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Most Efficient Solar Panels 2022

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LUKE COVE
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Most Efficient Solar Panels 2022

Interestingly enough, it seems that a lot of focus these days is on the most efficient solar panels you can buy in Australia. 

Well, it’s only human that I am going to join the hype and promote our version of the most efficient solar panels in 2022. 

Now, these panels have been researched and nominated by solar design engineers therefore, we have spent time collecting our knowledge and combining it together for you. 

In the meantime, if you want to learn more about if this is a factor you should consider, read my article on the efficiency of solar panels here. 

To combine the most efficient solar panels, you might be interested in finding out the best and most efficient solar inverters to match. 

Ok, let’s find out our nominated most efficient solar panels of 2022.

Most Efficient Solar Panels In 2022

qcells qpeak solar panel series with 20.6% efficiency

10. Q cells Q Peak 390w

20.6%

Why I've Picked It...

Ok, to start off our 10 most efficient solar panels we’ve got the QCells Q Peak 390w solar panel. Now, I’ve been a big fan of QCells due to their German Engineering making them some of the highest performing panels in the industry. 

The QCells QPeak panel is backed by a very strong 25 year product and performance warranty. In terms of performance, they use monocrystalline Q.ANTUM half cut solar cells which are engineered in Germany. 

Coming in with a good 20.6% panel efficiency, the QPeak slots very nicely into our top 10 list. The use of monocrystalline cell separation and innovative wiring across the panel makes this one of the most efficient solar panels in 2022.

Specifications:

20.6% solar panel efficiency
390w sizes
25 year panel warranty
25 year performance warranty
Monocrystalline Q.ANTUM half cut solar cells
Module temperature −40°C – +85°C

9. Hyundai 390w 20.8%

20.8%

Why I've Picked It...

Coming in at number 9 on our most efficient solar panel list is Hyundai’s 390w solar panel. Amazingly, Hyundai have created a huge name for themselves in the Australia market with only a pool of 2 solar modules available. 

I’m very impressed because Hyundai is a blue chip solar company meaning they are very low on risk and the quality of their panels are high. This also includes the efficiency of their solar panels as well. 

The 390w solar panel uses shingled cell technology which essentially means the cells of the panel are overlapping. This maximises the amount of surface area that is available to harvest sunlight. 

By using this technology and a strong manufacturing process Hyundai have got their 390w panel to a very high 20.8% solar panel efficiency and puts them in my top 10 most efficient solar panels of 2022.

Specifications:

20.8% solar panel efficiency
390w sizes
25 year panel warranty
25 year performance warranty
M3+ shingled technology
Module temperature −40°C – +85°C

8. JA 390W 21%

21.0%

Why I've Picked It...

JA Solar has come in with a strong solar panel with a high efficiency rating. This sits at number 8 on our most efficient solar panel list. One thing I really like about this panel is the strong technology that backs it. 

By using multi busbar components JA has managed to create a PERC cell panel that comes in at a whopping 21% efficiency. This is really good for PERC cells. It is also strengthened by half cut cell configurations which increase the panel’s performance and output. 

The only area that lets this panel down is the warranty. We’re in a day and age where 25 years is now the midrange panel warranty (thanks to SunPowers incredible 40 year warranty) making 15 years the low end.

Specifications:

21% solar panel efficiency
390w sizes
15 year panel warranty
25 year performance warranty
Multi busbar half cut cells
Module temperature −40°C – +85°C

qcells qboost 380w solar panel with 21.2% efficiency

7. QCell QBoost G2 380w

21.2%

Why I've Picked It...

We’re back to QCell with their awesome German technology. The QBoost G2 is a fantastic solar panel for its size. Honestly, for a 380w solar panel this is able to provide a whopping 21.2% solar panel efficiency. 

If you compare that to the other 390w sizes above, you can see even they cannot beat this technology. So, yes. It’s seriously impressive and really goes to highlight the performance of their German engineering. 

