Yes. Black solar panels can get hot. Black on black solar panels dark color absorbs more heat from sunlight, which makes them to be warmer than the surrounding temperature. This heat absorption is typical for dark colors, like black, which retain more heat than lighter colors, impacting the panel’s temperature during operation.
Black solar panels have a higher heat resistance than blue solar panels. This means that when the thermostat goes above 25°C – as it regularly does now during British summers – monocrystalline solar panels’ power output are affected less than their polycrystalline counterparts.
Solar panels are black because they’re monocrystalline, meaning each of their cells is made with just one silicon crystal. The way light reflects off monocrystalline panels makes them look black, unlike polycrystalline panels, which we see as blue because they have multiple crystals per cell.
Black solar panels are a great option for those who can afford them as they absorb more energy and are more heat resistant than polycrystalline panels. However, their material structure also makes them more expensive for the average consumer. Let’s look at some of the costs, advantages, and disadvantages of these panels compared to others.
The main disadvantage of using black solar panels is the price. Installation costs for black solar panels average £370 to £450 per square metre, compared with £300 to £350 for blue solar panels. However, the lower price of blue solar panels comes at the cost of inferior efficiency.
Black solar panels are made with monocrystalline solar cells, whose greyish colour darkens during the manufacturing process. Besides the solar silicon cells themselves, the overall look of solar panels is also determined by the type of frame and backsheet.