Choosing the best solar panel can feel overwhelming, but it's easier than you think. A quality solar installer will typically install quality solar panels, so your main focus should be choosing the best solar installer for the job—your installer's experience and your solar system's size have a bigger impact on effectiveness. Still, every home is different, and most will benefit from having the most efficient panels on the market.
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from KINGSUN.
However, timing is critical: The 30% residential solar tax credit is currently set to expire at the end of this year, and equipment shortages are already affecting the availability of top-tier solar panels. While the panels ranked below represent the absolute best performance available, securing the 30% federal tax credit should be your top priority. If your preferred high-ranking panel isn't available or causes project delays, choosing a slightly lower-ranked but readily available panel is often the smarter financial move—the ITC savings will likely outweigh the small performance difference.
Based on our analysis, Maxeon offers the best solar panels, followed by VSUN, REC, Qcells, and Canadian Solar. Each scored well overall, but the best one for you depends on your home’s specific needs.
Maxeon’s 440-watt solar panel is our pick for best overall. It’s the most efficient panel at 22.8% and comes with the longest warranty (40-year performance and product warranties—15 years longer than the industry standard). Maxeon is the highest-rated solar panel on the EnergySage Marketplace.
The biggest downside to Maxeon solar panels is the price tag. At $2.84 per watt, it’s one of the most expensive brands available. Its specs are stellar, but if budget is your priority, you can likely find a cheaper panel that still meets your efficiency needs.
“My panels were installed in April . I paired them with Enphase IQ8A’s and they put out a TON of power. On a hot summer day, each panel is putting out almost 380 watts per panel, which I’m very happy with. I bought Maxeon panels because they are the most reliable panels with their unique cell design that is different than anyone else’s on the market. And surprisingly, the pricing I got was actually less expensive than some higher-end panels like REC AlphaPure and Panasonic Evervolt. Would highly recommend!” -mattjohnson, EnergySage (edited for grammatical clarity)
What sets VSUN apart is its larger-format panel that maximizes power density. Because its panels are larger, you may need fewer of them for your roof, which may lower the cost of your purchase and installation. It’s an attractive choice for homeowners who have big roofs and want fewer, more powerful panels.
That said, the size of the VSUN panel is also its downfall—they may be too big for some roofs with smaller spaces. Also, the panel’s temperature coefficient is higher than premium competitors—which means they don’t work as well in hotter temps—making these panels a less viable option for homeowners in hot climates.
REC is a longtime favorite among EnergySage shoppers, probably because of its relatively low price per watt and impressive specs. Out of our top brands, REC offers the best bang for your buck: The Alpha Pure 410-watt panel maintains efficiency above 22%, and it has solid 25-year performance and product warranties. These panels also have one of the lowest temperature coefficients on the market, which means they perform better in hotter temperatures compared to other panels.
REC does the best job of balancing top-tier specs and affordability, but it falls short of Maxeon in terms of efficiency. We’re also hearing from installers that REC is experiencing supply shortages, so it may be hard to get your hands on these panels if you’re planning to install your system in time to claim the tax credit.
“Really happy with the great technology from REC. They have the best panel on the market and their 25+year history in the solar industry is really important to me.” -gdavissolar
“Simply put, the Alpha series panel is the best in the market right now. Being a solar consultant for the past 8 years has afforded me the opportunity to learn about panels in a detailed way. The Alpha series matches or beats SunPower in every metric there is, and its costs don't come close to the astronomical price point SunPower demands. I have 38 of these bad boys cranking out power here in Vegas, and I couldn't be happier.” -Tgibs, EnergySage (edited for grammatical clarity)
Qcells is a quality solar panel brand, delivering solid performance comparable to industry leaders. Its 22.5% efficiency exceeds REC, while its robust 25-year performance and product warranty offer peace of mind. Qcells may be especially attractive to homeowners for its sleek all-black aesthetic, competitive pricing, and being made in America—the company has two large facilities in Georgia.