The QBoost G2 is backed by a good 20 year solar panel warranty and 25 year performance warranty. It also uses anti reflective glass to ensure maximise conversion efficiency and of course anti light-induced degradation technology for long lasting performance. 

This puts another QCell product into our top 10 most efficient solar panels in 2022.

Specifications:

21.2% solar panel efficiency
380w sizes
20 year panel warranty
25 year performance warranty
Monocrystalline Q.ANTUM half cut solar cells
Module temperature −40°C – +85°C

jinko 370w ntype solar panel with 21.24% conversion efficiency

6. Jinko 370w N Type

21.24%

Why I've Picked It...

Well, we can all admit that this one took us all by surprise. Jinko Solar, known for the more affordable range of solar panels providing a 370w solar panel that comes with a huge 21.24% conversion efficiency?!

Almost unbelievable. But yet here we are writing about this awesome solar panel. Not only does it come with such a strong panel efficiency, but it’s also backed by a strong warranty as well. The tiger 370w N Type panels come with a 20 year product warranty and 30 year performance warranty. 

Overall, the affordability combined with the performance actually makes this one of the top 10 best solar panels in the industry, let alone the 10 most efficient solar panels in 2022. The use of new research, N Type cells and TR technology which decreased the inter-cell gap similar to shingled cells.

Specifications:

21.24% solar panel efficiency
370w sizes
20 year panel warranty
30 year performance warranty
N Type, TR cell technology
Module temperature −40°C – +85°C

hyundai 400w solar panel with 21.3% efficiency

5. Hyundai UF 400w

21.3%

Why I've Picked It...

Not far above Jinko sits the Hyundai UF 400w solar panel. This again uses similar technology called shingled cell technology. Impressively enough, these panels are again backed by Hyundai’s very strong 25 year panel and product warranty. 

Although being 400w in size, the Hyundai UF solar panel uses M3+ PERC shingled cells to maximise the space you have available by increasing the efficiency of the panel and your overall system output. 

I’m a big fan of the UF hyundai models and they are becoming one of our best selling solar panels due to the high quality technology benefits. The 400w series provides an incredible 21.3% conversion efficiency making its way to number 5 in my most efficient solar panels of 2022.

Specifications:

21.3% solar panel efficiency
400w sizes
25 year panel warranty
25 year performance warranty
M3+ shingled technology
Module temperature −40°C – +85°C

jinko 415w n type solar panels with 21.74% efficiency

4. Jinko 415w N Type

21.74%

Why I've Picked It...

Fighting back with vengeance for its little brother, is the Jinko 415w N Type solar panel. Again, this is a seriously impressive solar panel using very high end, innovative technology to maximise the solar panel efficiency of these modules. 

The N Type 415w solar panel provides a very impressive 21.74% panel efficiency. This places them above a lot of solar panels in the industry and makes them perfect for 4th place in the most efficient solar panels in Australia. 

They are using TR technology with N Type cells which massively increases the performance and the energy output. The only area that needs improving is the warranties that come with this panel.

Specifications:

21.74% solar panel efficiency
415w sizes
15 year panel warranty
30 year performance warranty
N Type, TR cell technology
Module temperature −40°C – +85°C

3. REC Alpha Pure 405w

21.9%

Why I've Picked It...

Wow. This is such an incredible solar panel. Using impressive Norwegian technology, this gapless celled solar panel has definitely earned its place as one of the most efficient solar panels in Australia. 

By eliminating the empty spaces between the cells, the solar panel can convert more sunlight to energy which increases the conversion efficiency. Not only does it come in a compact 405w solar panel size, but it’s also backed by a strong 25 year product and panel warranty. 

The cell technology used is half-cut REC heterojunction cells with lead-free, gapless technology which is how this panel is able to perform so well. It’s also backed by anti-reflective glass and an all black sleek design to help increase the panel output. 

