How To Choose The Best Solar Panels in NZ
Written by
Kristy Hoare, Founder & Solar Market Research Specialist
Last updated:
The industry standard is that solar power companies will do the research for you, finding the best solar panel brands and models for your unique solar power system set up. On this page we discuss the specifics of solar panels, giving full access to the finer details.
More useful pages:
Learn the solar basics
How a grid-connected solar power system works
Solar panel prices
How many solar panels do I need?
How to choose the best solar panel installer
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How to choose solar panels - simplified
- Find out the efficiency of the solar panels, this is normally between 20% - 24%.
- Check the solar panels performance and product warranty. Performance warranties are normally between 25-40 years and product warranties are between 15-30 years.
- Find out what tier the solar panels are. Tier-1 is considered the best, while Tier-3 is not worth bothering with.
What Are The Best Solar Panel Brands In NZ?
In our view there is no one best solar panel, as different panels suit different people. There are only subtle differences between the solar panels that are brought in by good NZ wholesales (we only work with the best). Be wary of no brand-name panels sold on online market places.
Below we have listed quality, Tier 1 solar panels commonly sold in New Zealand, alongside important specifications (specs), so you can judge what solar panels are the best.
SunPower Performance 7 450W-BLK
450 Watts
22.2 %
1790 x 1134 x 30 mm
2.02 m2 m2
-Smaller metallic wires help to achieve a sleek black appearance to seamlessly integrate into your roof. -Shingled-cell design helps to manage shade and keep cell temperatures low to produce more power over time -Glass on glass
30 years years
30 years years
Year 1 minimum warranted output 99.0%. Maximum annual degradation 0.4%.
China
Bifacial, one-third cut, shingled-cell design, N-type
460W Watts
22.1 %
1728 x 1205 x 30 mm
2.08 m2 m2
-Lead-free -Elegant full black design -Gapless cell design -Higher efficiency in hotter conditions
25 years
25 years
92% @ 25 years
Singapore
Half-cut REC heterojunction cells
470W Watts
22.6 %
1728 x 1205 x 30 mm
2.08 m2 m2
-Lead-free -Elegant full black design -Gapless cell design -Higher efficiency in hotter conditions
25 years
25 years
92% @ 25 years
Singapore
Half-cut, bifacial, heterojunction cells
Phono Solar Quasar 475W
475 Watt Watts
23.27% %
1800 ˣ 1093 ˣ 30 mm
1.96 m2 m2
True-black aesthetic, all-back contact design boosts light absorption, and optimized cell size delivers higher power with lower transport costs.
30 years years
30 years years
88.85% @ 30 years
China
Back Contact Cell Technology: busbars & electrodes located on rear of the cell creating a sleek cell appearance
Suntech 585W Bifacial Ultra V Pro
585 Watts
22.6 %
2278 × 1134 × 30 mm
2.58 m² m2
High-power bifacial module using multi-busbar technology, double-glass construction and N-type TOPCon cells. Designed for improved reliability, low degradation and up to 25% rear-side energy gain.
1 years
30 years
87.4% @ 30 years
China
HALF-CELL N-Type TOPCon - Bifacial
Suntech 585W Bifacial Ultra V Pro
500 Watts
22.5 %
1961 × 1134 × 30 mm
2.22 m² m2
All-black dual-glass module using N-type i-TOPCon cells designed for high efficiency, strong reliability and improved mechanical strength.
25 years
30 years
87.4% @ 30 years
China
N-Type i-TOPCon Monofacial - Dual Glass
480 Watts
24 %
1762 × 1134 × 30 mm
2.00 m² m2
Premium full-black module using AIKO’s All Back Contact (ABC) technology with no visible front busbars. Designed for high efficiency, strong micro-crack resistance and improved shading performance.
30 years
30 years
88.85% @ 30 years
China
N-Type ABC (All Back Contact) Monocrystalline
Canadian Solar TOPHiKu6 All Black 455W
455 Watts
22.8 %
1762 × 1134 × 30 mm
2.00 m² m2
All-black N-type TOPCon module designed for high efficiency and reliability. Features low power degradation, strong resistance to micro-cracks and high mechanical strength with snow load up to 6000 Pa and wind load up to 4000 Pa.
