What’s a Silicon Solar Cell? A Complete Guide on Working, Manufacturing Process, Types, and Cost in 2025

A silicon solar cell is a photovoltaic cell that uses silicon as a semiconducting material to absorb and convert sunlight into direct current electricity using the photovoltaic effect. It’s the most prevalent solar cell used to build silicon solar panels for residential and commercial rooftop installations. Multiple silicon cells are stacked together to create silicon solar panels. 

When solar radiation falls on silicon solar panels, photons present in the sunlight are absorbed by the silicon cells within the panels. These photons excite electrons present within the solar cells, resulting in the generation of an electric current, which is picked up by metal contacts, taken to a solar inverter to be converted into AC electricity, and used to power homes.

The most common types of silicon solar panels used in rooftop solar installations at homes and housing societies are made of mono-PERC half-cut solar cells. 

• Previously, polysilicon solar panels were widely used: The efficiency of polycrystalline solar panels was very low. It ranged from 16% to 17%. That’s the reason why the world moved to more efficient solar panels.
• As technology advanced, monocrystalline solar panels were discovered: The efficiency of monocrystalline silicon solar panels ranges between 19% and 20%. Mono-PERC half-cut solar panels are the latest type of monocrystalline silicon solar panels with efficiencies reaching as high as 22.5%. 
• The newest silicon solar panels are TOPCon: They use n-type wafers with a thin tunnel oxide and a passivated contact on the rear side to reduce losses. Their efficiency can range from 25% to 26%. However, they’re more widely used as industrial solar panels for commercial rooftop systems in big industries. Bifacial mono-PERC solar panels are still the favorite panels for rooftop solar for housing societies and homes in India because they’re pretty cost-effective.

In this blog, we will explain how silicon solar cells work, their manufacturing process, types, advantages, and cost. We will also give a detailed walkthrough of the cost of installing on-grid rooftop solar panel systems for homes that use bifacial solar panels made of mono-PERC half-cut silicon solar cells vs the solar savings you will receive in 25 years.  

TL;DR Summary Box: Why Silicon is Used in Solar Cells?

Silicon has an ideal atomic structure, which makes it a powerful semiconductor and a great choice to manufacture solar cells commercially all across the globe. Moreover, it’s the 2nd most common element in Earth’s crust, ensuring a sustainable supply.

Here are the multiple reasons that make silicon so widely used in manufacturing solar cells:

• Widespread availability: It’s the 2nd most common element in the Earth’s crust after oxygen. 
• Stability: Silicon can maintain its performance for 25-30 years.
• Recyclability: Silicon can be recovered and reused at the end of its life.
• Temperature tolerance: It performs reliably across various climate conditions.
• Non-toxic: It’s an environmentally safe material that emits no harmful emissions during operation.

Here are the main topics covered in this blog in detail:

*Please note: The solar system price in India with subsidy mentioned above is indicative as of 19th September 2025 for the SolarSquare Blue 6ft variant. The actual solar plate price depends on your DISCOM charges, city, product variant opted for, panel type, inverter type, mounting structure height, type of after-sales service, savings guarantee, roof height, etc. Prices are subject to change.

What is a Silicon Solar Cell?

A silicon solar cell is the most popular type of photovoltaic cell that uses silicon as its primary semiconductor to absorb solar energy and convert it into electricity. The solar panels made from silicon are very rugged. Those made by premium solar panel manufacturers last for 25+ years and can withstand extreme heat, cold, rain, and wind.  

A silicon cell uses the photovoltaic effect, where a semiconductor absorbs photons. Photons excite electrons present within the semiconductor, causing them to flow, generating electricity. 

The efficiency of silicon solar panels varies based on the type of cell technology they use. The most common ones include:

• Polysilicon solar panels: They use polycrystalline silicon cells with efficiencies ranging from 16-17%.  
• Mono silicon solar panels: They use monocrystalline silicon cells with efficiencies ranging from 19-20%.
• Bifacial solar panels with mono-PERC half-cut cells: These are a type of monocrystalline silicon solar panel, and their efficiency ranges up to 22.5%.
• TOPCon solar panels with n-type silicon: They use n-type silicon, and their efficiency ranges from 25-26%.
• Amorphous silicon solar panels: These are thin-film panels, usually used as foldable PV panels for camping and hiking. Their efficiency ranges from 11-12%, but they are unsuitable for use in rooftop solar installations since they are not as sturdy and can last for only 5-10 years. 

