well in low-light conditions, achieving efficiency rates as high as 23%, as do systems that utilise microinverters. 

It's, for this reason, we designed a solar system optimised specifically for the UK: 

• We use REA Fusion Energy Panels that utilise M10 Topcon technology (next-generation technology exclusive to Heatable) - these have an efficiency of up to 23%.

• It's optimised for low-light conditions by using Enphase microinverter technology. 

• The panels are bi-facial (double-sided) solar panels that can result in around 10% more power output annually. 

Explore a Solar Case Study: Check out an insightful Q&A session featured in one of our detailed case studies on domestic solar panels. Hear directly from a Heatable customer in the UK and gain valuable perspectives on their experience here.

The image above shows a 23-panel solar installation, carried out by the MCS-certified solar team at Heatable, featuring the REA Fusion2 solar panels.

Types of Solar Panels UK  

What are solar panels and how do you categorize them?

Solar panels are devices that contain photovoltaic materials such as silicon that are able to harness the energy of the sun. Upon doing so, they generate a direct current (DC) of electricity. 

A solar inverter can then convert this DC current into alternating current (AC), which is necessary as this is the type of current used for domestic purposes or/to sell back to the grid.

There are several ways of categorizing solar panels, including:

• The material used.

• Generation of solar panel technology.

• Size and wattage.

• Other characteristics e.g. double glazed and/or double-sided (bi-facial).  

Here, we’ll focus primarily on the material used before touching on the other categories mentioned. 

Solar Panel Types Based on Material

The most common way of categorizing solar panels is based on the material used, specifically monocrystalline, polycrystalline, heterojunction and thin film. 

Hybrid Solar Panels

Average Cost Per Panel: £400 to £500

Hybrid solar panels combine two or more materials to create solar panels with innovative characteristics, often with an aim to improve overall performance e.g. increase efficiency or performance in low-light environments. 

For example, Fusion Energy solar panels exclusive to Heatable utilise the latest N-type solar cells with M10 Topcon - Topcon stands for "tunnel oxide passivated contact," which refers to the use of a thin tunnel oxide layer to separate the front and back contacts of the cell and reduce recombination losses. 

M10 Topcon cells also have higher open-circuit voltages, which can lead to better performance in low-light conditions - ideal for a place like the UK, which experiences cloudy skies throughout the year. 

M10 Topcon solar panels also have a low-temperature coefficient, meaning they can maintain their performance in hot weather.

Due to the advanced nature of this technology, they are more expensive than older technology, however, their advantages make them well worth the additional investment. 

Check out our video below to find out how much you could save with solar in the UK:

Monocrystalline Solar Panels 

Average Cost Per Panel: £250 to £400

These solar panels come with cells made of a cylindrical silicon ingot.

This silicon ingot is originally grown using a single crystal of high-purity silicon (this is similar to how semiconductors are produced).

Moreover, during the manufacturing process, the silicon Ingot is cut up into wafers which become dollar cells.

Monocrystalline panels arguably stand out most for their efficiency rating (that is 15-20%). This makes them a little more efficient than their polycrystalline counterparts. 

Moreover, monocrystalline panels are generally seen as being the more aesthetically pleasing option if choosing between monocrystalline and polycrystalline.

Also, monocrystalline panels have a life expectancy of 30-50 years, with the upper limit of this estimate being better than the three options discussed in this section.

With that being said, monocrystalline solar panels are costlier than both polycrystalline and thin film panels.

In addition, their performance does not stand up as well when temperatures rise as polycrystalline panels. 

Polycrystalline Solar Panels 

Average Cost Per Panel: £225 to £250

These panels differ from monocrystalline panels in that several crystals of silicon are used for each panel (hence why they are called poly and not mono).

More specifically, during the manufacturing process, several pieces of silicon are melted together to create the individual cells of a polycrystalline solar panel.

However, they are less expensive and can tolerate higher temperatures more effectively. What’s more, they are still more efficient than thin film panels. 

Beyond that, both monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels have a longer life expectancy than thin film panels.

Polycrystalline panels tend to last between thirty and forty years on average.

Thin Film Solar Panels

Average Cost Per Panel: £200 to £250

These solar panels are exactly what you’d expect. They consist of thin-film materials that are also flexible in nature.

In some cases, thin film panels will come with a single layer of thin film, however, they tend to feature several layers.

Along with being, on average, less expensive than monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar panels, thin film panels have an appealing aesthetic.

With that said, they have an energy efficiency of just 7-13% and a significantly shorter life expectancy of around 10-20 years.

Solar Panels by Generation of Technology

This is where the different types of solar panels can begin to cross over, since, for instance, monocrystalline panels are an example of first-generation solar panel technology.

However, we’ll also touch on other examples of solar panels in this section that we haven’t mentioned yet.

1st Generation Solar Panels 

These solar panels, which we’ve already discussed are the two most common options for domestic settings.

• Monocrystalline

• Polycrystalline 

2nd Generation Solar Panels 

This generation of solar panels comprises various types of thin film panels.

