Aid, subsidies, energy crisis, the potential of solar energy in Spain.
All these factors are helping the rise of self-consumption to grow even more with each passing day, where we take photovoltaic solar energy as the best alternative that allows us to reduce our electricity costs without destroying the environment.
But companies do not want to wait at the end of the queue either. They know that they can be more efficient with their resources, reducing costs by a substantial amount thanks to solar energy.
However, when it comes to investing in this renewable source, there are doubts about the manufacturers of solar panels that can be found on the market. The number of companies dedicated to the manufacture of panels increases over the years.
And to find out which are at the top of the best, every year a ranking is published based on their turnover.
In today’s article we will analyse:
- Which are the world’s leading manufacturers
- Who we are betting on at SolarMente
- The manufacturers of solar panels in Spain
- How solar panels are manufactured
The largest manufacturers of solar panels in the world
The ranking of the world’s largest solar panel manufacturers does not confirm that they are the best manufacturers of these products, according to experts in the photovoltaic sector.
Therefore, what is our recommendation? To go to professionals who know the product well and not to be fooled by them at the first opportunity. It may seem very simple to assess which ones are at the top of the list, but there are many factors that come into play at the moment of truth, such as guarantees, efficiency and reliability, and the coverage they offer. As you can see, there are quite a few.
Who is the almighty that is still beating the rest of the countries in the world by far? Of course, China has done it again.
The Asian country accounts for 70% of the world’ s solar panel production. And it controls at least 75% of each of the important stages involved in the manufacturing and processing process.
Following in its footsteps are other countries that are also in the top positions, such as the United States, Canada and Germany.
Going into more detail, if we take into account the modules supplied during this last year in 2023, the largest manufacturers of solar panels in the world are the following:
- LONGi Solar
- Jinko Solar
- Canadian Solar
- JA Solar
- Trina Solar
- Risen Energy
- First Solar
- Urec
- Hanwha Q Cells
- Talesun
But be very careful with this, because we are talking about the number of panels delivered, not the quality. Therefore, this factor must also be taken into account.
At SolarMente, we choose our manufacturers by analysing all the factors that imply a wide durability, knowing that they will provide you with the best results throughout their lifetime.
Let’s not forget that most of them are used for industries and if we value residential use, these results could change.
Tier 1 list of solar panels in 2023
Tier 1 is a ranking carried out by Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). This index assesses the ability to pay of companies in the solar photovoltaic sector.
Let’s be more specific. It includes the manufacturers with the highest turnover and good solvency, providing stability to the company. But always bear in mind that it does not analyse the quality of a solar panel.
You can see the methodology used by the BNEF to make the classification here.
That said, in the most recent Tier 1 of solar panels, 80% of Asian brands are in the top 10 of the ranking, compared to 20% from the North American country.
This list is updated every quarter and although some brands vary, there are a number of brands that remain in the list:
Let’s see what they are:
- Jinko Solar
- Canadian Solar
- Sunpower /Maxeon
- Sharp
- JA Solar
- QCells
- Longi
- Risen Energy Trina Solar
- Astronergy
- GCL Systems
- Talesun
- Seraphim
- First Solar
- LG Electronics
- Znshine Solar
- Renesola
- Suntech
- BYD
- winaico
- Akcome
- Phono Solar
- Eging
- Jinneng
- REC Group
- HT SAAE
- Waaree
- Mundra
- Neo Solar Power
- Vikram Solar
- Jolywood
- ET Solar
- Lightway
- Boviet
- Hansol
- S-Energy
- Shinsung
- Helience
What characteristics are assessed to consider that a solar panel is good?
In addition to this ranking and other certifications that exist to conclude whether a manufacturer offers quality panels that are guaranteed to last for a few years, there are a number of factors that can help you decide which way you are looking for.
Here are the ones we consider relevant:
Power rating
The power rating is expressed in watts and indicates the maximum output of a module under the most optimal conditions in terms of sunlight received and temperature.
The most common ones you can find nowadays are 250-550 watts, but of course the technological advances produced in the sector have made the best manufacturers reach up to 600 W.
What does this mean? The higher the power rating, the more efficient the panels are and the fewer modules you will need to install on your roof. However, the price will be higher.
Efficiency
This refers to the percentage of solar irradiation that solar panels receive to convert energy into electricity for domestic use. This efficiency has increased thanks to the advances that have been made, reaching more than 20% efficiency.
But what does this efficiency depend on?
First of all on the cell and the type of silicon used, whether monocrystalline or polycrystalline.
And secondly, the efficiency as a total system package, which depends on the electrical configuration, design and dimensions.
Technology used
The technology also has an impact on the efficiency of the module. There are several technologies currently available, such as monocrystalline, polycrystalline, amorphous and even more modern technologies that are revolutionising the market.
These new variants include PERC technology which improves the performance of the photovoltaic system in low light conditions. In this way, the modules capture the maximum sunlight and you can opt for more hours of self-consumption.
