Best Solar Panels 2016

Best solar panels For Your Home

Choosing the best solar panel

It is important to understand that the best solar panel for your home will depend on your individual circumstances.

The most important factors to consider are price and installer.

Installers tend to add a little extra on to the cost they buy the panels for so ultimately a cheap panel could become an expensive one if your installer adds on a high margin.

Factors such as warranty length and roof space will also impact what makes the best solar panel for your circumstances.

Who makes the best solar panels?

As long as your solar panels are manufactured by a well known, proven manufacturer you should not notice too much difference between them.

All the manufacturers on our list of best solar panel manufacturers below produce reliable and proven solar panels that will perform well for your household. They all have very similar quality, performance, features and warranties.

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Leading Solar Panels On The Market

Most popular

Manufacturer	Product name	Type of panel	Maximum power (Pmax)	Module efficiency	Weight	No. of cells	Linear performance warranty
Suntech	STP255 - 20/Wem	Polycrystalline silicon	255 W	15.7%	18.2 kgs	60 (6 x 10)	25 years
Trina Solar	TSM-205 DC/DA80.08	Monocrystalline silicon	205W	16.0%	14.9 Kgs	72 (6 x 12	25 years
Canadian Solar	CS6X- 315P-FG	Polycrystalline	315W	16.14%	27.5kgs	72 (6 ˣ 12)	25 years
Yingli Solar	YL215C-24b	Monocrystalline silicon	215W	16.3%	14.9kgs	48 (6 ˣ 8)	25 years
Yingli Solar	YL200P-23b	Multicrystalline silicon	200 W	15.4%	14.7kgs	48 (6 ˣ 8)	25 years
Jinko Solar	JKM265P-60	Polycrystalline	265W	16.19%	19.0kgs	60 (6 ˣ 10)	25 years
Ja Solar	JAM6(L)-60-275/PR	Monocrystalline	275W	6.82%	18.2kgs	60 (6 ˣ 10)	25 years
Sharp Solar	ND-R250A5	Polycrystalline	250W	15.2%	19.0kgs	60 (6 ˣ 10)	25 years
Sunpower	KD325GX-LFB	Multicrystalline	325W	15.4%	27.5kg	80 (8 x 10)	25 years
Sungen	SGM-255D	Monocrystalline	255W	15.6%	19.5kgs	60 (6 ˣ 10)	25 years
Silevo	Triex-R22	Monocrystalline	220W	17.2%	15.5kgs	72 (6×12)	25 years

Best for specific factors

Factor	Manufacturer	Solar panel model
Best for small roof	Yingli	YL280C-30b
Best for large roofs	Trina	TSM-205 DC/DA80.08
Best for warranty	Trina	All models
Best for budget	Yingli	YL210C-24b
Best US manufacturer	First Solar	FS-3100-PLUS
Best for efficiency	Motech Solar	XS156B3-196
Best for aesthetics	Yingli	YL270P-29b

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Best Solar Panel Manufacturers

Suntech

Founded in 2001, Suntech is a Chinese solar panel manufacturer that is now one of the world’s largest producers of solar panels. In February 2014, Suntech passed 25 million modules shipped worldwide.

Trina Solar

In 2012, Trina Solar was included on the Fortune list of the top 100 world’s fastest growing companies. A Chinese manufacturer, Trina Solar has numerous offices in the USA and Europe and is one of the world’s biggest and best manufacturers.

Canadian Solar

As the name suggests, Canadian Solar originated in Canada and is now a  global solar panel manufacturer. The vast majority of Canadian Solar’s solar panels are manufactured in China. Well known for their quality and long lasting products, Canadian Solar was one of the first companies to offer enhanced performance warranties.

Yingli Solar

Yingli Solar, previously Yingli Green Energy Holding Company Limited, is a Chinese manufacturer with offices in the USA and Europe. Yingli are well known, with the company sponsoring the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup. Yingli are one of the largets manufacturers globally and their products offer good value for money.

Jinko Solar

Jinko Solar is a chinese manufacturer with offices in the USA and Europe. The company is less well known than other Chinese manufacturers, but offers industry leading solar panels.

Ja Sola

Ja Solar is one of the largest solar panel manufacturers in the world. Founded in 2005, the company is based in China and sells products in the USA.

Sharp Solar

Sharp Solar are a Japanese Manufacturer with a long standing reputation for quality products. With a global workforce of almost 60,000, Sharp are one of the largest manufacturers globally.

Renesola

Founded in 2005, Renesola is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a leading manufacturer of solar panels in the USA. The company offer a number of world-class solar panels and have a strong reputation.

First Solar

First Solar is an American solar panel manufacturer founded in 1990. First Solar was ranked number 1 for solar contractors by Solar Power World Magazine in 2012 and 2013.

Hanwha SolarOne

Hanwha, a German manufaturer is listed in the top 10 of solar manufacturers worldwide.

Sunpower and Kyocera

Sunpower is an American solar manufacturer and has been described as Silicon Valley’s dominant solar panel manufacturer.

Sungen

Sungen is a solar manufacturer based in Hong Kong and was founded in 2008. The company is smaller than most other companies mentioned in this list, however it has a strong reputation for quality solar panels.

REC

REC is an American solar panel manufacturer with headquarters in California. The company recently made the top 10 for solar contractors in the US.

Gintech

Originating from Taiwan, Gintech is a global manufacturer who distributes to the US. The company have a good reputation for quality and efficiency.

Motech Solar 

Motech is another solar manufacturer based in Taiwan and is in the top 10 for solar manufacturers globally in terms of production capacity and output.

Silevo

With global headquarters in Silicon Valley, Silevo is an upcoming solar manufacturer with a strong reputation for innovative products.

 

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