● Solar Panel Types
Different panel types require different handling. Understanding your panel type helps us determine the right recycling pathway for your project.
Most Efficient
Made from a single continuous silicon crystal, monocrystalline panels offer the highest efficiency and longest lifespan of any panel type. Commonly found on residential rooftops and commercial installations. Recoverable materials include glass, aluminum, silicon, copper, and wiring.
20–25% Efficiency
25–30 Year Lifespan
Black Appearance
Legacy Technology
Made from multiple silicon fragments melted together, polycrystalline panels are recognizable by their blue color. Once the dominant panel type, many aging systems are now reaching end-of-life. Recoverable materials include glass, aluminum, silicon, copper, and wiring.
13–16% Efficiency
25–30 Year Lifespan
Blue Appearance
Flexible & Lightweight
Made by applying ultra-thin photovoltaic layers onto glass, plastic, or metal, thin-film panels are lightweight and flexible. Common in utility-scale farms, commercial rooftops, and portable systems. Some types require specialized handling due to material composition.
7–13% Efficiency
10–20 Year Lifespan
Specialized Handling
