70% of utility-scale solar systems use crystalline silicon modules

Most of the utility-scale solar photovoltaic systems installed in the United States use crystalline silicon panels, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Between 2015 and 2016, crystalline silicon capacity increased 61% or by 3.8 gigawatts. The amount of thin-film capacity installed has been flat over the past five years.

In 2016, 70% of utility-scale solar systems used crystalline silicon modules, and 28% used thin-film technology.

“Crystalline silicon is typically the technology of choice for solar (photovoltaic) project developers because of its higher cell efficiencies, space-efficient designs and long module lifetimes,” according to the EIA. “Thin-film modules, however, are often less expensive than crystalline silicon and can be more attractive to some project developers. Thin-film modules also can be more flexible, lighter and easier to handle than crystalline silicon.”

California had almost 8.5 gigawatts of utility-scale solar photovoltaic capacity at the end of 2016, the most in the United States. Crystalline silicon systems comprised of 5 gigawatts of the capacity and thin-film systems accounted for 3.5 gigawatts of the capacity. Nearly all states have more crystalline silicon capacity than thin-film capacity. Nevada is one of the few states that has more thin-film capacity than crystalline silicon capacity and is the only state that uses more thin-film capacity among the top 10 states with the most solar capacity.

Materials used to make thin-film solar cells include cadmium telluride, copper indium gallium selenide and amorphous silicon. Historically, thin-film cells are less efficient than crystalline silicon cells but cadmium telluride technology has improved, allowing it to match some less-efficient crystalline silicon cells, according to the EIA. Also, cadmium telluride cells are lighter than crystalline silicon cells, and are “more suitable for low weight-bearing applications.”