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The use of residential solar panels will reduce your energy cost for years to come. The source of power you will be utilizing is abundant and free. Your only cost comes in harnessing it. There have been many evolutions of the solar panel for use in residential homes from the beginning with crystalline silicon solar cell to the thin-film, string-ribbon.

The crystalline silicon solar cell was the first and best know type. A standard panel has a transparent glass surface with an ethyl vinyl acetate encapsulant on a Tedlar rear surface all held with an aluminum frame to orderly arrange the atoms to turn sunlight to electricity for your energy together needs.

A more economical panel developed is the thin-film panel. The three technologies used here are amorphous silicon, cadmium telluride and copper indium gallium diselenide, all of which use less semiconductor material than the crystalline silicon panels. This has become a preferred panel because of its high efficiency and aesthetics appearance since this thin-film technology is built into the roofing shingles themselves.

There is a third type that is in wide spread usage that combines the best of both previously stated panel types. This is referred to as the string-ribbon technology.  The manufacturing process utilizes high temperature, molten process to produce an energy yield of twice that of conventional crystalline silicon solar cells.

When the decision to use solar power and what type of solar panels have been made, the decision of a photovoltaic system (PV) will have to be determined. For maximum absorption of the solar rays, the panels should face the sun at an optimal angle. The right PV will maximize the efficiency of your system. This system will also convert the direct current that is generated to the useful alternating current used by most applications in the average home and be the storage unit, or battery, during the evening hours or storm conditions.

If a battery system is not preferred, then a tie in to the local grid is an option. This way you can sell power to your local energy company during the peak hours of sunlight during the day and buy energy back during the evening hours. Depending on your power consumption, this balance will determine whether you pay a bill or receive reimbursement.