How Do Silicon Solar Cells Generate Electricity? 

Silicon solar cells follow the photovoltaic effect to generate direct current by capturing photons and transferring their energy to the electrons present within the solar cells. 

Let’s check out how silicon cells generate electricity in simple steps:

• Step 1 – Sunlight falls on the semiconducting material: Silicon captures photons present in the sunlight.
• Step 2 – Photons transfer their energy to electrons present inside the silicon cell: Excited/energized electrons leave their place empty and begin to flow. The place they leave empty is the positively charged hole.
• Step 3 – The built-in electric field at the cell’s p-n junction stops electrons from recombining with the holes: The electric field pushes holes and electrons in opposite directions, resulting in usable voltage production.
• Step 4 – The electrons flow in one direction: It is this unidirectional flow of electrons which is known as direct current.

DC power from a single solar cell is not enough. Hence, multiple silicon solar cells are combined to form a solar panel, which produces enough electricity. Multiple solar panels are connected together, alongside other components like a solar inverter, solar mounting structures, and solar accessories to create a rooftop solar system that generates solar electricity to power entire homes and societies.  

How is a Silicon Solar Cell Manufactured?

Making silicon solar cells is a step-by-step process that turns quartz sand into ready-to-install solar panels. First, quartz is purified into very pure silicon, about 99.9999% pure. Then, the purified silicon is converted into thin wafers, turned into solar cells, and finally assembled into panels.

Let’s check out the entire process in detail:

• Step 1 – Quartz mining and purification: High-purity silica sand is melted with carbon to make raw silicon. The raw silicon is then refined into 99.9999% pure polysilicon for solar use.
• Step 2 – Ingot formation: The ultra-pure silicon is melted and grown into solid blocks called ingots. For monocrystalline, one crystal is pulled. For polycrystalline cells, the silicon is cast in a mold.
• Step 3 – Wafer slicing: Ingots are cut into very thin slices called wafers, which are then cleaned and lightly textured so they reflect less light.
• Step 4 – Doping process: A tiny amount of phosphorus is added to the wafer surface to create the electrical junction that lets the cell turn sunlight into electricity.
• Step 5 – Anti-reflective coating: A thin silicon nitride coating is applied so the wafer reflects less light and absorbs more.
• Step 6 – Contact formation: Very fine silver lines are printed on the front, and aluminum on the back. Then, the cell is heated so these become the electrical contacts.
• Step 7 – Testing and assembly: Individual cells are tested for efficiency. Then, they’re sorted and assembled to make silicon solar panels.

What Are the Different Types of Silicon Cells?

The two primary types of silicon cells are polycrystalline and monocrystalline solar cells. Polycrystalline solar cells were widely used earlier to produce polysilicon solar panels, but their efficiency was just 16-17%. Then, technology evolved, and monocrystalline solar cells were produced. These cells are used to create monocrystalline silicon solar panels, and their efficiency is 19-20%.

The latest technology monocrystalline silicon solar panels use mono-PERC half-cut solar cells. They have an extremely high efficiency of up to 22.5%. 

Let’s check out all the different types of silicon cells in detail:

• Polycrystalline solar cells: These cells are created using multiple silicon crystals. They have a characteristic blue color and a speckled appearance, with an efficiency of 16-17%. Polysilicon solar panels, made from polycrystalline silicon cells, are lower in cost; however, their market demand is sharply declining due to their inferior performance.
• Monocrystalline solar cells: These are single crystal silicon cells used to make monocrystalline solar panels. They have a uniform black appearance and can achieve an efficiency of 19-20%. 
• Mono-PERC half-cut silicon solar cells: These are an advanced type of monocrystalline silicon solar cell with a rear passivation layer and a half-cut design. These new additions help the cells achieve up to 22.5% efficiency. They have better shade resistance, too. Bifacial solar panels with mono-PERC half-cut solar cells are the most popular types of solar panels used to build on-grid rooftop solar systems for homes and housing societies in India.
• TOPCon panels made of n-type silicon: These panels are an emerging technology that uses tunnel oxide passivated contacts to achieve 25-26% efficiency. 