30 years
25 years
87.4% @ 30 years
China / Thailand
N-Type TOPCon - Monofacial
LONGi Solar Hi-MO X10 Explorer 475W
475 Watts
23.3 %
1800 × 1134 × 30 mm
2.04 m² m2
High-efficiency module using LONGi TaiRay wafer and back-contact (BC) cell technology for improved reliability and energy yield. Designed with low operating temperature and strong mechanical loading performance.
15 years
30 years
88.85% @ 30 years
China
BC Cell Monocrystalline
JA Solar ALL BLACK JAM54D41 LB 455W
455 Watts
22.8 %
1762 × 1134 × 30 mm
2.00 m² m2
All-black n-type bifacial double-glass module from JA Solar’s DeepBlue 4.0 Pro series. Designed for strong durability, low degradation and high efficiency with excellent mechanical loading performance.
25 years
3 years
87.4% @ 30 years
China
N-Type Bifacial - Double Glass
AIKO Neostar 3S54 495W
495 W Watts
24.8 %
1762 × 1134 × 30 mm
2.00 m² m2
• N-Type Back Contact cells deliver up to 24.8% module efficiency — among the highest available for residential panels • 30-year linear performance warranty with Munich RE backing, guaranteeing ≥88.85% output at year 30 • Partial shading optimisation and micro-crack resistance for reliable long-term output in real-world conditions
25 years years
30 years years
88.85% @ 30 yrs
China
N-Type BC (Back Contact)
Trina Solar Vertex S+ NEG18R.25 515W
505 W Watts
23.2 %
1961 × 1134 × 30 mm
2.22 m² m2
N-Type i-TOPCon technology delivers up to 23.2% module efficiency — among the highest available for residential panels Dual-glass construction reduces micro-crack and scratch risk during installation with a 30-year power guarantee retaining ≥87.4% output Low temperature coefficient (−0.29%/°C) and excellent low-irradiation performance for reliable energy yield in NZ conditions
25 years years
30 years years
87.4% @ 30 yrs
China
N-Type i-TOPCon Monocrystalline
Suntech Ultra V Pro mini 505W
505 W Watts
22.7 %
1961 × 1134 × 30 mm
2.22 m² m2
• N-Type TOPCon half-cell technology in a full-black glass-glass monofacial design — premium aesthetics with 22.7% module efficiency • 30-year linear performance warranty guaranteeing ≥87.4% output at year 30, with just 1% first-year degradation and 0.40% annual degradation thereafter • Lightweight double-glass construction rated to 5400 Pa front load — durable in high-wind, salt-spray, and ammonia-exposure environments
25 years years
30 years years
87.4% @ 30 yrs
China
N-Type TOPCon (half-cell monocrystalline)
Canadian Solar CS6.2-48TD 460W
460 W Watts
23.0 %
1762 × 1134 × 30 mm
2.00 m² m2
• N-type TOPCon cells deliver 23.0% module efficiency with a low temperature coefficient of -0.29%/°C, maintaining strong output during hot NZ summers • 30-year linear performance warranty with ≤1% first-year and ≤0.4% annual subsequent degradation, for reliable long-term energy yield • Excellent anti-LeTID and anti-PID performance, with tested resistance to 35 mm ice balls, 6000 Pa snow load, and 4000 Pa wind load
30 years years
30 years years
87.4% @ 30 yrs
China
N-type TOPCon
WINAICO WST-485BDX54-B2 485W
485 W Watts
23.8 %
1,800 × 1,134 × 35 mm
2.04 m² m2
• N-Type BC (Back Contact) cells — no front busbars for maximum light capture and a sleek all-black rooftop aesthetic • Class-leading 23.8% module efficiency with single-cell shading bypass to limit shading losses • 30-year product AND performance warranty with ≥88.85% output at year 30 (only 0.35%/yr degradation from year 2)
30 years years
30 years years
≥88.85% @ 30 yrs (0.35%/yr degradation)
China
N-Type BC (Back Contact) Monocrystalline, bifacial
LONGi EcoLife LR7-54HVH 480W
480 W Watts
23.5 %
1800 × 1134 × 30 mm
2.04 m² m2
HPBC 2.0 back-contact cell technology delivers 23.5% module efficiency with lower operating temperatures than conventional cells Anti-shading design and localised overheating protection maintain output and safety in partial-shade conditions 3.2mm tempered glass and 25mm hailstone resistance rating offer strong physical durability for residential installs
