Most Efficient Solar Panels 2024

Key takeaways

• Most home solar panels are between 19% and 21% efficient, but many manufacturers are achieving efficiencies of 22% and higher.

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• The highest efficiency home solar panels today are from Maxeon and have an efficiency rating of 22.8%

• Other top efficiency panels come from REC, Jinko, Heiliene, and Yingli.

• High-efficiency solar panels can add about $2,000 to the cost of a solar installation.

• Solar panel efficiency is impacted by the solar cells used, how the panels are installed, and local climate and weather conditions

What is solar panel efficiency?

A solar panel&#;s efficiency rating tells you how good solar panels are at turning sunlight into usable electricity. The higher the efficiency rating, the more electricity that panel can generate. 

Today, most home solar panels have efficiency ratings between 19% and 21%. But as solar technology improves, more and more solar manufacturers are reaching 22% or higher efficiencies. For comparison, data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory shows the average solar panel was only 14.1% efficient in . Solar panel efficiency has changed over time, and we&#;ve come a long way!

22% efficiency might not seem that impressive - but most things don&#;t operate as close to 100% as you think. According to Penn State University, gasoline car engines are about 25% efficient, and power plants are just 36% efficient.

What are the most efficient home solar panels in ?

Maxeon offers the highest efficiency solar panels of , with maximum efficiency ratings of 22.8%. That&#;s impressive! REC, whose Alpha Pure-RX models can reach 22.6% efficiency, is not far behind. 

Here are the top five highest efficiency home solar panels:

Solar panel model

Efficiency rating

SunPower Maxeon Residential AC 440 W

22.8%

REC Group Alpha Pure-RX 470 W

22.6%

Jinko Eagle G6 440 W

22.53%

Heliene 108 HC M10 TPC SL

22.49%

Yingli Panda 3.0 Pro

22.28%

1. SunPower Maxeon Residential AC 440 W

Maxeon&#;s SunPower Residential AC 440 W residential model takes first place as the most efficient residential home solar panel. Maxeon has been using the same technology it patented in , keeping it a top maker of high-efficiency solar panels for years. 

The combination of Maxeon&#;s patented interdigitated back contact technology, high-quality silicon, and an integrated microinverter on the back of each Maxeon AC panel has allowed the company to reach efficiencies of 22.8%. 

Although Maxeon manufactures the solar panels, they are only available through SunPower dealers. But, other high-quality Maxeon models can be purchased through non-SunPower companies. 

Read more about what our solar experts have to say in our full Maxeon solar panel review.

2. REC Group Alpha Pure-RX 470 W

The REC Alpha Pure-RX 470-watt panel has an impressive efficiency rating of 22.6%. In , REC started using half-cut technology to improve the efficiency and performance of its panels. Ten years later, the company still uses it and is seeing fantastic results.

One Alpha PURE-RX model takes up 22.4 square feet, making it slightly larger than the size of a standard residential solar panel. The increased footprint makes the panel more powerful, so fewer need to be installed to produce enough power to run a home. 

Use our expert review of REC to learn more about other high-efficiency panels the brand offers. 

3. Jinko Solar Eagle G6 440 W

Jinko Solar&#;s new Eagle G6 440-watt solar panel is 22.53% efficient, making it the third most efficient solar panel for homeowners. Like many solar manufacturers, Jinko Solar adopted n-type TOPCon solar cells for the Eagle G6.

TOPCon technology reduces heat losses from recombination that occurs within solar cells. But the specifics of how electrons bounce around inside solar cells don&#;t matter to homeowners; what does matter is that TOPCon cells allow solar panels to generate more electricity out of the sunlight they capture. 

Jinko is another huge name in the solar industry, and it&#;s spent a lot of time on research and development to reach such impressive results. Some of Jinko&#;s models, like the Tiger NEO Mono 60 HC, are 22.71% efficient. These models, however, aren&#;t available in the United States. 

Read more: Expert review of Jinko Solar

4. Heliene 108 HC M10 TPC SL All Black 440 W

Heliene isn&#;t as popular as some other brands, but its 22.49% efficiency panels are not to be ignored. Another panel that uses TOPCon cells, Heliene&#;s 108HC TPC SL All Black Module, exceeds the performance of many panels on the market today.

Despite having less brand-name recognition than companies like Panasonic, Heiliene is a Tier 1 company producing powerful, quality solar panels. 

5. Yingli Solar Panda 3.0 Pro 435 W

Yingli Solar has been in the industry since , manufacturing solar panels for home,  commercial, and utility projects. Yingli&#;s panels come at an affordable price, especially for their performance. 

The Panda 3.0 Pro module series also uses TOPCon solar cells and a multi-busbar design to boost efficiency ratings to an impressive 22.28%. 

How much do high-efficiency solar panels cost?

