There are dozens, if not hundreds of companies out there dedicated to manufacturing solar panels. Beyond a doubt, it’s good that their numbers grow, but with each passing year it is getting harder and harder to pick the best. The top solar panels of this year follow below, together with our reasons for choosing them.
What are solar panels
What are solar panels? By this name we call the devices that serve to absorb the energy that reaches our planet from the sun. These devices then convert it into either electricity or heat, and the best solar panels can give you more output under exactly the same light conditions.
Each PV module consists of a number of silicon cells, positioned, with a rare exception, on a rigid structure and covered by a layer of protective glass. The cells are all connected and use the photovoltaic effect to perform their job.
Popular solar panel brands
Going solar requires a considerable investment, both in terms of time and money. Most people want to do a bit of research to make a well thought out decision. Popular solar panels are usually the ones they see first: there are many positive reviews, a lot of information and years’ worth of reputation. The idea of finding a single best manufacturer might be tempting, but a product can’t be the best in all respects and fit everyone. In our list we state both the pros and the cons, so that you could make a decision based on your personal needs and preferences. All these popular solar panel brands are worthy of your trust: they made it here thanks to their modules’ excellence and great dedication to serve their customers.
Canadian solar panels
Canadian Solar was founded in 2001. These twenty years the company has been trying to secure and keep a place among the best manufacturers in the world – and it has managed to achieve this goal. Canadian Solar is not just a fancy brand name. The company’s panels are adapted to the country’s character – they are resistant to extremely harsh weather.
The pros:
- Superior performance under low-light conditions. Compared to an average panel that loses about 30% when the weather turns foul, Canadian Solar’s panels rarely lose more than 5%.
- Ready for most hurricanes. Solar panels can usually handle winds up to 140 mph, but the company’s PV modules far surpass this standard – their hurricane tolerance lies at the 180 mph level.
- Price that is hard to beat – just $0.52 per watt.
The cons:
- While not really bad, the efficiency of the panels manufactured by Canadian Solar is average, only 18-19%.
JA solar panels
JA Solar has a lot of experience too – its history goes back to 2005. It took the company 15 years to make its way to the third place among the largest solar manufacturers in the world. This brand’s PV modules offer higher than average efficiency for a moderate price.
The pros:
- Better than average efficiency – 19.53% against 18-19% of conventional panels. This seemingly insignificant difference will result in considerably higher gains over a long time period.
- High temperature tolerance. It’s no secret that panels often get pretty hot. It’s important that in the process your panels lose no more performance than absolutely necessary.
- Cloudy weather is less of a threat with JA solar panels – they perform above average when the sun is obscured.
The cons:
- The warranties are significantly shortened compared to other major brands – they last 12 years and are non-extendable.
Hanwha Q CELLS
Q CELLS is literally an alliance between the West and the East. In 2012 the company became home to solar experts from South Korea and Germany. The brand took the best from both worlds, joining Korean eagerness to innovate and German obstinance with quality. Despite the modest size of the company, Hanwha Q CELLS solar panels are famous for their innovative features and durability.
The pros:
- Innovative coating that allows polycrystalline modules to rival the efficiency of the monocrystalline ones. The technology is called Q.UANTUM and it makes the cells more light-absorbing.
- Degradation rates are on the low side. The numbers in moderate climates will be around 0.3% per year, reaching 0.54% in hotter zones.
- High efficiency despite clouds and hot weather. Two major contributors to lower performance are less of a threat to you if you own Hanwha Q CELLS solar panels.
The cons:
- The advantages come with a higher price: the brand’s PV modules cost about $0.65 per watt.
Longi Solar Technology
It’s amazing how this Chinese company managed to focus on the more efficient monocrystalline cells almost from the moment it was founded – in 2000. Less costly, but at the same time less efficient polycrystalline modules were wisely set aside. Instead, the company put all its efforts into making extremely efficient and attractively priced monocrystalline panels.
The pros:
- A price that is hard to beat. There are models that come at just $0.48 per watt.
- Longi solar panels degrade slower than some other popular modules – just 0.55% per year.
- A focus on higher wattage panels gives you more options to choose from if you are looking to save space and maximize energy production.
The cons:
- The company doesn’t manufacture cheaper polycrystalline modules.