I can happily say this is one of my favourite panels and I would recommend this to any homeowner in Australia. This is exactly why I nominated it number 3 on my most efficient solar panel list.

Specifications:

21.9% solar panel efficiency
405w sizes
25 year panel warranty
25 year performance warranty
Half-cut REC heterojunction cells
Module temperature −40°C – +85°C

sunpower maxeon 5 panel with 22.2% conversion efficiency

2. Sunpower Maxeon 5 415w

22.2%

Why I've Picked It...

I suppose it’s safe to say we’ve now made it into the big boy 22% and above league. And we know there is only one solar panel that smashes this. 

That’s right. Sunpower all day long. Do you know what’s even more impressive? It was recently announced on Jan 22 that Sunpower has increased their warranty to 40 years. So, not only does this panel dominate as one of the most efficient solar panels in the Australia market…

But it’s also backed by an unseen 40 year panel warranty. That’s truly solar for life. It’s all made possible through 66 Monocrystalline Maxeon Generation 5 solar cells which provide an incredible performance. 

Even more impressively, this panel is an AC panel with built in Enphase micro inverters. This allows design engineers to maximise your system around your energy usage. Not only can you maximise your savings with micro-inverters, you are also getting one of the most efficient solar panels ever.

Specifications:

22.2% solar panel efficiency
415w sizes
40 year panel warranty
40 year performance warranty
66 Monocrystalline Maxeon generation 5 cells
Module temperature −40°C – +85°C

1. Sunpower Maxeon 3 400w

22.6%

Why I've Picked It...

And the big winner is… Of course, Sunpower! 

Again with their incredible Maxeon series, there isn’t another panel available in Australia that is more efficient than the Maxeon 3 400w module. This is made possible using the Maxeon monocrystalline solar cell technology. 

Sunpower uses back to back cells to minimise the grid lines and maximise the surface area of cells generating energy. This increases the conversion efficiency of the cells and thus increases the total solar panel efficiency. 

The Maxeon 3 is a very impressive solar panel and seems to beat other solar panels in the industry by a considerable amount. I’d certainly recommend this panel to any homeowners for its compact 400w size and whopping 22.6% panel efficiency.  

You can see why this is #1 on the most efficient solar panels in 2022. Well done Sunpower.

Specifications:

22.6% solar panel efficiency
400w sizes
40 year panel warranty
40 year performance warranty
104 Monocrystalline Maxeon Gen III cells
Module temperature −40°C – +85°C

Conclusion

So there you have it, the most up to date information on the most efficient solar panels. Of course, it is always changing. As technology develops and companies grow they will invest in their products to improve efficiency.

I will keep this list up to date, to make sure the information is relevant. However, I did hope that my readers may realise that efficiency is not everything. It’s something that you should probably consider if you have a large budget. 

If you have a smaller budget, then don’t worry too much about it. It will be interesting to see where the future takes us with efficiency. Maybe we could get some technology that reaches up to 60-70% efficiency (without generating thermal energy)? Who knows… 

Do you think that efficiency is the most important thing when buying a solar system? Let me know your thoughts.

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Written By:

Luke Cove
Managing Director
Lightning Solar & Electrical

local brisbane cec installer

2 thoughts on “Most Efficient Solar Panels 2022”

  1. In this modern age, we know how important is solar panel. Solar panels playing a big role to complete daily electricity needs at a low cost. Now solar panels use industrially. Many big companies use solar panels to complete their 50% of electricity needs.

  2. Hi Luke, Diane here in Florida, USA. I am considering solar for my home. I am being told that I would need to lease a system rather than buy one. Can you speak to that ? Also, how crucial is having a back up battery ? I am a night person. The sales guy did not speak to that. The lease would be for 25 years. Sunrun would get any government cash being offered. Freedom Forever is the name of the installing company. Supposedly Sunrun is #1 & Freedom F is #3 in FL. I sure appreciated your article. Any pertinent wisdom would be welcome. Thanks

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