High-efficiency solar panels tend to come with a higher price tag and can add a premium of over $2,000 to the total cost of your system. That means a 7 kilowatt (kW) solar system using premium efficiency panels might cost around $23,100, while the same system using standard efficiency panels might be closer to $19,900.

But, the cost of highly efficient solar panels is getting lower, thanks to brands like Canadian Solar and LONGi. These companies are making great-quality panels with excellent efficiency ratings for a fraction of the cost of premium brands like SunPower. As these brands develop more products, efficiencies could rise while solar panel costs remain the same.

How much will a solar system cost for your home?

What impacts solar panel efficiency?

How efficiently a solar panel generates electricity is influenced by several factors, like the type of solar panel, the angle and direction in which it&#;s installed, and climate and weather conditions.

There are three main types of solar panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film. However, almost every home solar installation uses monocrystalline panels because they&#;re the most efficient and look good!

Because monocrystalline solar panels are the most common, it&#;s important to understand the different technologies used in them that have made them even more efficient! Some of the most popular solar cells used today are Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact (PERC), Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact (TOPCon), Heterojunction (HJT), and bifacial cells.

Solar technology is always evolving, so panels could be even more efficient in the next few years! One of the most promising new solar developments is perovskite solar cells, which could potentially reach an efficiency of 38%. But, perovskite panels won&#;t become mainstream until the price to manufacture them comes down. 

Solar panel direction and angle

In the United States, solar panels generate the most electricity on south-facing roofs because the sun spends the most time in the southern sky. Solar panels installed facing west or east will still generate electricity, but they will be less than those installed towards the south. 

The angle at which solar panels are installed can also make a difference. The ideal solar panel angle is based on the latitude of your home, so it varies by location. Solar panels are generally installed anywhere between a 20 and 45-degree angle for maximum solar energy generation. 

Weather and climate conditions

The weather can impact how solar panels generate electricity. For example, solar panels that are covered with snow can&#;t generate electricity! 

But, believe it or not, solar panels produce electricity more efficiently in colder temperatures! As the surface of a solar panel gets hotter, the efficiency drops slightly. 

Cloud cover and shade can also cause solar panels to produce less energy. In general, though, these types of weather and climate conditions are taken into account by your solar installer when they design your system, so your panels will still generate the power you need!

How many solar panels do you need where you live?

How to increase your solar system&#;s efficiency

There are three steps you can take to keep your panels operating at their best:

1. Monitor your system&#;s performance: With solar monitoring software, you or your installer can keep tabs on your solar system&#;s performance. When an issue arises, you can address it right away!

2. Install panels on optimal roof space: Not everyone likes the look of solar panels. In fact, some homeowners opt to install them on the back of their house &#; but there might be better directions for solar panels than the back of your roof! If you want the most efficient system possible, ensure you get them where they&#;ll get maximum sun. 

3. Keep them clean: Solar panels covered with dust or debris can&#;t generate electricity effectively. Make sure your solar panels are clear, and consider professional solar panel maintenance every year if your roof accumulates significant amounts of debris. 

Your solar panels won&#;t operate at 100%! If your panels aren&#;t generating the same amount of electricity today as they were the day before, that&#;s okay! Solar panels don&#;t always yield the same amount of electricity, which is considered when the system is designed. You&#;ll know if there&#;s an issue if the entire system or sections of panels are offline or if you experience low output over an extended period

What else to consider when buying solar panels

The efficiency rating isn&#;t the tell-tale sign of a good solar panel. You&#;ll also want to check out the power output, which outlines how much power the solar panel can actually produce.

Another thing to consider is the solar warranties. Most solar panels today have a performance warranty of 25 years and a product warranty of 12 to 15 years. Anything less than that is a red flag. 

The right panels for you also depend on the type of solar system you're installing. For example, if you're looking to go off-grid, you might want to spend a little more for premium efficiency to get the maximum amount of power possible.

Our solar experts also recommend getting panels from reliable manufacturers. Solar panels are a decades-long investment, and although solar panel failure is extremely rare, make sure you get panels from a manufacturer that will be around to honor the warranty. According to our Solar Industry Survey, the most common brands offered by installers were between Qcells and REC group.

Choosing the right installer is the most important step in going solar

What matters more than anything else when going solar is choosing the right solar installation company. At SolarReviews, we firmly believe that choosing the right solar installer is the key to getting the best solar system possible.

Good solar companies will have positive consumer reviews, won&#;t try to push you to get solar if you&#;re not ready, have been in business for at least five years, and employ certified, well-trained crews. 

So, how do you find the best company near you? We can help. Using our solar calculator, you can discover how many solar panels you need and how much solar can save you on your electricity bills. Plus, we can get you in touch with trusted local solar companies in your area. Don&#;t worry - we never connect you

Looking for trusted solar installers near you?

