There are 3 fundamental types of construction of PV panels. All of those explained here use silicon.

Mono Crystalline cells are cut from one crystal of silicon- they are effectively a slice from a crystal. In appearance, it has a gentle feel and you will be able to notice the thickness of the slice. These are the most efficient and the most expensive to produce.

Polycrystalline (or Multi Crystalline) cells are efficiently a slice cut from a block of silicon, consisting of a large number of crystals. They possess a speckled reflective physical appearance and again you could see the thickness of the slice.

Amorphous cells are made by placing a thin film of amorphous (non crystalline) silicon onto a wide choice of surfaces. These are the least photovoltaic efficiency and lowest priced to produce of the three types. Due to the amorphous nature of the thin layer, it is flexible, and if made on a flexible surface, the whole solar panel can be elastic.

Based upon the primary idea that a solar cell receiving more light energy will generate more electricity, focusing photovoltaic solar panels simply involve a method (generally using a lens or mirrors) to focus much more sunlight onto a photovoltaic cell. As fewer cells are then necessary for the same area of panel (or light capturing area) it may then become economical to use a highly effective multi junction cell.

Potentially, this type of panel has the following benefits:

- It has a higher overall proficiency, capturing far more solar energy per meter squared leading to a smaller area of panels required for a particular output. Resulting efficiency levels can approach 50%.

- Potentially lower cost per watt of output because of lower number of solar cells required, while the material cost and manufacturing process of the optics (light concentration mechanism) is fairly inexpensive.

- Lower utilization of environmentally unfriendly chemicals involved in the panel production process because of lower number of pv cells.

- Where the concentration is such that cooling of the photovoltaic module is required, a panel may have the ability to output heat simultaneously as electricity.

However, there are drawbacks:

- In all but the lower levels of concentration, heat must be dissipated from the cells. Cooling is needed as cell efficiency is substantially reduced at higher temperatures, or in tremendous situations, cells may be damaged.

- In all but the lower levels of concentration a tracker system will be required to keep the concentrated light focused on the cells.

- As diffuse light cannot be effectively focused, concentrating PV panels are best suited to areas with a high level of clear sunshine.

Even though research has continued on focusing photovoltaic efficiency for many years, they have not created their mark on the industry, and exactly where they have been used, it has been in large scale projects. CPV panels that have been produced have come in "various shapes and sizes" with no obvious design leading the field.

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