There’s yet another type of silicon solar cell, known as amorphous silicon, which is used to build thin-film solar panels. They’re flexible modules and very handy to be carried outdoors, while camping or hiking, because they are lightweight. However, they can’t be used with rooftop solar systems for residential and commercial installations because they are less efficient (just 11-12%) and last for just 5-10 years. 

Here’s a tabulated snapshot comparing the two latest technology solar panels: mono-PERC half-cut modules and TOPCon modules:

What is the Difference Between Silicon and Perovskite Solar Cells?

While silicon cells and perovskite solar cells both use the photovoltaic effect to turn sunlight into electricity, the two differ significantly. Silicon solar cells are cut from solid silicon wafers and are the most bankable choice used in almost all photovoltaic panels today. Perovskite cells, on the other hand, use a thin film of a different crystal material, known as perovskite, that can be made at low temperatures and tuned for higher efficiency. 

Despite the efficiency of perovskite-on-silicon tandem cells having hit 34% in labs, they’re still no match against traditional silicon panels because, unlike silicon cells that last for 25+ years, perovskite solar cells have a lifespan of just 1 to 2.5 years in the real world outdoor conditions.

Let’s check out the major differences between the two in detail:

What Are the Advantages of Silicon Cells?

The most obvious advantage of silicon cells is that they are a well-researched technology, with researchers working on them for over 4 decades now. Hence, they are reliable, have a very long lifespan, are cost-effective, and, most importantly, silicon is abundant. 

Let’s check out all the main advantages that make silicon solar cells so popular:

• Silicon is widely available: Silicon is the 2nd most abundant material on Earth, right after oxygen. Hence, there’s no shortage of raw material when it comes to manufacturing silicon solar cells.
• They’re durable and last long: Silicon solar panels made of silicon cells can last for 25+ years with proper module cleaning and maintenance. Most well-maintained silicon solar panels continue to work at 80% efficiency even after 25 years.
• They can withstand harsh outdoor weather: They’re built to withstand tough outdoor conditions. 
• Latest technology mono-PERC half-cut silicon cells have an exceptional shade performance: Modern panels split the cell matrix into two halves. If one half is shaded, the other half still makes power. The output does drop, but the panel’s output never goes to zero.  
• They offer high efficiency: Latest technology silicon cells, which utilize mono-PERC cells, achieve 22.5% efficiency. 

What’s the Cost of Silicon Solar Panels in India in 2025?

First things first! It’s not just the solar panels that you install on your rooftops, it’s an entire solar system that consists of solar panels, solar inverter, solar mounting structures, and solar accessories. What you pay to a solar installer is not just the price for the panels but the price for the entire solar system. 

That said, let’s walk you through the cost of installing different capacity solar systems in India in 2025 with a subsidy. Have a look!

Estimated cost of installing a 3 kW on-grid rooftop solar panel system in India with subsidy:

*Please note: The 3 kW solar panel price in India with subsidy mentioned above is indicative as of 19th September 2025 for the SolarSquare Blue 6ft variant. The actual solar plate price depends on your DISCOM charges, city, product variant opted for, panel type, inverter type, mounting structure height, type of after-sales service, savings guarantee, roof height, etc. Prices are subject to change.

Estimated cost of installing a 4 kW on-grid rooftop solar panel system in India with subsidy:

*Please note: The 4 kW solar panel price in India with subsidy mentioned above is indicative as of 19th September 2025 for the SolarSquare Blue 6ft variant. The actual solar plate price depends on your DISCOM charges, city, product variant opted for, panel type, inverter type, mounting structure height, type of after-sales service, savings guarantee, roof height, etc. Prices are subject to change.

Estimated cost of installing a 5 kW on-grid rooftop solar panel system in India with subsidy:

*Please note: The 5 kW solar panel price in India with subsidy mentioned above is indicative as of 19th September 2025 for the SolarSquare Blue 6ft variant. The actual solar plate price depends on your DISCOM charges, city, product variant opted for, panel type, inverter type, mounting structure height, type of after-sales service, savings guarantee, roof height, etc. Prices are subject to change.