15 years years
30 years years
88.85% @ 30 yrs
China
N-Type HPBC 2.0 (Back Contact)
TW Solar TNC 2.0 TWMNH-48HW 475W
475 W Watts
23.8 %
1762 × 1134 × 30 mm
2.00 m² m2
N-type TNC half-cell technology delivers up to 23.8% module efficiency in a compact residential-friendly footprint Dual glass construction (2.0mm AR-coated front + 2.0mm rear) with black anodised aluminium frame for durability and aesthetics Lightweight at 23.7kg with passed hail resistance testing, making installation easier on residential rooftops
15 years years
30 years years
87.40% @ 30 yrs
China
N-Type Half-cell (TNC)
Half-Cut Solar Cell Technology
Another solar panel decision you might come across is whether to install solar panels with whole cells or go with the newer half-cut solar cell technology. The two main benefits of half-cut solar cells is that they are more efficient and better at handling shade, but this normally comes at a price. Find out more about the benefits of half-cut solar technology here.
Solar Panel Efficiency - What you need to know!
A highly efficient solar panel normally comes at a premium price; it's important to select the solar panel that is best suited to your
Efficiency rates calculate: how much of the sun's energy is being transformed into electricity as it makes contact with solar panels.
High-efficiency solar panels are the preferred option; with higher efficiency, they produce more power per meter square. Therefore, you require less roof space for panels, and other marginal benefits such as less mounting gear, less labour installing etc.
Here is a list of all the solar panels available in New Zealand and the efficiency of each.
Warranties on Solar Panels
Most solar panel manufacturers have 25-40 year performance warranties, suggesting the manufacturer is confident that their solar panels will last 25 years for example, if not longer. Solar panels also have a manufacturer's warranty (or product warranty) which is normally 15 to 30 years.
It is important to know how to claim warranties. For instance, a solar installation company that a buyer has purchased solar panels from might not be in operation in 15 years time. If this was the case, the next point of contact could be the New Zealand wholesaler of the solar panels, or the manufacturers themselves. Know who to talk to in the future with regard to your solar panels, the professionals are always there to help.
Big Name Brands Vs. A Foreign Brand
Household brands are a rarity when shopping for solar panels. These unfamiliar brands should be considered! Always research solar panel brands. Some of the best solar panels are of Chinese origin. We advise you to google the brand you have been quoted for, followed by the word 'review'. You may not find many New Zealand based solar panel reviews, however many websites have dedicated review sections in Australia and beyond.
Some of the best brands on the market include; REC, Yingli, Canadian Solar, JinkoSolar, Trina Solar, Hyundai, Aiko, Canadian Solar and LONGi.
Selecting Solar Panels By Tiers
The solar power industry grades solar panels via the tier system.
Tier
Tier
Tier
Solar Panel Specifications
Want even more details of on solar panels? Ask solar installers for data sheets (if they haven't already sent them to you). On these
BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics)
BIPV solar panels replaces conventional building materials such as roof tiles, skylights and glass windows.
Only a limited number of BIPV panels are currently installed in New Zealand (due to the substantial cost).
BIPV panels examples: Tesla's solar roof tiles, glass on glass solar panels and transparent solar glass.
Click here to view what BIPV materials are available in New Zealand.
The Zero Energy home in Auckland (pictured above) used solar tiles. Read more information here.
Above is an example of glass on glass solar panels a.k.a solar power skylights.
