Tag Archives: china

floating solar panels

The top solar panel manufacturers in 2023

When you’re choosing a solar panel brand, there are several important factors to consider. While most solar shoppers care about metrics like efficiency, power output, and warranty, which directly influence the value of your solar investment, we also hear from many homeowners who care about where their panels are manufactured. Looking at how much solar capacity manufacturers produce and sell can also give you a sense of their credibility; in many cases, they wouldn’t be able to produce at such a mass scale if their products weren’t in high demand. 

Who are the biggest solar companies in the world and the U.S.? We reviewed global shipping data from TrendForce to determine which manufacturers shipped the largest capacity of shipments in 2022 and manufacturing data from the Department of Energy to see which companies manufacture panels in the U.S. Based on our Marketplace data, we evaluated these companies in terms of panel efficiency and price to help you decide if it’s worth it to choose solar panels from the top panel manufacturers globally, and here in the States.

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expanding solar markets

Where are solar markets expanding?

With global markets that span across various industries, solar power is one of the fastest-growing energy sources. Certain countries and states, like China and California, have dominated the solar industry for years. But, between net-zero carbon emission goals and various climate policies, solar markets around the world are growing. In this article, we break down the countries, U.S. states, and solar market segments that are expanding. 

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china us solar agreement

Impact of the U.S. – China trade deal on solar

One of the primary stories in the solar over the last two years has been the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China. From tariffs on imported solar panels from China to a sharp decline in imported American polysilicon to China, the political back-and-forth has developed a sense of uncertainty around the solar industry in this country. However, with January 15th’s Phase 1 trade deal, the solar industry can breathe a partial sigh of relief. Here are a few of the immediate ramifications of the deal, and the ways in which this initial trade deal may ease future uncertainty for solar in the US.

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where are solar panels made

Where are solar panels made and should you care?

One of the things you may have questions about as you shop around for a solar system is where the solar panels are manufactured. This article will help you determine whether a panel’s country of manufacture should be a key consideration for you.

Note: If you are looking for information on the 30% tariff levied on solar panels by the Trump Administration, read our complete analysis here.

Does it matter where solar panel companies are based and where they make the panels?

When it comes to quality, the mention of any country’s name will evoke an association; each nation has its own brand image, which may or may not be justified. You as a smart solar shopper, however, will want to look at the facts in order to make a more well-informed decision. Our recommendation is to judge each panel by its own merits.

What if the country of manufacture is important to me?

This doesn’t mean that country of origin is never important, of course: everyone has their own preferences. For example, many Americans would prefer solar panels made in the USA to ones that are imported, whether for patriotic reasons or because they trust the ‘American-made’ brand for quality.

American-made vs imported panel costs

American-made solar panels generally cost from $0.50 to $0.80 per watt (W) – about $0.10 to $0.30 more per watt than imported panels. The highest quality, ‘premium’ American panels may even come in around $1.00/W.

For a typical 6kW system, an additional $0.30/W translates into about $1,800, a reasonable amount to pay if the ‘Made in America’ stamp is important to you. Also keep in mind that some states may offer rebates for locally-made panels that can offset some or all of the additional cost.

Check out our list of U.S. solar panel manufacturers for more information about companies that make solar panels in America.

Manufacturing location vs headquarters location

If ‘country brand’ is important to you, be aware that the location of a company’s headquarters is not always the same as its factories. (For example, SunPower is a premium American brand that has manufacturing plants in both the US and the Philippines.) All else being equal, knowing that a company’s head office is relatively close or in a familiar country could help you make a decision.

Where do the top solar companies manufacture panels?

Below, EnergySage has compiled a list of the leading solar panel companies active in the US market based on the most recently available data in 2018. The table is broken down by each company’s market share, headquarters location, manufacturing facility locations and overall quality ranking.

The key takeaways from the table below are that: 1) no single country dominates the market (although the US and China do appear most frequently), and 2) there is little to no correlation between country of manufacture and the company’s quality ranking.

Exhibit: List of solar panel makers in the US by residential market share and country of manufacture*

Solar Panel ManufacturersApprox. U.S. Market Share*Company Headquarters
1SolTech< 1%U.S.
Aleo2%Germany
Axitec< 1%U.S.
Canadian Solar6%Canada
Centrosolar< 1%Germany
Conergy< 1%Germany
Eoplly< 1%U.S.
ET Solar2%China
Hanwha Q CELLS1%South Korea
Hyundai< 1%Korea
Itek< 1%U.S.
KYOCERA Solar2%Japan
LG6%Korea
Lightway< 1%China
MAGE Solar< 1%Germany
Perlight Solar (Zebra Energy)< 1%U.S.
Phono Solar1%China
REC Solar8%U.S.
ReneSola4%China
Sharp Solar4%Japan
SolarWorld4%Germany
SunEdison/MEMC0.50%U.S.
Suniva2%U.S
SunPower17%U.S
Suntech2%China
Trina Solar17%China
Winaico<1%China
Yingli Solar17%China

For any homeowner in the early stage of shopping for solar that would just like a ballpark estimate for an installation, try our Solar Calculator that offers up front cost and long term savings estimates based on your location and roof type. For those looking to get quotes from local contractors today, check out our quote comparison platform.

* 2015 Data, Residential Solar Installations, Source: GTM / SEIA


Solar news: Solar PV fastest-growing form of power in 2016, Tampa Electric commits to solar for 100,000 homes, Dubai’s massive solar park

In this week’s Solar News Report: New analysis from the International Energy Agency on solar’s rapid rise, Tampa Electric’s 100,000 solar homes agreement, and approval for the world’s largest single-site concentrated solar park in Dubai.

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