What follows are the Top Solar Panel Products for 2018. Bifacial is hot this year. Take a look at this year’s innovative products (listed alphabetically by company) within the solar panel and module category (grouped by crystalline, thin-film and AC/smart models).
See the full list of the 2018 Top Solar Products here.
HiDM is high-density shingled module up to 335 W and 20% module efficiency in a residential format. Its sleek all-black aesthetics blends into the roof, and its unique stringing design makes it highly shade tolerant in both the horizontal and vertical directions. Also available in larger format for commercial applications.
The 60-cell US Series modules have a maximum output of 310 W; 72-cell modules reach up to 370 W. US Series modules are American-made using domestic and foreign components, and rank among the most efficient modules manufactured in the U.S. Product is available individually or as part of CertainTeed’s Solstice system.
The Q.PEAK DUO BLK-G5 solar module’s high performance is possible thanks to the innovative Q.ANTUM DUO Technology. The product’s state-of-the-art circuitry half-cells and six busbar design achieve outstanding performance under real conditions—in low-intensity solar radiation as well as on hot summer days.
HELIENE 96M is a 96-cell module that significantly reduces the total installed cost of solar systems. This 490-W panel features a double-webbed 5-micron anodized aluminum alloy frame. Ideally suited for utility-scale and carport systems, the module comes with Heliene’s 10-year manufacturer’s workmanship warranty and 25-year linear power guarantee apply.
The GSX Module is glass-to-glass construction and utilizes bifacial solar cells. The GSX Racking System provides integrated weatherproofing and completely conceals junction boxes and conductors. Different cell density options are also available to customize the amount of daylight and energy density. It’s the off-the-shelf architectural solar solution.
The 96-cell HIT+ N340 solar panel provides a powerful combination of increased module efficiency, energy savings and durable long-term performance. Featuring a 20.3% module efficiency and 340 watts per panel, N340 delivers an advanced renewable energy source with zero emissions for any home.
N-Peak is the first solar panel combining n-type mono half-cut cells with twin-panel design, building on the success of REC’s multiple award-winning TwinPeak technology. Rated up to 330 Wp, it is REC’s most powerful 60-cell module ever, featuring zero LID, REC’s best warranty and super-strong frame design for loads of up to 7,000 Pa.
Silfab’s SLA-M 320 is a North American made, competitively priced, high-efficiency module that addresses the increasing U.S. residential demand for higher wattage solar panels without compromising aesthetics or pocket book. Plus it is backed by a 30-year performance and 25-year product warranty.
EPIQ solar panels feature state-of-the-art SmartWire Technology with Heterojunction bifacial cells backed by a 30-year warranty. With the power of these technologies, EPIQ is immune to LID and features a temperature coefficient which allows for high performance in all temperatures throughout the world.
SunTegra Shingles integrate directly with composition roofs, enabling them to blend in with the roof and provide a sleek appearance preferred by four out of five customers. SunTegra’s lightweight design and integrated wiring reduces complexity and increases speed of installation. SunTegra roof systems use 50% fewer parts than a conventional rack-mounted solar systems and install in half the time.
Duomax Twin is a bifacial module, which can convert light that strikes both the front and the back face of the module into electricity. Under the same conditions, a bifacial module will produce more energy than a monofacial module with the same nameplate power.
The WINAICO WSP-MX high-performance solar modules have 19.4% efficiency and nominal power capacity of 330 to 340 W. They are the highest power-rated panels on 60-cell format using PERC technology globally. The modules have the WINAICO frame design with water drainage function, which increases the reliability and stability of the system.
First Solar’s Series 6 module sets a new industry benchmark for reliability, design and environmental performance while generating more energy per module than competing technologies. The optimal form factor provides more watts per connection and lift while improving installation rates and BOS costs increasing returns for project owners and investors.
The new PowerFLEX+ CIGS (copper, indium, gallium, diselenide) are flexible, lightweight thin-film modules that offer higher efficiency power generation, up to 15%, with easy installation and are available in power outputs from 100 to 315 W.
HanTIle Solar Roof Tiles are an opportunity to give prospective customers a different, more desirable option versus their competition. Innovative, unique solar tiles that will enhance the appearance of a roof. Unlike conventional solar panels, HanTiles have a beautiful arched design to replace or blend with existing roofs.
The FLEX-03W is a 500-W CIGS flexible, lightweight and shatterproof thin-film PV module that provides high power density for many types of applications, from roofing to transportation and beyond. FLEX-03W modules adhere directly to surfaces for superior resistance to wind and seismic events. The modules have >16% cell efficiency.
Sunflare is shifting the energy industry with proprietary technology that revolutionizes CIGS to produce light, thin, flexible and rugged modules that can adhere to new surfaces. Sunflare’s cell-by-cell manufacturing process yields efficient, low cost modules that integrate into consumer durables, and converts vast unusable industrial terrain into powerful energy generators.
Expanding Panasonic’s PV high-performance HIT portfolio, the HIT S Series Module with the SolarEdge power optimizer is designed to generate more solar power in all conditions, including high temperatures, as compared to leading competitors, due to Panasonic’s industry-low temperature coefficient.
The all-in-one smart module features built-in-intelligence with an integrated Enphase IQ 7X microinverter, enabling accelerated installation, lower costs and more solar power. Additionally, the integrated Enphase microinverter is field-replaceable, removing the need to replace the entire solar module and yielding operation and maintenance costs savings that maximize ROI for homeowners.
The pure black Solaria PowerXT-AC module offers a pre-engineered, integrated solution delivering AC power that lowers costs, reduces design and installation time, and enables more energy production in real world conditions. PowerXT-AC allows greater system modularity and design flexibility by enabling single module building blocks rather than requiring full strings.