• Conventional Thin Film Solar Panels

• Amorphous Silicon Solar Cell - These solar panels are a more advanced version of thin film solar panels. Amorphous silicon solar cells use triple-layered technology. However, as with thin film solar panels in general, they have relatively low efficiency. 

Check out our full in-depth article on whether solar is worth it in the UK. 

3rd Generation Solar Panels 

Lastly, the third and most advanced generation of solar panels consists of a range of new thin-film solar panels.

However, most of this technology is only in the research phase or is currently being developed.

Some employ inorganic substances to generate power (e.g., Cadmium Telluride) while others use organic substances.

• Biohybrid Solar Cell - This type of solar cell is still being researched. It is made by combining organic and inorganic matter as a means of simulating photosynthesis. If biohybrid solar panels become a reality, they may offer nearly 100% efficiency.

• Cadmium Telluride Solar Cell or CdTe - This type of panel technology uses Cadmium Telluride so that solar cells can be produced at a lower price. This would open up the possibility of a further reduction in the cost of solar panels.

• Concentrated PV Cell - These are not the sort of panels you’d find on an average property as they are a large and complex operation with high installation costs, among other reasons. These solar panels see higher efficiency ratings thanks to differences in their designs and functions. For instance, these panels may come with lenses or curved mirror surfaces to bundle light rays from the sun, thus offering improved energy efficiency. Some concentrated PV cell solar panels even feature cooling systems. These panels can also come with a sun tracker, allowing the panels to move and follow the sun throughout the day, thus increasing their output further.

Solar Panel Size and Wattage

Lastly, you can also categorize solar panels/arrays based on their size and wattage.

But what exactly are the most common sizes and output levels?

Size of Solar Arrays:

By size of solar panels, we do not mean the actual physical size of individual panels (although this might also be worth considering).

Instead, we are referring to the size of the solar panel array.

In other words, the total roof space is covered by all the solar panels that make up any given solar system.

Here are some common solar array sizes:

• 21-24m² - Usually the result of around 10-13 panels or a 3kW solar array.

• 27-30m² - Generally means 15-18 panels or a 4kW solar panel array.

• 30-33m² - Approximately consists of 18-22 panels or a 5kW solar system.

• 41-44m² - Would likely comprise 22-26 panels or a 6kW solar array.

Power Output in Kilowatts:

As touched on, different solar arrays will come with a specific output as measured in kilowatts.

The most common examples, as listed above are a 3kW solar array, a 4kW system, a 5kW system, and a 6kW system.

But what sort of system would you likely need?

Here is what these solar system outputs correspond to in terms of house size: *

*These are just the average number of panels/wattage figures required for these properties and household occupants. If in any doubt, consult with an MSC-certified installer to verify how many panels your property would need.

Other Types of Solar Panels 

Here are some other common types of solar panels you may see available in the UK: 

Bifacial Solar Panels 

Bifacial simply means the solar panel is double-sided i.e. the photovoltaic material is on the front and the back. 

For example, the REA Fusion Energy Solar Panels by REA have a double-sided design giving these panels a much larger solar surface area and so unlike many leading competitors that only have a single side, these panels can generate electricity on both sides - increasing their max power output by 10%.

What should you know before buying solar? Have a flat roof? Read all about flat roof solar and if you have a conservatory, it is possible to have solar on a conservatory roof too. 

Double Glazed Solar Panels 

Delamination occurs when the various components of a solar panel begin to detach from one another, which is a major issue that occurs in cheaper solar panel units. 

Solar panels with a double-glazed design mean they are not susceptible to delamination and are generally much easier to clean. 

Next Steps For Your Solar Journey:

When planning to install solar panels for your home, there are several important factors to consider. Make sure to refer to the following guides to help you make informed decisions:

• How much do solar panels cost? 

• Are solar panels worth it for your home? 

• Is your roof suitable for solar panels? 

• What are the best solar panels available? 

• Is battery storage worth it? 

To dive deeper into these topics, head over to our advice section, check out our YouTube channel for informative videos, or read a customer case study to see how others have benefited from their solar installation. 

Get a Quote for Solar Today 

Without boasting you should get your solar installed with us, here's why: 

• Thousands of Happy Customers: We boast an average score of 4.9 on Trustpilot, outperforming the market leader.

• Which? Trusted Trader: Heatable is proudly recognised as a Which? Trusted Trader.

• MCS Accredited: Our accreditation by the Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS) ensures high-quality standards.

• Exclusive Panels: We offer REA Fusion solar panels, available only through Heatable.

• Consumer Protection: As members of the HIES consumer code, we provide 2-year deposit protection.

• Flexible Payment Options: Choose from multiple payment methods, including finance options.

• Fixed Price Guarantee: Enjoy transparency with no hidden costs.

• Save Your Quote: You can save your quote and decide later.

• Bespoke Design Tool: Draw your own conclusion (literally) on whether solar is worth it for you, here.