Australia has been called the ‘perfect country’ for harnessing the full power of solar energy. With some of the highest overall solar radiation levels found across the globe, our regional townships, fringe suburbs, and even city rooftops provide ample installation points for high-performance solar photovoltaic systems. And solar panel and inverter manufacturers worldwide seem to agree, with many industry-leading solar companies setting up offices and solar farms across Australia.
But with the growing number of manufacturer options available to Australian consumers, it’s natural to ask yourself what rooftop solar panels are the best investment for your property. Our solar experts will be outlining the top-performing solar panel and inverter manufacturers to help you make educated decisions when mapping your own solar investments.
Jinko Solar
A Chinese company, Jinko Solar is a world-class, leading solar panel manufacturer and perhaps one of the largest solar panel producers in the world, providing rooftop solar panels to commercial and residential customers nationwide through trusted solar installation providers. Jinko Solar are also known for their consistent and cost-effective solutions for home solar and are backed by a 10-year product warranty alongside industry-standard 30 year linear power warranties.
Canadian Solar
Canadian Solar has been an established manufacturer in Australia for well over a decade now, having been a major contributor to IKEA Australia’s solar rollout project which saw every single east coast IKEA outlet installed with high-performance PV systems. These systems single-handedly produce enough solar energy to offset approximately 4700 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, with excess energy being sold back to local power grids and greening Australian communities bit by bit.
How do Canadian Solar’s residential rooftop solutions compare to its commercial systems? Quite well, actually, with lower cell degradation rates on offer thanks to Canadian’s enhanced passivation of TOPCon solar cells. In terms of longevity, Canadian Solar provides highly competitive lifespans when compared to solar manufacturers.
Alongside manufacturing solar panels, Canadian Solar also maintains control over their proprietary solar cell technology, meaning they can manufacture some of the highest performing solar batteries for Australian markets.
LONGi
LONGi Solar is a leading manufacturer of high-efficiency and effective monocrystalline solar cells and modules for homes. In fact, LONGi has been focusing on monocrystalline for over 18 years and is actually the largest supplier of monocrystalline silicon wafers in the world, with total company assets above $5.23 billion as of a few years ago. This makes LONGi one of the most highly bankable solar providers in Australia, and a great investment option for Aussie consumers looking to spend a little less without sacrificing on quality.
LONGi also plans to have 45 GW of monocrystalline wafer production capacity as time goes on. Simply put, they’re here to stay, so you’ll be able to maintain access to customer service over the full lifespan of your LONGi solar PV system.
SunPower Australia
This American company is a top global solar innovator that’s performing great in most national markets, Australia included. With high-quality and efficient solar panels, SunPower continually delivers value to Australian homeowners, and is the solar energy provider of preference for more homeowners and businesses worldwide. The quality of their products is consistently high, and their global presence instills confidence, even in the wake of their recent financial restrategising.
But that does raise one major concern with SunPower solar systems: cost. Being a US-based manufacturer, there are import tariffs on SunPower PV systems that make them a less cost-effective investment for Australian homeowners. If you’re looking for high-performance solar solutions for a commercial property, however, then why not splurge on a SunPower system to enjoy superior performance, construction, and durability?
Trina Solar
In comparison to SunPower, Trina is definitely a more budget-friendly option, offering lower prices for slightly lower performance solar panel solutions. Whilst Trina solar PV systems definitely aren’t comparable in output to more durable and higher-cost Canadian or SunPower solutions, this humble manufacturer has actually been voted as Australia’s best value solar panels according to reviewers at SolarQuotes and Solar Choice Australia.
If you’re living in alpine regions with heavy hail storms or higher than average rainfall, however, Trina panels may not be the perfect fit for your home, as their cells aren’t guaranteed to be as durable as Canadian Solar’s TOPCon cell technology.
Solax Power
Solax Power provides a range of solar solutions and complete sales, logistics and technical support services through its Australian head office based in Melbourne. The goal of the company is to be a global leader at the forefront in the development, production and distribution of quality and effective solar inverters.
Alongside their glowing ethos, the Solax Power product range also incorporates the very latest in solar innovation with a focus on continued research, development and innovation. Solax also recently launched an advanced X-Hybrid battery storage system which is proving effective for residential properties across Australia, from regional areas to urban centres.
Anker S7olar
Whilst Anker are particularly well-known in Australia for their portable solar panels (which are camping-friendly!), this relatively new player in the global solar market has been making waves in Australia recently, namely following the release of their flagship SOLIX X1 AC-Coupled energy storage system.
Designed expressly for maintaining performance across Australia’s unique climatic conditions as well as Australian industry standards, the SOLIX X1 system is looking to be another great, lower cost alternative to Jinko, Canadian, and LONGi, which are generally considered to be the cream of the crop in our national solar market.
The benefit of Anker is that Aussie homeowners can really invest from the ground floor, with an agile solar innovator that’s keen to make their mark on the Australian solar market.
Find the Right Solar Panels & Inverters for your Property
Choosing which type of solar panel system to install on your rooftop will undoubtedly involve a little independent research. With this overview, however, you can at least pinpoint the best investment options for your property. Be sure to shop around to find the best deals with your local solar suppliers as well.
