{"id":4742,"date":"2019-08-02T07:12:09","date_gmt":"2019-08-02T07:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/?p=4742"},"modified":"2020-07-02T07:23:28","modified_gmt":"2020-07-02T07:23:28","slug":"why-are-solar-panels-blue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/why-are-solar-panels-blue\/","title":{"rendered":"Why are Solar Panels Blue?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4742\" class=\"elementor elementor-4742\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-64e81f1 lead-section elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"64e81f1\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9267724\" data-id=\"9267724\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f3484e0 article-title elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f3484e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Why Are Solar Panels Blue?<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-b06a49a toc-and-author-bio-section elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b06a49a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-e88ff75 left-column\" data-id=\"e88ff75\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d57c571 table-of-contents elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"d57c571\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_55 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Page Contents<\/p>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/why-are-solar-panels-blue\/#Silicon-%E2%80%93-The-Blue-Black-Building-Block\" title=\"Silicon \u2013 The Blue-Black Building Block\">Silicon \u2013 The Blue-Black Building Block<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/why-are-solar-panels-blue\/#The-Role-of-Anti-Reflective-Coating-in-Color\" title=\"The Role of Anti-Reflective Coating in Color\">The Role of Anti-Reflective Coating in Color<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/why-are-solar-panels-blue\/#Color-and-Efficiency\" title=\"Color and Efficiency\">Color and Efficiency<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/why-are-solar-panels-blue\/#Color-and-Aesthetics\" title=\"Color and Aesthetics\">Color and Aesthetics<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/why-are-solar-panels-blue\/#Conclusion\" title=\"Conclusion\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-639400b right-column\" data-id=\"639400b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-764ec58 author-bio elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"764ec58\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><script type=\"application\/ld+json\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t{\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \"@context\": \"https:\/\/schema.org\/\",\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \"@type\": \"Person\",\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \"name\": \"Aniket\",\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \"url\": \"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/author\/aniket\/\",\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \"image\": \"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/324fd7f9d0b3e667f7223919e56f046a?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  \"jobTitle\": \"Author\"  \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t}\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/script><p><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"author-bio-avatar\" src=\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/324fd7f9d0b3e667f7223919e56f046a?s=50&amp;d=mm&amp;r=g\" alt=\"Aniket\" width=\"50\" height=\"50\" \/><\/p><p class=\"author-bio-text\"><span class=\"written-by-text\">Written by<\/span> <span class=\"job-title\">qualified solar engineer<\/span> <span class=\"author-name\">Aniket<\/span><span class=\"written-by-period\">.<\/span> <span class=\"last-updated-text\">Last updated:<\/span> <time datetime=\"2020-07-02 07:23:28\">July 2, 2020<\/time><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4caed31 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4caed31\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b3770e9\" data-id=\"b3770e9\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ff3f74 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5ff3f74\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Most solar panels are blue because of the manufacturing of polycrystalline cells from multiple silicon crystals, and a special anti-reflective layer on the panels for higher light absorption. Although blue claims the majority, some panels can also be black, based on their respective manufacturing methods.<\/p>\n<p>Technically, the color black is known to absorb the highest amount of light. Yet, most solar panels are blue in color, since polycrystalline panels make up the majority. This is why most people will recall an image of several blue rectangular panels on hearing the word \u2018solar&#8217;. We will see these things in the following paragraphs. Understanding the reason behind the panel color is important as it can help identify the type of panel that is used.