The best and most efficient photovoltaic solar panels for 2021

Sunpower

Sunpower, now known as Maxeon Solar, is a world leader in high-efficiency IBC solar cells and offers an industry-leading performance guarantee of 92% of capacity retained after 25 years, plus a 25-year manufacturer’s product warranty. years.

The new Maxeon series panels use high performance IBC type N cells, which are the most efficient photovoltaic solar cell technology available today. Although they have a higher price and are not used much in Australia. SunPower’s most cost-effective P-Series or Performance panels are gaining popularity for both large-scale residential and commercial installations. In North America, Sunpower panels are very popular and one of the most trusted brands available.

• Potencia nominal * (W): 340 W – 450 W

• Yield (%): 19 – 22.6%

• Price Range: Medium – Very High $$$$$

REC

REC manufactures high-quality, cost-effective panels that have proven very popular with installers, particularly the TwinPeak range. As of 2019, all REC TwinPeak and N-peak panels come with a standard 20-year product warranty and an enhanced performance warranty with reduced degradation, making it one of the best warranties on the market.

REC TwinPeak panels were the first to use half cut cells in the split module format, providing higher efficiency and better shade tolerance. The recently launched N-Peak series panels and Alpha series panels utilizing advanced N-type heterojunction half-cut (HJT) cells, now position REC among the industry’s leading manufacturers of high performance solar power.

• Potencia nominal * (W): 300 W – 380 W

• Yield (%): 18 – 21.7%

• Price range: Medium – High $$$

Q Cells

Hanwha Q Cells is a well known high volume panel manufacturer offering a wide range of quality panels for all applications. The latest Q Cell G6 + Duo panels are backed by a new 25-year product warranty and an improved long-term performance warranty with 85% rated output after 25 years.

Q cells offer a wide range of panels, from standard entry-level 60-cell panels using reliable monocrystalline cells, to highly efficient mid-cut mono PERC cells used in the Q. Peak Duo G5 and G6 range, and more recently the Q. The Peak DUO G8 and G9 + range features the latest innovations including zero space cells with 12 microwire busbars.

• Rated power * (W): 325W – 460W

• Efficiency (%): 18.8 – 20.8%

• Price range: Med $$$

Winaico is a relatively small volume manufacturer offering a premium range of high quality panels at reasonable prices. Winaico panels now come with a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty and are well-regarded and trusted by installers. They also have a good track record for long-term reliability and performance in harsh Australian conditions.

Winaico’s attention to detail, heavy duty frame designs, and excellent service also put them ahead of most other manufacturers. The next generation GEMINI series is available in power ratings up to 375 W and features high efficiency PERC mono half cut cells.

• Potencia nominal * (W): 310 W – 375 W

• Efficiency (%): 18.8 – 20.6%

• Price range: Medium – High $$$

Aleo is a high-end German manufacturer offering a premium range of high-quality panels backed by a 25-year manufacturing and performance warranty. The highly regarded company was established in 2001 and is one of the few remaining European solar panel manufacturers.

Aleo’s strengths are not in extremely high efficiency, but in attention to detail, high quality, reliability and excellent service. The monocrystalline HE Tec series is available in power ratings up to 345 W and features high-performance mono PERC cells in a traditional 60-cell format.

• Potencia nominal * (W): 300 W – 345 W

• Efficiency (%): 18.0 – 19.6%

• Price range: High $$$$

Performance And Durability Testing

The many advancements in solar cell technology have led to huge price reductions in recent years with many new low-cost and more efficient solar panels released by major Chinese manufacturers. To ensure continued quality, there are several leading, independent testing organizations that help verify long-term performance and reliability.

Trina solar is one of the largest solar panel manufacturers in the world and is investing heavily in low-cost, high-efficiency panels. The renowned range of Trina Honey panels is considered to be of great quality and very good value for money, in particular the Honey M (monocrystalline) panels which are now available in the most efficient 120-cell half-cut format up to 370W.

Trina Solar offers a very diverse range of panels, from cost-effective monocrystalline PERC panels to advanced bifacial panels. The latest Vertex and Vertex S (small) series of high-performance panels further advanced Trina Solar’s position as the most advanced and high-efficiency panel manufacturer.

