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In this EcoWatch guide on the best solar panels for homes, you’ll learn:
We work with a panel of solar experts to create unbiased reviews that empower you to make the right choice for your home. No other site has covered renewables as long as us, which means we have more data and insider information than other sites. Our rankings are never affected by revenue or partnerships.
Note: In July 2024, SunPower notified dealers it would be halting all new shipments and project installations. The company also noted it would "no longer be supporting new Leases and PPA sales nor new project installations of these financing options."
Most solar panel manufacturers produce photovoltaic (PV) panels for residential use, but the options aren''t all created equal. Each brand has a different efficiency level, rate of degradation, durability and more, so choosing the best option for your solar project can be quite confusing. To make matters worse, opting for the wrong brand could cut into your energy savings over time.
In this article, we''ll be discussing the top five best solar panels for homes, and we''ll explain why each is a great option for your rooftop solar system. We''ll also explain what to look for in a high-performance panel to help you pick the best one for your needs. You can also refer to our review of the top solar panel installers if you''re searching for the best provider for your home.
The four solar panel companies below are the manufacturers we''ve identified as the best in the industry for home PV panels:
We''ll explain why we feel these panels are the best in the solar industry for home renewable energy systems below. Each panel includes a drop-down menu with additional information.
Of all of the panel models from the manufacturers mentioned above, there are two that stand out for providing outstanding performance and overall value. These include the Maxeon 6 panels and the Q.PEAK DUO BLK ML-G10+ from Q Cells. These both provide above-average production and savings without compromising on overall quality.
The table below includes a quick look at these two panel options and how they stack up against one another.
Q Cells, which is a brand manufactured by Hanwha, is the best solar company for value, in our opinion. Despite being more affordable than most other tier-one solar panel brands at around $3.00 per watt, its panels still have above-average efficiency ratings and performance specs. They''re not quite as impressive in their durability as some other options, but they''re still an outstanding choice for many solar customers.
We recommend Q Cells for solar customers who want the best performance per dollar.
Q Cells panels get a lot of things right, including an average efficiency that''s around the industry average. That means your panels should generate plenty of electricity to offset your utility bills and reduce your carbon footprint.
It matches SunPower in terms of first-year solar panel degradation as well, so the efficiency over time is going to be better than you''ll see from many competitors. Ultimately, that means your panels will continue serving you and providing savings for many years to come.
Q Cells offers robust warranty coverage for performance and manufacturer defects that''s in line with the industry average of 25 years each. This will prevent you from having to carry out expensive repairs and should help avoid your production dipping below your consumption within the first two decades of operation.
Its panels also come rated to withstand 4,000 pascal units on the rear of the panel, which means it''s better than most for areas that see strong winds and will help prevent mishaps and costly replacements.
Finally, and most importantly, Q Cells panels average around $3.00 per watt, as compared to comparable brands that average around $3.30 per watt. On a 10kW system, that’s an average potential savings of $3,000 on your entire system, which is substantial and can significantly lower your all-in cost of going solar.
While Q Cells matches SunPower in terms of first-year efficiency degradation, the efficiency loss per year after that is a bit higher. That means Q Cells panels won’t perform as well as SunPower’s over time, so your production will be significantly lower by the end of your panel’s life.
Ultimately, that could mean you’d need to replace your system sooner to ensure production keeps up with consumption. Additionally, the maximum efficiency currently available from the company is 20.9%. While this is above the industry standard, we''d love to see an efficiency rating topping 21%, like most of Q Cells''s direct competitors.
Q Cells also only has two solar panels for homes in production at this time. We''d ideally like to see more variety to give solar customers the opportunity to bring down solar panel installation costs or push up performance.
As mentioned above, Q Cells has two solar panel options for home solar energy systems. We''ll list these below and include a brief description of each to help you decide which might be right for your home.
Q Cells provides a 25-year warranty for all of its products, which covers manufacturer defects. This is in line with what most competitors provide, and it means you’re unlikely to have to pay for panel maintenance or major repairs unless inclement weather becomes an issue.
However, Q Cells has a special solar cell testing process that eliminates most issues related to potential-induced degradation (PID). Since PID can cause dips in panel efficiency over time, this helps Q Cells panels maintain their peak power generation capabilities.
Q Cells also covers efficiency for 25 years. This is also typical, but the degradation rate is below average. The first-year dip is set at a maximum of 2%, as opposed to the industry average of 2.5%, and the subsequent-year dip is 0.45%, which is just below the average of 0.5%. Overall, the slower degradation rate means your panels will continue producing more power than most other brands over the warranty term.
Q Cells doesn''t have a certification program for installers like SunPower does, so any solar provider that has a relationship with the company can purchase and install its panels. You should have no issues finding an installer near you that carries Q Cells equipment, although that does mean you’ll have to be careful when screening Q Cells installers to make sure yours is reputable.
In our opinion, Trina Solar is right up there with Q Cells when it comes to high-quality equipment for the money. Trina panels are a bit more expensive at an average of $3.55 per watt, and they deliver similar efficiency ratings, temperature coefficients and other performance specs. Ultimately, they should save you a decent amount of money over time, and the upfront cost isn’t outlandish.
Trina outclasses Q Cells when it comes to durability, with an industry-leading 1% efficiency loss in the first year and a superior 0.4% annual degradation after that. That means your panels will continue to generate maximum energy for many years to come, which could translate to a longer time between installing your panels and having to replace them to maintain sufficient production. This could end up saving you thousands in the long run.
We recommend these panels to solar customers who want outstanding value for their money and don''t have access to Q Cells panels or want to ensure their energy savings last as long as possible.
All panels lose efficiency over time, but Trina provides some of the lowest degradation rates for the money. The panels are just slightly above-average in terms of cost per watt, but they outperform just about every other panel in its price range when it comes to durability.
Trina panels start out with above-average efficiency ratings as well, topping out at 20.4% and averaging around 20%, which is far better than the average of 15%. This means that Trina panels will generate more power per square foot they take up on your roof than most brands, which, ultimately, means a better chance of offsetting or even eliminating your electric bills.
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