Solar Cells vs Solar Panels – What is the Difference?

Solar cells are building blocks of solar panels. Multiple solar cells that are oriented in the same way makes up what we call solar panels. Solar cells produce electricity through a natural reaction called the photovoltaic effect. This is where the system gets its name. In other word, Solar cells contain all the parts necessary to convert sunlight to electricity. The solar panel’s role is to amplify, protect and direct electricity. Solar cells can produce only a limited amount of energy. When building a solar energy system, multiple solar cells are connected in series or parallel circuits to create a solar module. This produces higher currents and more energy. The modules also seal all of the solar cells and wiring in a protective case to guard it from the weather. These modules are then wired together as a solar panel.

You can find more details at:

Thank you so much Milad Fallah,

I quite appreciate your prompt response.

Regards,

MO.

In short, a solar cell panel consists of one or several solar cells. The solar cell dimensions come from cutting wafers from an ingot (typically a silicon ingot) in standard wafer sizes.

A solar cell has then a very large solar-active area compared to its total area, just decreased by e.g. the electrical wires. A solar cell panel has then a smaller solar-active area compared to its total area than a single solar cell (i.e. space/areas between the solar cells).

Thus, it is important to notice what solar cell efficiencies are given, e.g. solar cell efficiency for a single solar cell or solar cell efficiency for a solar cell panel, as the solar cell efficiency will be larger per cell than per panel (due to less solar-active area in the panel compared to its total area than the single cell), often this is unfortunately not stated.

Individual solar cells, and individual solar cell panels, are electrically wired together, with parallel and/or serial connections.

Also note that the names, e.g. solar cell, solar panel and solar cell panel, are often used widely and often not within their correct or strict definitions.

The term solar panel should in fact perhaps be avoided as it is not clear and may be misunderstood, as solar panel is really a general term for both solar cell panel and solar thermal panel.

The terms photovoltaic (PV) solar panel (or photovoltaic solar cell panel) and thermal solar panel (obviously not stating thermal solar thermal panel...!) are also in common usage.

Furthermore, you also have the terms building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and building applied (added, attached) photovoltaics (BAPV).

Precisely-

Solar cells indicate several single solar cell

Solar panels- Inclusion of more than one solar cell connected either in series or parallel connection.

Solar panels are made up with putting several solar cells together in a module.

Regarding to the answers (especially Milad Fallah's answer), you could find more in the following links:

@ Modestus Okwu

Series and parallel combination of solar cells make a solar panel. To achieve desire voltage and current, PV solar cells are connected series and parallel, respectively.

Thank you so much Kamran Ali Khan Niazi.

Regards,

MO.

Interesting link from Kamran Ali Khan Niazi

Dear respected Modestus Okwu,

Solar cell is the smallest functional unit or building block of electrical generator which utilizes solar energy as its input energy that is capable of converting solar energy to electricity while solar panel is the collection of solar cells which generate electrical energy directly from solar energy through photovoltaic effect.

Best regards

Kifilideen

Thank you so much respected K.L.Osanyinpeju

Dear Modestus,

welcome,

There is a number of satisfactory answers from the colleagues on your question. However, i would like to stress some points. The solar cell is the building unit of the photovoltaic generators, it has a rated current according to its area of about 35-40 mA/cm^2 and a voltage of about 0.5V. Since the physical size of the solar cells is about 6 inch of 15 cm which makes an area of about 200 cm^2 with a current of 200x35-40=7 -8A. So a standard solar cell is producing about 8A and 0.5V. In order to charge a 12 volt battery one has to connect 36 such cell in series to form a standard module. Then the module is composed of 36 cells connected in series. Practically for the handling of the modules the solar cells must be encapsulated in form of solar plates. If one wants to wants more power then one has to combine modules in series and parallel to satisfy the load demand. This is then called a PV array.

For more information about the solar cells and array and how to design them please follow the book chapter in the link:

Best wishes

Thank you so much Prof. Abdelhalim Zekry, for the vital information you shared on solar cells. The book chapter " Solar cells and arrays: Principles, analysis and design" is quite interesting and elaborate. Thank you once more for sharing the link.

Regards,

MO.

Thank you so much Golsa Eghbali. The link will be very useful.

Regards,

MO.

These resources could be useful:

Christian, M. "The history of the invention of the solar panel summary". Engergymatters.com. Energymatters.com.

Adams, William Grylls; Day, R. E. (1 January 1877). "IX. The action of light on selenium". Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. 167: 313 316. doi:10.1098/rstl.1877.0009. ISSN 0261-0523.

Meyers, Glenn (31 December 2014). "Photovoltaic Dreaming 1875--1905: First Attempts At Commercializing PV". cleantechnica.com. Sustainable Enterprises Media Inc. CleanTechnica.

Thank you so much for the vital information and link Amiraslan Darvish

Solar panel is the bringing together of small unit of cells...

I agree with Kifilideen Lekan Osanyinpeju

I quite appreciate your insightful comments and suggestions.

A solar panel is a collection of solar cells that is connected to one another in series and in parallel.

Thank you so much for your contribution Peshawa Hama of Department of Physics, Technical College of Engineering.