Are they any good?
If you're looking for solar panels, you'll almost certainly come across many Chinese solar panel brands.
They dominate the lists of the world's largest solar panel brands. Just because a solar panel is manufactured in China does not imply that it is of poor quality. Due to cost, many of the major tier 1 manufacturers have built robust manufacturing facilities in China, but have been able to demonstrate a track record of producing reliable products for more than a decade.
However, there are hundreds of solar panel manufacturers in China, and we would not recommend the vast majority of them. The Clean Energy Council (CEC) has narrowed this down to a few manufacturers who have been granted permission to sell their products in various countries. Because the CEC only conducts limited company and panel testing, it is not a good indicator of quality.
So, what exactly is the problem with Chinese solar panels? Are they worth it? Or are they only purchased because they are inexpensive and affordable?
If you're not sure whether to trust Chinese solar panels, this article will help you decide.
Solar Industry in China
China currently produces nearly two-thirds of all solar panel equipment.
How did Chinese solar panels achieve such dominance? It was the result of a number of factors.
China's market dominance in solar is no accident. Back in the early 2000s, the Chinese government decided to bet big on renewables and heavily subsidized their burgeoning solar panel manufacturing industry.
Chinese solar panel manufacturers now supply businesses all over the world. It is not uncommon for US solar companies to source parts from China. These businesses will evaluate the products based on their own quality standards and sometimes sell them under their own (American) brand names.
It is also common in the solar industry for companies to have their headquarters in one country but their manufacturing facilities in another.
Scale economies
Domestic demand for solar panels in China is enormous as a result of the Chinese government's massive investment in renewables. A staggering 50% of all Chinese solar panel production is for the domestic market.
In terms of economies of scale, automated production processes, and panel efficiency improvements, China is pushing the boundaries of solar panel manufacturing.
With so much riding on solar for China's energy security, it's easy to imagine that Chinese investment in solar panel R&D is massive.
This means that many of the solar panels coming out of China are impressive in terms of both quality and value for money for customers in other parts of the world.
So, how can you tell if a Chinese solar panel is of high quality?
There are four major factors to consider when determining the quality of a solar panel brand:
Rating for panel efficiency
This is the rate at which a solar panel converts sunlight into electricity through photovoltaics. You should expect at least 19% efficiency; some panels can achieve up to 22% efficiency, but you will pay more for this.
Product warranty duration
A solar panel product warranty should last at least ten years. When you shop around, you'll notice that some solar panels have much longer product warranties, up to 25 years.
Panel performance warranty
This is a measurement of the panel's degradation after 25 years. When compared to the day one power output capacity, the standard is around 82% after 25 years.
Bloomberg Tier 1 Rating
The Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) Tier 1 list, while not a measure of panel quality in and of itself, is a measure of the financial strength of the company that manufactures the solar panels. Given that solar panels have a 25-year performance warranty, you'll want to make sure that the solar manufacturer is financially stable and will be in business if you need to file a warranty claim.
It is critical to understand that a solar company's position on the Tier 1 list does not reflect their quality. The main thing to look for is that the solar panel manufacturer of the panels you want to buy is on the Tier 1 list somewhere - the exact position doesn't matter.
Most solar panel manufacturers on the BNEF Tier 1 list are Chinese, for example.
Which Chinese solar panels are the best?
JOG International evaluates brands based on a variety of performance and value metrics.
Canadian Solar is the third best solar brand in the world, according to expert reviews.
In terms of solar panel efficiency rankings, one Chinese company is among the top five. Canadian Solar is back, this time at number four.
The final category is best solar panels by price. This is where Chinese solar panel manufacturers truly shine. Four of the five manufacturers on this list are Chinese:
ReneSola
REC Group, ranked fourth in the value rankings, is the only non-Chinese brand. REC Solar was founded in Norway and manufactures in Singapore, but it is now owned by a Chinese conglomerate.
As you can see, Chinese brands dominate the list of the best solar panel brands for the money. Each of these companies is large and has a reputation for high-quality manufacturing. While the solar import tariffs imposed at the beginning of 2018 have reduced their cost advantage, they are still less expensive than other Tier 1 solar panel brands, particularly those considered premium.
There is no real relationship between solar panel quality and location.
When you buy a panel made in China, you're dealing with a quality range that has nothing to do with the country.
The only real reason to choose a panel made in the United States over one made in China is to support American manufacturing.
However, if you want to get the most bang for your buck, keep an open mind and compare multiple brands, regardless of origin. Chinese-made solar panels are definitely worth a look based on their excellent value rankings.
Conclusion
China produces many of the world's best solar panels. The scale of research and development undertaken by Chinese solar panel manufacturers is astounding.
China is fully committed to transitioning its economy to renewable energy, and it sees solar power as a critical component in achieving this goal. In other words, they aren't messing around when it comes to producing high-quality solar panels.
This is great news for you as a solar panel business owner and customer. The best Chinese solar panels provide excellent quality as well as dependable performance at an affordable price.
There are numerous solar panel brands on the market, and researching them can be time consuming.
We've done the research, so save time and speak with one of our solar experts today. We'll find the best solar panel brand that fits your budget and meets your quality expectations.
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