Thin-Film Panels explained
Thin-film solar panels are manufactured by depositing one or more thin layers of photovoltaic material — such as cadmium telluride (CdTe), amorphous silicon (a-Si), or copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) — onto glass, plastic, or metal. The result is a lightweight, sometimes flexible panel that can be integrated into unconventional surfaces.
Thin-film panels are rarely used in standard residential rooftop installations due to their lower efficiency, but they excel in certain applications:
- Building-integrated PV (BIPV): solar roof tiles, facades, and skylights
- Large flat commercial roofs: where weight and cost per m² matter more than efficiency
- Portable and off-grid applications: flexible panels for campervans, boats, and remote sites
Efficiency ranges:
- CdTe (e.g. First Solar): 10–13% typical, up to 18–19% in commercial modules
- CIGS: 12–15%
- Amorphous silicon: 6–10%
The lower efficiency means you need roughly twice the roof area to produce the same energy as a monocrystalline system. For most homeowners, thin-film is not the right choice — but for architects and commercial builders, it opens up creative integration possibilities.