Thin Film Solar Panels

Amorphous silicon solar panels (e.g. thin film) are made from cells created by depositing a micro-thin layer of silicon directly onto a sheet of glass, plastic, or other substrate. Although they are less efficient and require up to 50 percent more space, they can be mounted on a flexible backing, making them easier to transport and ideal for building-integrated uses, such as roofing tiles or shingle.

Solar panels are wired together into a PV array, and the electricity they produce is fed through an inverter that changes the direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC), making it suitable for homes and business, and compatible with the electric grid. The inverter is the major electronic appliance associated with a grid-tied PV system.