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Solar panel Reviews

Standard, mid-range and premium quality solar panels

 

Standard quality
JinKo, Canadian, Trina, JA, Risen, Longi, ET, Astroenergy, Seraphim, TW, GCL, Leapton, BYD, Opal, Phono.

There is nothing wrong with any of these panel brands. At time of writing, 2019, most of the manufacturers above have switched over from the cheaper polycrystalline celled products to the more efficient monocrystalline type. The frames are all made to the same standard as are the backsheets. The defect warranties have been improving rapidly. A year ago, 10 years warranty was typical, now 15 years is the new normal. It's not that they are manufacturing to a higher standard, its just a highly competitive sector of the market, so when one ups the ante on warranty, the rest follow suit.

 

There is nothing we have seen over years and years of installing these standard type panels to prove, or even suggest, that one is better than any other. 'Better'...what does that word mean as far as solar panels are concerned for the average buyer?

 

In all probability, most people want reassurance that if they buy a cheaper 'standard' panel they aren't going to regret it down the track with high failure rates and additional costs. To answer this point we reference the data produced by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory who monitor over 50,000 solar installations continuously dating back over 40 years. Their conclusion (which you can see and read in full detail if you go to the FAQ page on our website How common is solar panel failure?) is that you can expect that after 30 years on a roof, 1 panel in 1,000 will have failed. As we say on that linked web page, imagine fifty homes on your street, each installing a 20 panel system today. Statistically, after 30 years, one of you on the street is likely to have a failed solar panel. If you think that is too much of a risk, then read on about Mid-Range and Premium quality panels.

 

Mid-range quality

Q.Cells, REC, Winaico, Aleo, SolarWatt.

As you might expect, with the more expensive panels, some designed in Germany like Q.Cells, or fully made in Germany like Aleo and Solarwatt you are getting a higher build quality and a much greater degree of inspection before leaving the factory. Better packaging too to protect the panel in transit from the factory to your home. Where a standard panel might give you a 30 year failure rate of 1 in 1,000, these products are more likely to show a 1 in 5,000, even 1 in 10,000 failure rate. They all have huge defect warranties, 25 years for most, 30 years for some, because they know that their likely failure rate is so low. Some of these brands also have models that belong more in the 'Standard' category and some have models that belong in the Premium category. For example, REC have a model called NPeak that uses the same 'N' type solar cell that the Premium brands have, while Q.Cells have a fairly basic model or two as well as their really good stuff.

 

Premium Quality

LG, SunPower

As we wrote in the mid-range description, the first thing you usually get with a premium quality solar panel is a different type of solar cell. 'N' or 'Negative' cells are more expensive to make that 'P' or 'Positive' cells and the important attribute of them is that they degrade at half the rate of a 'P' type cell. In simple terms, the 'P' type cell is likely to have degraded by 15-20% after 25 years, whereas an 'N' type cell more like 10%.

So, if two 6.6kW installations went into today, each initially expected to produce 10,000 kWh then after 25 years the 'N' type celled panels would likely have made 10,000 kWh more power than the 'P' type celled panels. A 25 years, get 1 year free type deal.

 

Premium panels also have the strongest frames able to withstand wind speeds we have not, and never will see in Australia, even during cyclones, and they have the highest level of protection against corrosion from ammonia, salt (sea) spray etc, although on that last point, we are seeing pretty much across the board these days that all panels, standard, mid-range, premium are certified with Level 6 protection for salt spray, ammonia. Level 6 is the highest level you can get.

 

Efficiency used to be the most important reason for buying 'Premium' panels. Fewer panels on the roof e the same output. Not very long ago, when LG were producing their NeOn2 panel we were all stunned by its amazing 330W output. Now even a standard panel is comfortably able to achieve 330W and while LG have managed to squeeze a bit more out of the NeOn2 isn't more than a few watts ahead of the pack. Their 'NeOn R' model and SunPower's Maxeon 2,3,and 4 models are still way out in front with efficiency, but believe it or not, that's not always a good thing.

 

With our quirky Perth regulations about having a maximum of 6.65kW of panels on a roof, for most people, if you want to get the Government discounts and feed in tariffs, the choice of panel wattage often comes down to the sizes that divide perfectly into 6.65kW.

315W, 330W, 350W are all perfect, but a more efficient 360W or 400W isn't.

18 x 360W gives you a smaller 6.48kW system and 16 x 400W only 6.4kW.