There are essentially two types of crystalline silicon PV cells:
Mon crystalline Cells – These are made using cells cut from a single cylindrical crystal of silicon. While Mon crystalline cells offer the highest efficiency (approximately 18% conversion of incident sunlight), their complex manufacturing process makes them slightly more expensive.
Polycrystalline Cells – These are made by cutting micro-fine wafers from ingots of molten and recrystallized silicon. Polycrystalline cells are cheaper to produce, but there is a slight compromise on efficiency (approximately 14% conversion of incident sunlight).