In this age of modern technology that we live in, we almost always have some type of electronic device with us. Every electronic device, no matter what type it is, needs to be charged all the time.

How will you keep your devices charged if you are doing some outdoor activities or you went camping, and you are away from a power outlet for a few days? Your first thought is probably a portable battery, which can do the job for a few charges, but what if you need bigger power needs? If you are off the grid for many days, portable and flexible 100W solar panels are the perfect solution for you, providing a lot of power, with little weight and zero noise (as opposed to a generator, for instance).

What Are Flexible Solar Panels?

Flexible solar panels are light-weight, wafer-thin, bendable panels are designed to capture solar energy  and you can take them with you on the go. In fact, their portability is what makes them so special and useful. They are made with a patent-pending composite material which is similar to those used in aeroplane windows.

In comparison to conventional solar panels, which are bulky and heavy, these portable solar panels are only a few micrometres in thickness. These are panels of metal, glass or plastic, covered in one or more layers of thin photovoltaic film and this actually makes them lighter, thinner and more flexible than the standard ones. Having these features, they are easier to move and install. They can even be installed on roofs which cannot support the weight of the standard solar panels.

What Are The Different Types of Solar Panels?

Crystalline Silicon

Today, most solar panels are made with silicon. So, most of the solar panels are monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Both of them serve the same function, but they still differ in some way. The main difference between them is the type of silicon solar cell they use.

Monocrystalline solar panels have solar cells that are made from a single crystal of silicon. They are the most efficient and long-lasting panels since they are made of the purest cells. In addition, this is the reason why they’re also the most expensive ones, but you won’t regret buying one because they have a 25-year performance guarantee.

Polycrystalline solar panels have solar cells that are made from many silicon fragments which are melted together. They are faster and cheaper to produce in comparison with the former ones. Generally, they have lower efficiencies and that’s why they are cheaper to buy.

Thin-Film

This is quite different from the most frequent crystalline silicon solar cells which are used in most solar panels. There are various types of thin-film solar panels and they are made from different materials. But, when it comes strictly to flexible solar panels, there is only one type and it is made from silicon. The thin-film type of flexible solar panels is a type of solar cells where the photovoltaic material is essentially printed onto the surface.

One of their principal advantages is flexibility. The thin-film solar cells can be bent and rolled. In addition, they can be placed on various types of materials, such as glass, metal and fabrics. Following this, these cells are sometimes used to make highly flexible, small solar panels for portable applications. They are generally the less costly option to buy.

Advantages

We have already mentioned one of the key advantages of the flexible solar panels, and that is the portability – being easy to move from one place to another, meaning they are ideal for temporary installations. Despite this, there are many other advantages that these solar panels bring.

• Lightweight. Flexible solar panels are lightweight and are better suited into spaces where standard solar panels can’t fit. For instance, the 100W solar panels are 1.8kg. Hence, if you cannot install solar panels on the roof of your house due to structural issues, you can always go for thin flexible solar cells.
• A broad range of applications. Easily attached to unusual places and by unusual we are referring to mobile phones, laptops, cameras, etc. A good example of this is the solar roof of Fisker Karma, which has a flexible solar panel integrated to align with the curved car roof. Additionally, they are perfect for caravans, motorhomes, buses, trains, yachts and other applications.
• Semi-transparent. Being thin (2mm) and flexible, they are semi-transparent  which makes them adequate for installation on glass or windows.
• Low cost. These panels are much cheaper to produce and require less labour and effort to be installed in comparison to standard ones.
• Durable. Being made from durable material, they are resistant to adverse weather conditions. Regarding show strong they are, they are usually rated 2400 pascals for wind and 2400 pascals for a load. Plus, they have 10-year warranty for building and 5 years for mobile application.