“I had my system installed in January . Here in Florida, my [panels] make around 100kwh on a full sun day in May through August. I haven't had 1 issue. My highest production day last year was 100 kWh, also, so just glancing at it, I feel degradation first year is less than 2%. It's June now, and the system has already made 10.2 mWh. I'm super happy with the panels. Hope this helps you make a panel decision. I can't rate [REC’s] services as I haven't needed them.” -timhugheseternal, EnergySage (edited for grammatical clarity)
“My system—17.32kWdc—has been running since May 30th, . It's high quality and zero issues thus far. Very happy with my system and the Home Team Energy Installer in my area.” -khanghulam, EnergySage(edited for grammatical clarity)
Canadian Solar’s TOPHiKu6 450-watt solar panel has the highest power output of the products on our list, which means it has the capacity to generate more electricity. While it’s the least efficient of our top brands, it boasts impressive performance specifications with a 22% efficiency rating and -0.29%/°C temperature coefficient. Plus, despite its name, Canadian Solar manufactures some of its panels in the U.S.
“I had the panels installed on the back of my house 2 years ago. They are doing everything they should do and nothing they shouldn't. Output has been a bit above expectations, and they have been completely reliable. I have 39 panels in place and have not had an issue with any of them. We have had some rough weather, and they have come through it just fine. I would absolutely buy them again.” - mcgrathdw, EnergySage (edited for grammatical clarity)
Jinko didn’t rank first in any category and is the second most expensive panel on this list. It’s a great option compared to most panels on the market, but it lands sixth place when up against the others mentioned here.
The average 11 kW solar panel system costs $20,552 after federal tax credits. That's a lot of money. It's important to choose solar panels that are high quality and affordable. The best way to evaluate if you're getting the best bang for your buck is to divide your solar panel's power per square foot (W/sq ft) by its cost per watt ($/W). The higher this value, the more power per penny you get.
Even the best solar panels may perform poorly in difficult conditions. Some panels are better suited for small spaces, while others excel in hot temperatures. That’s why it’s so important to consider your roof, household electricity use, and climate when choosing solar panels for your home.
An experienced, local solar installer knows how solar performs in your area and can properly inspect your roof to recommend the best panels. But if you want to start some of the research, here are some things to think about:
Have a small roof with a lot of shading? You'll probably want a very powerful solar panel (unless you use very little electricity). Even light shading can reduce your solar panels’ output by 50% or more. Look for solar panels with high power output and high efficiency.
It's no secret that solar panels are more prevalent in the Sun Belt than in other parts of the country, but they're also an excellent investment if you live in the Northeast or Midwest. You just need to choose the right panels. Your region and climate influence the performance of your panels— things like sun power, shading, panel orientation, temperature, precipitation, wind, dust, and dirt play a role.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Customized PV Module.
If you live in a place that sees a lot of rain, snow, or other cloudy conditions, you’ll want high-output and high-efficiency panels. If you live in a hot and sunny region, you're in a prime spot for premium solar panel efficiency and will want to pay attention to temperature coefficient as a leading factor in your decision-making.
If your roof is small and you don't have a lot of space for your system, investing in the most efficient, highest-performing panels can get you the performance you need. If you have enough room for a larger system, installing slightly less efficient panels could provide ample output at a competitive price.
But at the end of the day, going solar now, while you can claim the residential tax credit, will lead to greater savings than waiting for the perfect solar panel. If federal clean energy tax credits are eliminated, the cost of solar and electricity will rise, which means even a few months could mean missing out on thousands of dollars in savings.
What is solar PV system?
Solar photovoltaic system or Solar power system is one of renewable energy system which uses PV modules to convert sunlight into electricity. The electricity generated can be either stored or used directly, fed back into grid line or combined with one or more other electricity generators or more renewable energy source. Solar PV system is very reliable and clean source of electricity that can suit a wide range of applications such as residence, industry, agriculture, livestock, etc.
Major system components
Solar PV system includes different components that should be selected according to your system type, site location and applications. The major components for solar PV system are solar charge controller, inverter, battery bank, auxiliary energy sources and loads (appliances).
