How is Solar Manufacturing Done?

• April 16, 2024

• Solar , Solar PV modules

With interest in solar panels, many people are asking this question: how are solar panels made? Thankfully, solar panel manufacturing in India is not a complicated process. It may require start-up capital and some trial and error, but the work pays off. This article will discuss the process of solar panel manufacturing. But before we dive into it, let’s understand the three main types of solar panels.

3 Types of Solar Panels

1. Monocrystalline solar panels: These are the oldest types of solar panels. These are the most efficient solar panels and can be mounted onto rooftops. However, because they are a very expensive solar manufacturing process, they are also the most expensive solar panels.
2. Polycrystalline solar panels: Polycrystalline solar panels are easy to manufacture and therefore are relatively cheaper. These are the ideal choice if you want to install a rooftop solar panel for your home.
3. Thin-film solar panels: These panels have an extremely easy solar manufacturing process, which can be mass-produced. As a result, these are the cheapest solar panels you can find. They’re flexible and can be installed anywhere.

All these solar panels are made from the same starting material: silica or sand. To understand how this sand turns into a solar panel, let’s look at the process used by the best manufacturing companiesin India.

Solar Manufacturing Process

Step 1: Processing of silica

Silica is widely available in all parts of the world and is most abundantly found in sand. Therefore, they are first collected and melted. Other materials like Boron are added to the melted silica to increase the electrical property of the liquid. The ratios used in mixing will define the electrical properties of the final solar panel.

Step 2: Different manufacturing techniques

As mentioned above, the three solar panels are made of silica, but their manufacturing technique sets their properties apart. When you use 1 single cell of silica and use it to grow crystals, you obtain a monocrystalline solar panel. But if you use multiple cells, you’ll get a polycrystalline solar panel. These are made according to requirement and then cooled to room temperature.

Step 3: Processing

Once these are cooled, they are polished, shaped, and cut into wafers. This wafer is generally of the same thickness as a sheet of paper. Solar panel manufacturing in India has automated this process. The wafers are then coated and treated to make them into ‘solar cells’.

Step 4: Soldering

The final step is to solder these solar cells together to create a solar panel. Different applications require a different number of cells. For example, a residential solar panel requires 48 solar cells, whereas a utility-scale solar panel requires 72+ solar cells. Depending upon the application of the solar panel, the solar cells are soldered.

Once soldering is complete, the panel is tested and then marketed.

While the above-given process sounds simple, it is anything but that. A lot of care goes into creating a simple solar panel. Waaree Energies Ltd, one of the best manufacturing companies in India, provides you with reliable and most efficient solar panels. Contact Waaree today!

Read More Information: How Does A Solar Panel Gets Manufactured?