• Rated power * (W): 280W – 600W

• Yield (%): 17 – 20.8%

• Price range: Low – Medium $$

JinkoSolar is the largest Chinese manufacturer of solar panels by volume and produces a wide range of reliable and cost-effective panels. Jinko engineers work closely withAustralia’s UNSW solar research center of excellence andhave achieved several efficiency records over the years thanks to their continuous research and development in new photovoltaic cell technologies.

JinkoSolar’s Cheetah (mono) range of panels is one of the most popular low-cost panels on the market with a long history of reliability and good support from local offices. More recently, Jinko’s powerful Tiger and Tiger Pro series of panels have pushed the boundaries of photovoltaic cell technology and innovation.

• Rated power * (W): 280W – 585W

• Yield (%): 17 – 20.7%

• Price range: Low – Medium $$

Canadian Solar is the fifth largest solar panel manufacturer in the world and produces a wide range of reliable and cost-effective panels. The company generally focused on more cost-effective polycrystalline cells and developed some advanced high-efficiency panels based on the half-cut polycrystalline cell design. However, in recent years, Canadian Solar went on to develop more efficient mono-PERC cell-based panels such as the HiDM series and the powerful HiKu series.

Canadian Solar’s new generation HiKu6 range of split cell monocrystalline panels is becoming more popular with installers as a quality, affordable and high performance panel backed by good support from local offices.

• Rated power * (W): 295W – 590W

• Yield (%): 18 – 21.3%

• Price range: Low – Medium $$

LONGi Solar has grown rapidly in recent years to become not only one of the largest Chinese solar panel manufacturers, but also the largest monocrystalline cell manufacturer in the world. LONGi produces a wide range of cost effective and reliable panels using only monocrystalline cells . In fact, part of the industry shift towards more efficient mono and mono PERC cells was due to LONGi’s massive investment in large-scale mono wafer manufacturing.

LONGi Solar’s range of Hi-MO 4 mono PERC panels uses the common 120 split cell format and has become one of the most popular and affordable 370W panels on the market.

• Potencia nominal * (W): 300 W – 540 W

• Yield (%): 18 – 21.0%

• Price range: Low – Medium $$

* Power rating (W) stated: residential panels only (60 cells).

More Efficient Solar Panels

In addition to the best manufacturers, there are some models that are favorites among our specialists and many Australian installers due to a combination of quality, efficiency, performance and value for money. These panels are also proving to be very popular in the US and much of Europe, in particular the range of modules from Sunpower, REC, LG and Q-cells.

LG NeON 2

Serie SunPower P19

SunPower Performance Series panels have become a popular choice for large-scale commercial installations due to their high quality and performance.

Unlike other SunPower panels that use higher-quality, high-cost IBC cells, the P-Series uses a shingled cell design, which is a much more cost-effective design. Cells with tiles are more tolerant of partial shading and less prone to microcracks, which can be a problem with panels that use conventional full-size square solar cells. Despite being based on standard P-type silicon, SunPower still offers a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty. See the full review of SunPower solar panels here.

Serie REC Alpha

REC’s renowned Alpha range of panels incorporates advanced heterojunction cell technology (HJT) in a split cell format to achieve an impressive 21.7% efficiency at 380W. The medium size cell format, developed by REC, increases efficiency and improves performance, especially in partial shade conditions.

REC’s next-generation Alpha Series takes half-cut panel design to the next level using advanced N-type HJT silicon cells to create one of the best performing and most efficient panels available today. See the full review of REC solar panels.

Q Cells Q.Peak Duo G6 +

Hanwha Q cells, formerly known as Q cells, are regaining popularity as a mid-to-high-end panel option in Australia as the company launches new advanced modules, including the advanced range of Q. Peak Duo G9 + modules with bars. microwire collectors that reach up to 20.3% efficiency.

The current Q.Peak DUO G6 panels, rated at up to 355W , have become a popular choice in Australia for those looking for a more affordable panel backed by a 25-product warranty period and performance backed by well-built workmanship. established. See the full review of Q cells solar panels.

Jinko Solar Cheetah PLUS

JinkoSolar’s Cheetah PLUS 370W Monocrystalline Panels are built in the modern 66-cell or 132-split-cell format and have quickly become one of the most popular panels on the market. The modules offer a good combination of quality, efficiency and affordability.

Mono PERC cells utilize Common Passivated Emitter Back Contact (PERC) technology that offers up to 20.15% efficiency and is backed by a standard 12-year manufacturer’s warranty, as well as being guaranteed against any excessive degradation caused by PID and LeTiD effects.

Trina Solar Honey M