��� PV module � converts sunlight into DC electricity.
��� Solar charge controller � regulates the voltage and current coming from the PV panels going to
battery and prevents battery overcharging and prolongs the battery life.
��� Inverter � converts DC output of PV panels or wind turbine into a clean AC current for AC
appliances or fed back into grid line.
��� Battery � stores energy for supplying to electrical appliances when there is a demand.
��� Load � is electrical appliances that connected to solar PV system such as lights, radio, TV, computer,
refrigerator, etc.
��� Auxiliary energy sources - is diesel generator or other renewable energy sources.
Solar PV system sizing
1. Determine power consumption demands The first step in designing a solar PV system is to find out the total power and energy consumption of all loads that need to be supplied by the solar PV system as follows:
1.1 Calculate total Watt-hours per day for each appliance used.
Add the Watt-hours needed for all appliances together to get the total Watt-hours per day which
must be delivered to the appliances.
1.2 Calculate total Watt-hours per day needed from the PV modules.
Multiply the total appliances Watt-hours per day times 1.3 (the energy lost in the system) to get
the total Watt-hours per day which must be provided by the panels.
2.1 Calculate the total Watt-peak rating needed for PV modules
Divide the total Watt-hours per day needed from the PV modules (from item 1.2) by 3.43 to get
the total Watt-peak rating needed for the PV panels needed to operate the appliances.
2.2 Calculate the number of PV panels for the system
Divide the answer obtained in item 2.1 by the rated output Watt-peak of the PV modules available
to you. Increase any fractional part of result to the next highest full number and that will be the
number of PV modules required.
4.1 Calculate total Watt-hours per day used by appliances.
4.2 Divide the total Watt-hours per day used by 0.85 for battery loss.
4.3 Divide the answer obtained in item 4.2 by 0.6 for depth of discharge.
4.4 Divide the answer obtained in item 4.3 by the nominal battery voltage.
4.5 Multiply the answer obtained in item 4.4 with days of autonomy (the number of days that you
need the system to operate when there is no power produced by PV panels) to get the required
Ampere-hour capacity of deep-cycle battery.
Battery Capacity (Ah) = Total Watt-hours per day used by appliances x Days of autonomy
(0.85 x 0.6 x nominal battery voltage)
Remark: For MPPT charge controller sizing will be different. (See Basics of MPPT Charge Controller)
Example: A house has the following electrical appliance usage:
The system will be powered by 12 Vdc, 110 Wp PV module.
1. Determine power consumption demands
Total appliance use = (18 W x 4 hours) + (60 W x 2 hours) + (75 W x 24 x 0.5 hours) = 1,092 Wh/day Total PV panels energy needed = 1,092 x 1.3 = 1,419.6 Wh/day.
2. Size the PV panel
Actual requirement = 4 modules
So this system should be powered by at least 4 modules of 110 Wp PV module.
3. Inverter sizing
Total Watt of all appliances = 18 + 60 + 75 = 153 W
For safety, the inverter should be considered 25-30% bigger size.
The inverter size should be about 190 W or greater.
4. Battery sizing
Total appliances use = (18 W x 4 hours) + (60 W x 2 hours) + (75 W x 12 hours)
Nominal battery voltage = 12 V
Days of autonomy = 3 days
Battery capacity = [(18 W x 4 hours) + (60 W x 2 hours) + (75 W x 12 hours)] x 3
(0.85 x 0.6 x 12)
Total Ampere-hours required 535.29 Ah
So the battery should be rated 12 V 600 Ah for 3 day autonomy.
5. Solar charge controller sizing
PV module specification
Pm = 110 Wp
Vm = 16.7 Vdc
Im = 6.6 A
Voc = 20.7 A
Isc = 7.5 A
Solar charge controller rating = (4 strings x 7.5 A) x 1.3 = 39 A
So the solar charge controller should be rated 40 A at 12 V or greater.
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