Methodology: How we found the most efficient solar panels

We reviewed solar panels offered by 28 brands and identified their most efficient residential solar panels. Residential solar panels were classified as panels that contained up to 66 cells or 132 half-cells. 

If the company only had panels that exceeded this size limit, we used panels that the company classified as &#;residential&#;. Similarly, we did not include models with bifacial cells unless they were the only type of cell offered by the brand, such as REC Group&#;s panels. 

Here is a complete list of the solar panels reviewed and their efficiency ratings: 

Solar panel brand

Panel model

Efficiency rating

Maxeon

SunPower/Maxeon 6 AC 440 W

22.8% 

REC Group

REC Alpha Pure 410 W 

22.6%

Jinko Solar

Eagle 54 G6R 440W 

22.53%

Heliene

108HC M10 TPC SL 440 W

22.49%

Yingli

Panda 3.0 Pro 430 W

22.28% 

潞安 supply professional and honest service.

REC Group

REC Alpha Pure 410 W 

22.2%

Panasonic

EverVolt EVPV410H

22.2%

Silfab

Silfab Prime NTC 430 W

22.1%

SEG Solar

SEG Yukon N-Series 430 W

22.02% 

VSUN (Vietnam Sunergy)

VSUN430N-108BMH 

22.02% 

JA Solar

Deep Blue 3.0 PRO  440 W

22.0% 

Qcells

Q.TRON BLK M-G2+ 440 W

22.0%

LONGi

Hi-MO 5m 425 W

21.8% 

Phono Solar

Twinplus X Series 420 W

21.51% 

Axitec

AXIblackpremium XXL HC 420 W

21.5% 

Sunspark

SST7F54M(H) 415 W

21.30% 

Trina

Vertex S DEO9C.05 405 W

21.1% 

ZNShine

ZXM6-NH132 Series 420W 

21.03% 

United Renewable Energy Co., Ltd.

Peach FBK410MFG 410 W

21%

SolarEver

HC 108 410W 

20.97% 

Aptos

DNA-108-BF10-410

410 W

20.96%

Hyundai

XG BK Series - Black Max 280 W

20.86%

Waaree

Arkra Series 415 W 

20.78% 

Boviet

Gamma Series 415 W

20.7% 

Certainteed

Solstice 440 W

20.5% 

Solaria

PowerX 400 W

20.5%

Freedom Forever

400 W module

20.48

Mission Solar

MSE PERC 66 

19.9%

Solar panel efficiency FAQ

Are you considering investing in solar panels for your home? Here is a comprehensive guide on how to buy the right solar panels for your specific needs.

1. Assess Your Energy Needs

Before purchasing solar panels, calculate your average daily energy consumption. This will help you determine the size and number of panels you need to meet your energy requirements.

2. Understand the Types of Solar Panels

Solar panels come in different types, such as monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, so research and choose the one that best suits your needs.

# PV Module Type 1 SHARK 20W PV Module Poly Crystalline 2 SHARK 55W PV Module Mono PERC 3

SHARK 225W PV Module

Mono PERC 4

SHARK 455W PV Module - Both

Mono PERC 5

SHARK 550W PV Module - Both

Mono PERC 6

SHARK 575W TOPCon PV Module

TOPCon

3. Consider the Efficiency of the Panels

The efficiency of solar panels determines how much sunlight they can convert into electricity. Higher efficiency panels may cost more upfront but can save you money in the long run by generating more power.

# PV Module Efficiency 1 SHARK 575W TOPCon PV Module 22.30% 2 SHARK 550W Bifacial PV Module 21.40% 3 SHARK 550W Monofacial PV Module 21.35% 4 SHARK 455W Bifacial PV Module 21.00% 5 SHARK 455W Monofacial PV Module 20.95% 6 SHARK 225W Mono PERC Half Cut PV Module 20.40% 7 SHARK 55W Mono PERC Half Cut PV Module 18.00% 8 SHARK 20W Poly Crstalline PV Module 14.20%

4. Look for Warranties and Certifications

When buying solar panels, make sure to check for warranties and certifications. A reliable warranty ensures that your investment is protected, while certifications indicate the quality and performance of the panels.

5. Get Multiple Quotes

Don't settle for the first quote you receive. Shop around and get multiple quotes from different solar panel providers to compare prices, warranties, and services offered.

6. Consider Installation and Maintenance Costs

Factor in the installation and maintenance costs when budgeting for solar panels. Installation costs can vary depending on your location and the complexity of the installation, so make sure to get a clear estimate upfront.

7. Evaluate Financing Options

There are various financing options available for purchasing solar panels, such as loans, leases, and power purchase agreements. Consider the pros and cons of each option to find the best fit for your financial situation.

By following these steps and doing thorough research, you can make an informed decision when buying solar panels for your home. Investing in solar energy not only reduces your carbon footprint but also saves you money on your electricity bills in the long term.

Want more information on Topcon mono solar panel? Feel free to contact us.