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Silicon-%E2%80%93-The-Blue-Black-Building-Block\"><\/span>Silicon \u2013 The Blue-Black Building Block<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Understanding the color of solar panels requires us to look into <a href=\"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/what-are-solar-panels-made-of\/\">the material they are made from<\/a>. The discovery of photovoltaics and the first ever solar cells involved elements such as silver chloride and selenium. Yet, interestingly, almost all commercially used PV cells are made from Silicon. Silicon is a brittle element, and the eighth most abundant in the universe, though a bit rare in its pure form.<\/p>\n<p>Silicon (Si) and its compounds are used in a myriad of applications from glass, cements, electronic elements, etc. A semiconductor material, Si has a blue tinge to itself (the reason most solar panels look blue) and a metallic greyish luster.<\/p>\n<p><picture><source srcset=\"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Pure-raw-silicon-e1565985916542.webp 500w,https:\/\/ecotality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Pure-raw-silicon-e1565985916542-300x200.webp 300w,https:\/\/ecotality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Pure-raw-silicon-e1565985916542-354x235.webp 354w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" type=\"image\/webp\"><img src=\"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Pure-raw-silicon-e1565985916542.jpg\" height=\"333\" width=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Pure-raw-silicon-e1565985916542.jpg 500w, https:\/\/ecotality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Pure-raw-silicon-e1565985916542-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/ecotality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Pure-raw-silicon-e1565985916542-354x235.jpg 354w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-5592 sp-no-webp\" alt=\"pure raw silicon\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"  > <\/picture><\/p>\n<p>Silicon cells are of three main types, based on the method of manufacturing. The most common type is polycrystalline or multicrystalline cell, which is made from several small silicon crystals. This type of cell has a noticeable blue color to it.<\/p>\n<p>The next type is monocrystalline, made from a single large silicon crystal. Mono cells have a black or almost black hue to it. There are other, lesser used types such as thin film, which are also close to black in color. The reason most solar panels are blue is the widespread use of polycrystalline solar panels worldwide.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The-Role-of-Anti-Reflective-Coating-in-Color\"><\/span>The Role of Anti-Reflective Coating in Color<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Anti-Reflective Coating, as one can guess from the name, is a layer over the panel that reduces reflection of incident sunlight. This means maximum light enters the panel and cells and the minimum is lost, so efficiency is improved.<\/p>\n<p>AR coatings, however, change the way light waves interact with the glass top of the panel. This causes the panels to look slightly more bluish in color.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Color-and-Efficiency\"><\/span>Color and Efficiency<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Despite polycrystalline panels&#8217; stronghold on the worldwide markets, black still remains the more efficient color.<\/p>\n<p>Some other upcoming technologies such as CIGS thin film also produce pitch black panels, but are expensive. To keep the cost in range while making the color blacker, some companies have come up with AR coatings that do not add to the blue hue.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Color-and-Aesthetics\"><\/span>Color and Aesthetics<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The availability of free and clean energy, according to many people, outweighs the apparent change in a building&#8217;s looks. However, not everyone believes that. For some reason, some owners feel wary of having rows of blue rectangular plates on their roofs.<\/p>\n<p>To solve this problem, several companies have come up with interesting solutions. One of them is the development of nanotube patterns that give the panels a green color (in cases where owners don&#8217;t mind green). It comes at a small cost of efficiency.<\/p>\n<p>Some other companies have devised pixelated printed patterns that allow any color to be printed on the glass. This allows the possibility of matching colors with the building exterior, or simply having a multicolored and fun looking array. Going a step further, it has also become possible to print images on solar panels, turning panels into possible advertisement sheets.<\/p>\n<p>It should, however, be kept in mind that all of this will always lead to some extent of efficiency loss, around 10%, as said by the inventors.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion\"><\/span>Conclusion<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>To conclude, we can say that not all panels are blue but the most common ones certainly are, and this is due to the polycrystalline silicon and AR coating.<\/p>\n<p>As technology progresses, the color may shift to black in favor of higher efficiency, provided costs can be kept low in manufacturing. If the preference however happens to be the aesthetics more than the <a href=\"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/efficiency\/\">efficiency<\/a>, colored or photo-printed panels are an interesting trend to investigate.