Today the first Thin Film solar panels have been added to CompareMySolar. It regards the brand ‘Solar Frontier’ and has been added by Devon based solar installer Sol Electrical. Surprisingly the price-point is very competitive at £6.900 for a 4kWp system. Let’s look a bit more into what makes thin film panels different 

• New technology: rather than being silicon based like mono or poly-si panels, the thin film panels are using different materials, in this case copper, indium and selenium. Thin film has long be a promise but has hardly be available for consumers so far
• All-black look: the panels have a distinctive look with a matte black panel and a black frame. Consumers value these improved aestetics
• Better output per kWp: some research points towards a better output per kWp installed – for example the manufacturer research estimates about 10% better outputs than the comparable poly-si model.
• Lower environmental impact: CIS modules require 60% less energy to produce than crystalline silicon.
• Lower efficiency, more square meter needed the thin film panels have an efficiency of 12% compared to 15% for normal panels. This means you will need more square meter for the same system size. Thin film panels are already often used in large ‘solar-farm’ settings where space is plenty.

Read more about the solar frontier product here. CompareMySolar is glad to be offering this new technology to consumers from now on and congratulated Sol Electrical with diversifying their offering.