PV Comparison Table

Type of Solar PV

'Thin Film'

Polycrystalline

Monocrystalline

'Hybrid'*

Appearance

Cell Efficiency at STC**

8 - 12%

14 - 15%

16 - 17%

18 - 19%

Module Efficiency

5 - 7%

12 - 14%

13 - 15%

16 - 17%

Area needed per kWp***
(for modules)

Kaneka module: 15.5m²

Unisolar modules: 16m²

Sharp modules: 8m²

Sharp modules: 7m²

Sanyo modules:
6 - 6.5m²

Area needed per kWp
(for BIPV)

Solar metal roofing: 23.5m²

Glass-glass laminate: 25m²

Glass-glass laminates:
10m² - 30m²
(depends on cell spacing)

C21 tile: 7.8m²
Sunslate: 10m²

Glass-glass laminates:
8m² - 30m²
(depends on cell spacing)

n/a

Annual energy generated per kWp (in UK)
(for south-facing system, 30° tilt)

800 kWh/kWp

810 kWh/kWp

830 kWh/kWp

865 kWh/kWp

Annual energy generated per m²
(for south-facing modules, 30° tilt)

50 - 52 kWh/m²

100 kWh/m²

107 kWh/m²

139 - 150 kWh/m²

Annual CO2 savings per kWp

454 kg/kWp

460 kg/kWp

471 kg/kWp

491 kg/kWp

Annual CO2 savings per m²

28 kg/m²

57 kg/m²

61 kg/m²

79 - 85 kg/m²