What it costs
| Size / type | Typical price | Range |
|---|---|---|
| 100W | KSh 3,428 | 2,374 – 8,400 |
| 300W | KSh 7,500 | 4,400 – 21,000 |
| 400W | KSh 7,999 | 6,290 – 17,999 |
| 450W | KSh 9,849 | 6,499 – 27,887 |
| 500-550W | KSh 11,688 | 7,499 – 28,000 |
| 600W+ (565-720W) | KSh 12,760 | 6,840 – 24,999 |
Prices are approximate and vary by brand and seller.
The main types of solar panels at a glance
Solar module types are named after the silicon cells inside them:
- Monocrystalline: cells cut from a single silicon crystal. Black, efficient and now the standard.
- Polycrystalline (poly): cells made from many crystals melted together. Blue with a speckled look, a little less efficient, and now rare in Kenyan shops.
- Bifacial: usually monocrystalline cells with glass on both sides, so the back also collects reflected light.
- Thin-film: a thin layer of material on glass or a flexible sheet. Light and bendable, but much less efficient, so you need far more area. Mostly seen on portable and folding panels.
Within monocrystalline you will also see cell technologies such as PERC, half-cut cells and N-type (often sold as TOPCon). These are refinements that squeeze out more power or lose less in heat and shade.
Half-cut, PERC and N-type: what the labels mean
Panel adverts are full of cell terms. In plain words:
- PERC adds a reflective layer at the back of each cell, so more light is captured. It has been the standard mono technology for years.
- Half-cut cells split each cell in two. The panel runs a little cooler, and shade on one part costs less power.
- N-type (TOPCon, HJT) cells lose less power as they age and as they heat up. They usually cost a little more.
- Multi-busbar (MBB) means more, thinner conductors on each cell, which cuts losses.
None of these matter if the panel's rating is fake. Check the datasheet first, the cell technology second.
Monocrystalline solar panels in Kenya
Monocrystalline solar panels are what you will be offered by almost every shop and installer. Most modern mono panels convert roughly a fifth of the sunlight that hits them into electricity, so you get more watts per square metre of roof than with older types.
They also handle heat reasonably well, which matters in hot places such as Mombasa, Garissa or Kisumu, where panel output drops as the panels warm up. On price, they set the market: a 450W mono panel typically sells for about KSh 9,800 and a 550W for about KSh 11,700.
Polycrystalline solar panels: still worth buying?
A poly solar panel used to be the cheaper choice. Today mono panels have come down so far in price that poly offers little saving, and polycrystalline solar panels are now hard to find in Kenya.
If you are offered poly panels, they still work. Make sure the price reflects their lower efficiency (you need more of them for the same output) and that the seller gives a datasheet and a warranty. Be wary of old stock that has been sitting in a store.
Bifacial solar panels and their price in Kenya
Bifacial solar panels collect light on both faces. The extra gain depends on what is under them: a light-coloured surface such as white gravel, a pale concrete slab or a white roof reflects more light onto the back than dark soil or iron sheets.
They pay off most on ground mounts, carports and raised frames where light reaches the back. Flush on an iron-sheet roof, the back sees almost nothing, so you pay extra for little gain. Branded bifacial panels sit near the top of the price range for their wattage.
Which type of solar panel should you choose?
For most homes and businesses in Kenya the answer is simple:
- Rooftop home or business system: monocrystalline, ideally from a brand with a checkable datasheet.
- Ground mount, carport or raised frame: consider bifacial if the price difference is small.
- Camping, boats or a matatu roof: a folding or flexible panel, accepting lower output.
The type of panel matters less than the quality of the panel and the installation. Panel choice also depends on the system you build: see types of solar systems, and compare sizes on solar panel sizes.