Estimated cost of installing a 10 kW on-grid rooftop solar panel system in India with subsidy:

*Please note: The 10 kW solar panel price in India with subsidy mentioned above is indicative as of 19th September 2025 for the SolarSquare Blue 6ft variant. The actual solar plate price depends on your DISCOM charges, city, product variant opted for, panel type, inverter type, mounting structure height, type of after-sales service, savings guarantee, roof height, etc. Prices are subject to change.

What Are the Benefits of Installing On-Grid Rooftop Solar Systems With Silicon Panels?

Installing an on-grid rooftop solar system with silicon solar panels is economically beneficial because homeowners and housing societies receive financial assistance from the government in the form of a subsidy under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana for going solar. Moreover, your electricity bills will get reduced by 90%, and you will save tens of lakhs of rupees. 

Let’s check out all the benefits in detail:

• The government offers a subsidy: You will receive a subsidy for installing solar systems at home. However, this assistance is offered only for installing on-grid rooftop solar systems. You will not receive it for installing off-grid solar systems or ground-mounted solar systems.
• They are the cheapest of all types of solar systems: Unlike off-grid and hybrid solar systems that require expensive lithium batteries to store excess solar energy, on-grid systems send excess electricity generated by the panels to the grid through a bi-directional net meter.
• Your electricity bills will be reduced by 90% or more: Since silicon solar panels produce free electricity from sunlight for 25+ years, your bills will drop by 90%. Many customers get zero bills eventually. 

Let’s give you a fair idea about the amount of solar savings a solar system actually offers by slashing your electricity bills. Here’s a head-on comparison between the cost of installing a 4 kW solar system in India with subsidy vs the money that system saves in 25 years of its life:

*Please note: The above-mentioned 4 kW solar panel price in India with subsidy is indicative as of 19th September 2025 for the SolarSquare Blue 6ft variant. The actual 4 kW solar plate price depends on your DISCOM charges, city, product variant opted for, panel type, inverter type, mounting structure height, type of after-sales service, savings guarantee, roof height, etc. Prices are subject to change. Additionally, when calculating savings, we have considered an annual tariff escalation of 3% and an annual degradation of 1%. The actual final savings from for a 4 kW solar panel system depends on the types of solar panels you’ve installed and their efficiency, intensity of sunlight your rooftop receives, orientation of the panels and tilt angle, the pollution level and weather conditions in your city, the temperature, shadow on the roof, impact of dirt/dust, and how well you maintain your panels after installation.

You can also use SolarSquare’s free solar energy estimator to find out the appropriate solar system size for your home and the cost of installing that system in your city, vs the savings the same system will offer in 25 years. 

Conclusion 

Silicon solar cells are the most popular PV cells that are used to build solar panels for generating free solar electricity from sunlight using the photovoltaic effect. With proper maintenance, these panels can easily last for 25+ years. 

Out of the many types, it’s the bifacial solar panels with mono-PERC half-cut silicon cells that are most suitable for residential installations because they offer a great ROI and have a quick payback period of just 3-5 years. If you’re planning to install solar at your home and have any questions about it, you can book a free solar consultation call with SolarSquare now. 

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FAQs

Q1. How long do silicon solar cells last?

Ans. With proper maintenance, silicon solar cells can last for 25+ years. In fact, well-maintained solar panels with silicon cells work at 80% efficiency even after 25 years.

Q2. What are the new silicon solar cells?

Ans. Mono-PERC half-cut solar cells and TOPCon solar cells are the latest silicon cells. Out of the two, mono-PERC are the more popular choice for homes and housing societies because they’re cost-effective.

Q3. Which company manufactures solar cells in India?

Ans. The most reputable solar panel manufacturers you can trust in India include ReNew Solar, Premier Energies, and Rayzon Solar.

Q4. Can PV cells power a house?

Ans. A single solar cell can’t power an entire house. Multiple solar cells are combined together to build a solar panel. When clubbed together, solar panels can run an entire house.