So Which Is The Best?
Well, that's difficult to say!
Solar water heaters are more efficient - around 85-90% efficient - and are mostly used for domestic hot water and heating swimming pools. These seem to be very popular in places like Hawaii and Israel.
Installation costs can be quite high but if you know some basic DIY you can install the solar panels yourself without too many problems.
There is a wealth of solar power info on DIY kits here.
A typical system can generate all the hot water needed in the summer and 20% in the winter, so 50%-60% all year round. So you will save quite a lot of money on your bills with these solar panels.
PV Solar panels, which produces electricity, on the other hand is a bit more pricy due to the lack of silicon supplies that are used to make them. However, with new technologies evolving constantly, the price is dropping rapidly.
There are also large rebates available in most countries for these types of solar panels. Because of this, the growth has been rapid in many countries.
And you could always install these yourself as well. For more details click here.
Whichever type of solar panels you decide to purchase, do your own research and shop around for the best deal. Solar panels can vary greatly in price.