Don’t forget the guarantees
What you should be sure of is that a good manufacturer has a good guarantee on aspects such as maintenance and production for at least 20 years .
Also, in case of failure of a part of the installation, guarantee a certain period of time to be able to replace it with a new one.
The good thing is that solar panels are very durable, but you should always make sure that they meet your requirements for the climate where you live.
Which solar panel manufacturers do we at SolarMente go for?
When it comes down to it, what we value most is the quality and maximum profitability that we can get out of our system.
At SolarMente, these aspects are our priority. We want you to be able to enjoy your solar panels for a long time and, therefore, before we start working with a manufacturer, it is important that they meet a series of requirements.
First of all, the quality of the materials is fundamental as well as the fulfilment of the guarantees they offer.
Of course, the technology is also relevant and our team is committed to solar panel manufacturers who can offer us new ways to improve the efficiency of the system.
We do not forget the impact that these companies have on the environment. We consider it essential to bet on those that care about the environment, reducing pollution as much as possible.
As a result of these criteria, at SolarMente we decided to work with three of today’s leading manufacturers:
- JA Solar
- Longi Solar
- Hyundai
Solar panels JA Solar
JA Solar is one of the best known manufacturers worldwide. It is a Chinese company that was founded in 2005 and sells products to more than 100 countries and regions around the world. A fact to be valued.
They were the pioneers in PERC technology, offering a 12-year warranty on the product.
In this case, the most suitable modules for residential use are monocrystalline modules with 60 photovoltaic cells.
They are a benchmark in the sector and their high performance has led to them always being on the tier 1 list.
Longi solar
We remain on Asian soil and move on to another of China’s major manufacturers: Longi Solar.
It also uses PERC technology and monocrystalline panels to offer a different level of performance. Quality is valued above all else.
In addition, the guarantees are outstanding: 25 years in production and 10 years on the product.
Hyundai solar panels
The Hyundai brand is not only dedicated to the automotive sector, but since 2004 it has been committed to solar panels. At the beginning at national level and then it was extended to the rest of the countries.
The Korean company is listed in Tier 1 and scores high in terms of financial stability.
They use PERC technology and even more: their Shingle technology. It is very similar to PERC, but the difference is in the way the cells are connected.
What does this breakthrough achieve?
Increased panel efficiency, power per square metre and lower conductivity resistance.
In addition, it not only manufactures solar panels, but also inverters and storage solutions.
Solar panel manufacturers in Spain: companies committed to solar energy
This is not the first time we have highlighted Spain’s potential for photovoltaic production. We receive an annual average of 2,500 hours, much more than in neighbouring countries such as Norway and Germany.
Despite the fact that China occupies almost the entire market, Spanish companies are not giving up in the face of this situation and want to take advantage of the facilities that are being introduced to invest in solar energy.
It is true that we still have a long way to go and it is not an obstacle-free path, but solar panel manufacturers in Spain have grown exponentially in recent years to avoid energy dependence on foreign countries.
Do you want to know which ones are currently on the rise? Here are the main manufacturers of solar panels in Spain:
- Sitecno
- Abora Energy
- SolarAir
- Energy Stone
- Atersa
- Sun Connection
- Worldwide
- Eastech Solar
- Tamesol
- Ennova Energy
- VidurSolar
- Eselco
- Zytech Solar
- Eurener
- Iberian Solar
- Exiom Solution
- Nousol New Energies
- Heliene
- 8.33 Solar
How solar panels are made: step by step of the whole process
First concept to take into account: silicon is the main component that makes up the solar modules, therefore, the first phase of the process is its extraction and transformation.
It is then melted and refined to achieve a purity of close to 100%.
That said, when the silicon has not yet solidified, it is poured between two layers: boron and phosphorous. This is done so that the electrodes can circulate. At the same time, the conductive elements are placed on the phosphorous layer so that energy is finally produced.
Now that these layers are joined together, the cell is ready.
Once we have the photovoltaic cell ready, it is time to add the remaining layers depending on the power we are going to install.
Now that we know the number of cells needed, they will be placed on an aluminium surface and then soldered together.
Conclusions
The immensity of solar panel manufacturers that you can find on the market can lead to further confusion.
Therefore, we should not only consider the number of panels produced by the large Tier 1 companies, but also consider other important characteristics when making the right decision, such as quality, technology or the guarantees they can offer.
Do not forget about the environmental impact they are generating either, it is important that solar energy companies are the benchmark for a sustainable energy model that is not only based on producing clean energy but also that they are committed to manufacturers that reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the production process.
At SolarMente, these factors are fundamental for us. For this reason, we only work with manufacturers that meet our established standards. If you do not know which one to choose for your home, just write to us and we will give you several alternatives depending on your needs.
Our solar energy experts are available to help you and answer any questions you may have.
