--- title: "Leveling The Playing Field" description: "Conventional solar panels can be heavy but are far from the only available solar option. Amorphous silicon deserves a second look for many applications." type: article version: 1 version_id: "09a2ccd0-f4c5-45b8-b176-cfb02baba6f2" generated_at: "2026-06-01T14:50:57.911Z" author: "Seth Hansen" date_published: "2016-01-29T06:00:00.000Z" date_modified: "2024-03-19T20:06:17.121Z" language: en reading_time: "3 min" word_count: 515 url: "https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/education/the-horizon-blog/2016/01/29/leveling-the-playing-field" --- # Leveling The Playing Field > Conventional solar panels can be heavy but are far from the only available solar option. Amorphous silicon deserves a second look for many applications. ## Key Takeaways - PowerFilm's amorphous silicon panels are more than simply portable, flexible, and lightweight 1 min read # Leveling The Playing Field [Seth Hansen](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/author/seth-hansen) : Updated on March 19, 2024 [Solar Education](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/tag/solar-education) Leveling The Playing Field 2:01 Solar Panels. Photosensitive diodes shoot electrons into a tizzy creating electricity. Massive arrays of glass-covered behemoths baking in the California sun. An accurate picture but not the only one. These stereotypical panels are impressively heavy and imposing but are far from the only option in today's ever-growing solar market. Other solar panel technologies exist that cater to varying power need applications. Solar power is a unique market, filled with misconceptions, inaccuracies, and multiple players. Industry testing is done in controlled lab conditions that do not reflect real-world output. These measurements have a massive impact on consumers and the choices they make. [Amorphous silicon](https://www.powerfilmsolar.com/technology/thin-film) becomes the best option for many needs when you strip away unrealistic estimates and consider all the variables. Conventional crystalline panels are ideal for larger installations, but amorphous silicon deserves a second look and serious consideration. Amorphous panels are comprised of many layers of thin-film deposited in a vacuum and eventually finish as incredibly thin and lightweight panels that transfer solar energy into batteries. The price per watt of amorphous panels can be pretty alarming,  but thin-film solar panels are a viable option when factoring in installation, portability, and real-world output. PowerFilm's amorphous silicon panels are more than simply portable, flexible, and lightweight. They [perform well in the shade](/education/the-horizon-blog/2019/08/02/how-does-partial-shade-affect-solar-panels) and [can be punished](/education/the-horizon-blog/2016/08/12/powerfilm-extreme-durability-test) while working reliably and efficiently. In this mobile world, who's going to help power remote regions of the world? Who will charge a climber's electronics as he ascends a towering mountain? What technology will outlast the elements and continue to perform daily in sunlight and shade? Amorphous silicon thin-film technology can keep you connected by harnessing the horizon to power your world. Do you have questions? Please [contact us](https://www.powerfilmsolar.com/explore/contact-us) or leave a comment below.  - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) - [](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/outdoor-vs.-indoor-solar-panels-key-differences-use-cases-and-performance-considerations) #### [Outdoor vs. Indoor Solar Panels: Key Differences, Use Cases, and Performance Considerations](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/outdoor-vs.-indoor-solar-panels-key-differences-use-cases-and-performance-considerations) [Seth Hansen](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/author/seth-hansen) : January 26, 2026 [Internet of Things](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/tag/internet-of-things) [Solar Education](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/tag/solar-education) [Read More](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/outdoor-vs.-indoor-solar-panels-key-differences-use-cases-and-performance-considerations) [](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/education/the-horizon-blog/2018/02/23/how-to-size-a-solar-panel-for-your-battery) #### [How To Size A Solar Panel For Your Battery](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/education/the-horizon-blog/2018/02/23/how-to-size-a-solar-panel-for-your-battery) [Daniel Stieler, Phd](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/author/daniel-stieler-phd) : February 23, 2018 [Solar Education](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/tag/solar-education) [Read More](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/education/the-horizon-blog/2018/02/23/how-to-size-a-solar-panel-for-your-battery) [](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/education/the-horizon-blog/2019/05/24/soltronix-portable-solar-panels) #### [Soltronix Semi-Flexible Solar Solutions](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/education/the-horizon-blog/2019/05/24/soltronix-portable-solar-panels) [Seth Hansen](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/author/seth-hansen) : January 31, 2022 [Solar Education](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/tag/solar-education) [Read More](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/education/the-horizon-blog/2019/05/24/soltronix-portable-solar-panels) --- ## About This Content **Source:** [Leveling The Playing Field](https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/education/the-horizon-blog/2016/01/29/leveling-the-playing-field) **Author:** Seth Hansen **Published:** January 29, 2016 *This content is provided for informational purposes. Please visit the original source for the most up-to-date information.*