37 gigawatts of new solar capacity is expected to start operating and will contribute to a 39% rise in U.S. solar generation from 2023. “Renewables, particularly solar photovoltaics, are growing rapidly and making large contributions to electricity generation,” said EIA Administrator Joe DeCarolis.
When looking at the graph below, it becomes easy to see the rapid increase in solar photovoltaic power generation that has taken place during the last couple of years in the United Kingdom. Within one year (2023-2024) solar PV power generation increased by almost 87%.
Uk Solar Energy Statistics
Only few people are aware of the different technologies that exist on the market for solar energy such as solar thermal and solar water heating.
Whereas these alternatives to the classical types of solar panels are mainly used for heating water, the following paragraphs give a more detailed introduction to the different types of solar panels that are used for generating green electricity. Several decades of research, work, and development have lead to the wide range of different types of solar panels now available on the market for solar panels.
To give a broader overview, GreenMatch has put together some helpful information about the most common and special types of solar panels.
Solar Cell Type Efficiency Rate Advantages Disadvantages
Monocrystalline Solar Panels (Mono-SI) ~20% High efficiency rate; optimised for commercial use; high life-time value Expensive
Polycrystalline Solar Panels (p-Si) ~15% Lower price Sensitive to high temperatures; lower lifespan & slightly less space efficiency
Thin-Film: Amorphous Silicon Solar Panels (A-SI) ~7-10% Relatively low costs; easy to produce & flexible shorter warranties & lifespan
Concentrated PV Cell (CVP) ~41% Very high performance & efficiency rate Solar tracker & cooling system needed (to reach high efficiency rate)