Mission Solar
Mission Solar panels have a full right to be called American. They are both designed, manufactured and tested in the USA. At the same time, the company doesn’t shy away from what other countries have to offer: Mission Solar invites German colleagues to participate in the certification process, ensuring the strictest quality control measures.
The pros:
- The best real world performance among all American solar companies. To establish that, the company puts its products through a series of tests that are designed to show how a product will behave under real conditions.
- The fact that it is a truly American company makes it easy to solve all potential issues: the staff speaks your language and the company in all its entirety is located on US soil.
The cons:
- The performance is not great: the PV modules’ efficiency lies in the 17-18% range, which is slightly lower than what other brands in this list can offer.
Panasonic Eco Solutions
Panasonic is a true veteran in the solar world. The company has been in this business for more than four decades, and it was Panasonic who demonstrated the first amorphous panels in 1980. It is no surprise that the brand has become the biggest solar manufacturer in the whole world. Their PV modules have a reputation for being record-breakingly efficient and staying that way for over a quarter of a century.
The pros:
- Panasonic Eco Solutions solar panels are guaranteed to retain at least 90% of their original performance a quarter of a century later.
- 10% more power when the heat is hitting hard. Other manufacturers inevitably lose to the giant when they have to fight in a hot environment.
- Panasonic is a pioneer in dealing with shading. Panels with 4 bypass diodes are their invention. Even with one of the cells completely shaded, the module’s performance only goes down by a quarter.
The cons:
- Getting Panasonic might be costly: $0.95 per watt average price puts their products among the most expensive in the market.
REC solar panels
REC’s history started in Norway in 1996. However, pretty soon the company became a formidable international player. Its dedication to the highest quality standards and ongoing innovation made this possible.
The pros:
- According to the company, its products can boast an extremely low claims rate – less than a hundred parts per million.
- Some of the REC solar panels show outstanding results when it comes to retaining performance over the long run – over 92% a quarter of a century later.
- Ongoing innovation gives its fruits – the company has made significant advances in the modules’ efficiency, achieving 20.9%.
The cons:
- Although not the most expensive, at $0.80 per watt the company’s equipment can hardly be called affordable.
Silfab solar
Silfab is one of the very rare companies that are designed and produced exclusively in North America. The company joined the game in 2010 in Canada, but its manufacturing facilities are located in Washington. Silfab makes its products with North American clients in mind, adapting them to their needs and the continent’s climate.
The pros:
- The fact that this is an authentic North American company makes it easy to solve all potential issues: the staff speaks your language and the company in all its entirety is located on the same continent.
- Industry’s leading warranty. Silfab shows great confidence in the PV modules they make, providing them with one of the longest warranties on the market. Even after these three decades are up, the panels will still retain at least 79.5% and 82.5% for mono- and polycrystalline modules respectively.
- Silfab solar panels are specifically designed to withstand heavy snowfalls and strong gusts of wind.
- Moderate price of $0.68 per watt.
The cons:
- The efficiency of Silfab’s equipment is confined to the 18-19% range, which is an average number.
Solaria
Solaria’s home is California. After twenty years of thriving, the company knows its business. Solaria solar panels offer decent performance and generous warranties, but that’s not what makes them so cool. What does is their superior aesthetics.
The pros:
- The aesthetics of these modules are truly captivating. They seem to add style to any house – the polished black of their surfaces and frames is a magnet for admiring looks.
- Reduced power losses via optimized mounting. The company designed its own mounting system to tackle this problem.
- 20% more energy per square foot. The available space often sets limits to how much energy you can produce. If this is an issue, Solaria stands out among its competitors.
The cons:
- At $1 per watt Solaria solar panels are more expensive than most.
Trina Solar
The company’s name can often be seen in the solar news. Trina firmly believes in science, dedicating considerable resources to research and development. This dedication bears fruit – the company currently holds 18 world records related to panels’ efficiency. World’s first 500 and 600 W panels were both the work of Trina’s engineers.
The pros:
- Trina solar panels are among the most powerful currently on the market.
- It is hard to find a module made by Trina with lower than 20% efficiency.
- At just $0.54 per watt, the brand’s products won’t break the family budget.
The cons:
- The company had a bad stretch between 2011 and 2014. A number of quality issues were discovered and subsequently resolved.
