Delving Into Types of Solar Cells Utilized in Solar Shingles

Solar shingles represent a crucial segment of the increasingly popular BIPV market, with North America, Europe and pioneer regions in the Asia-Pacific leading the growth.

Many solar energy enthusiasts and business owners are showing increasing interest and want to dive deep into these products.

While the appeal of solar shingles is straightforward to be perceived, their solar cell technologies utilized are less familiar to the general public.

The following content will aid you in this journey and help you market an informed decision.

A Brief Overview of Solar Shingles

Solar shingles, also known as solar roof tiles in some applications, are designed to function both as roofing material and as a source of solar energy.

That is to say, they combine the energy-generating capability of solar panels with the protective and aesthetic qualities of traditional roofing materials such as asphalt or slate.

Unlike traditional solar panels, which require the use of mounting and racking systems prepared over the roof to finish the installation, solar shingles are used to replace part of existing roofing materials or for new roofing projects.

Types of Solar Cell Technologies Utilized

As of now, the two most common types of solar cell technologies utilized in solar shingle manufacturing are crystalline-silicon-based (c-Si) cells and copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) cells; explained as follows:

c-Si-Based Solar Shingles

Crystalline silicon is the early generation of photovoltaic material.

After several decades of development, c-Si materials have substantially improved and are now recognized for their reliability, efficiency, and long-lasting performance. 

In particular, over the past couple of decades, the integration of advanced techniques including shingling, PERC, half-cut and IBC technologies into c-Si cell manufacturing has greatly enhanced both the efficiency and aesthetic appeal of c-Si-based cells.

All these features and benefits turn c-Si cells into prioritized technology in solar shingle manufacturing.

For example, the utilization of monocrystalline (mono-c-Si) IBC cells contributes to a uniform, sleek appearance with efficient solar energy generating capability for flat solar shingles.

What lies behind this is the IBC technology relocates the front metal contacts to the rear side of the highly efficient monocrystalline cells, avoiding the intrusion of front contacts/grids into the aesthetic look while further boosting the performance of the inherently efficient mono-c-Si cells.

CIGS-Based Solar Roof Tiles

Technically, shingles themselves are typically rectangular and flat, and they are popular roofing elements in North America. However, many property owners may prefer the aesthetics of Spanish or Mediterranean roofing material styles which often feature curves.

These products have a specialized name: roof tiles.

Although the utilization of c-Si-based photovoltaic cells is still feasible in solar roof tiles, these cells can largely be used within small flat areas of tiles.

Take the single Roman tiles as an example; these Mediterranean-style tiles are characterized by a flat section with one prominent curve. Since c-Si-based cells lack flexibility, in most cases they can only be embedded into the flat areas of these tiles. This circumstance, in turn, translates into lower solar energy generating capability of solar roof tiles per square foot or square meter.

To overcome this challenge, a flexible and bendable cell technology is essential.

CIGS thin-film cells can excel in these circumstances.

In contrast to c-Si-based panels, which require the assembly of multiple individual cell units during manufacturing, CIGS cells employ a combination of deposition processes that do not involve distinct, separately fabricated cells.

This not only forms a continuous appearance for the panel but also an exceptionally flexible property as their thin layers are generally deposited on a flexible substrate.

Hence, CIGS-based cells can be adaptive to varying kinds of surfaces.

They can be well integrated into the curved surfaces of roof tiles, transforming most parts of a roof tile into a solar generator without compromising its visual look. Some designs use curved tempered glass to sandwich the CIGS materials to form solar power roof tiles, blending modern touch to tile appeal.

Furthermore, CIGS cells can also perform well in low-light conditions. Leveraging this property, some manufacturers are trying to alter the transparency and color of the encapsulation layer to create colored solar roof tile products to fit the overall color pattern or style of the site.

In Conclusion

Both c-Si- and CIGS-based solar cell technologies along with their ongoing advancements play a crucial role in enhancing the value of solar shingles.

Over many years of innovation, both the electrical performance and aesthetic value have been improved. Beyond fostering a more robust ecology involving product awareness, product options, networks of distribution, installation and maintenance, participants are dedicated to lowering costs by adopting new techniques and materials, such as CdTe-based solar shingles.

The growing adoption of solar shingles signifies a trend: solar is not simply an addition, it is an inherent part of modern properties.