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-22addeea post-rating-section elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"22addeea\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-15f95c4f\" data-id=\"15f95c4f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4accecb post-rating elementor-widget elementor-widget-shortcode\" data-id=\"4accecb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"shortcode.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-shortcode\"><!-- Rate my Post Plugin --><div  class=\"rmp-widgets-container rmp-wp-plugin rmp-main-container js-rmp-widgets-container js-rmp-widgets-container--4742 \"  data-post-id=\"4742\">    <!-- Rating widget -->  <div class=\"rmp-rating-widget js-rmp-rating-widget\">          <p class=\"rmp-heading rmp-heading--title\">        We hope you liked this article. Please rate it or leave us a comment.      <\/p>            <div class=\"rmp-rating-widget__icons\">      <ul class=\"rmp-rating-widget__icons-list js-rmp-rating-icons-list\">                  <li class=\"rmp-rating-widget__icons-list__icon js-rmp-rating-item\" data-descriptive-rating=\"Not at all useful\" data-value=\"1\">            <i class=\"js-rmp-rating-icon rmp-icon rmp-icon--ratings rmp-icon--star rmp-icon--full-highlight\"><\/i>          <\/li>                  <li class=\"rmp-rating-widget__icons-list__icon js-rmp-rating-item\" data-descriptive-rating=\"Somewhat useful\" data-value=\"2\">            <i class=\"js-rmp-rating-icon rmp-icon rmp-icon--ratings rmp-icon--star rmp-icon--full-highlight\"><\/i>          <\/li>                  <li class=\"rmp-rating-widget__icons-list__icon js-rmp-rating-item\" data-descriptive-rating=\"Useful\" data-value=\"3\">            <i class=\"js-rmp-rating-icon rmp-icon rmp-icon--ratings rmp-icon--star rmp-icon--full-highlight\"><\/i>          <\/li>                  <li class=\"rmp-rating-widget__icons-list__icon js-rmp-rating-item\" data-descriptive-rating=\"Fairly useful\" data-value=\"4\">            <i class=\"js-rmp-rating-icon rmp-icon rmp-icon--ratings rmp-icon--star rmp-icon--full-highlight\"><\/i>          <\/li>                  <li class=\"rmp-rating-widget__icons-list__icon js-rmp-rating-item\" data-descriptive-rating=\"Very useful\" data-value=\"5\">            <i class=\"js-rmp-rating-icon rmp-icon rmp-icon--ratings rmp-icon--star \"><\/i>          <\/li>              <\/ul>    <\/div>    <p class=\"rmp-rating-widget__hover-text js-rmp-hover-text\"><\/p>    <button class=\"rmp-rating-widget__submit-btn rmp-btn js-submit-rating-btn\">      Submit Rating    <\/button>    <p class=\"rmp-rating-widget__results js-rmp-results \">      Average rating <span class=\"rmp-rating-widget__results__rating js-rmp-avg-rating\">4.2<\/span> \/ 5. 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Be the first to rate this post.    <\/p>    <p class=\"rmp-rating-widget__msg js-rmp-msg\"><\/p>  <\/div>  <!--Structured data -->  <script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{  \"@context\": \"http:\/\/schema.org\",  \"@type\": \"Product\",  \"aggregateRating\": {    \"@type\": \"AggregateRating\",    \"bestRating\": \"5\",    \"ratingCount\": \"17\",    \"ratingValue\": \"4.2\"  },  \"image\": \"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/a-bright-blue-set-of-solar-panels-with-reflection-of-the-sky-in-them.jpg\",  \"name\": \"Why are Solar Panels Blue?\",  \"description\": \"Why are Solar Panels Blue?\"}<\/script>      <\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Why Are Solar Panels Blue? Most solar panels are blue because of the manufacturing of polycrystalline cells from multiple silicon crystals, and a special anti-reflective layer on the panels for higher light absorption. Although blue claims the majority, some panels can also be black, based on their respective manufacturing methods. Technically, the color black is &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/why-are-solar-panels-blue\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Why are Solar Panels Blue?<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":14354,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"right-sidebar","site-content-layout":"plain-container","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"disabled","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"default","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"","_glsr_average":0,"_glsr_ranking":0,"_glsr_reviews":0},"categories":[27],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v20.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Why are Solar Panels Blue? - ecotality.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ecotality.com\/why-are-solar-panels-blue\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Why are Solar Panels Blue? - ecotality.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Why Are Solar Panels Blue? Most solar panels are blue because of the manufacturing of polycrystalline cells from multiple silicon crystals, and a special anti-reflective layer on the panels for higher light absorption. Although blue claims the majority, some panels can also be black, based on their respective manufacturing methods. Technically, the color black is &hellip; Why are Solar Panels Blue? 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