The global solar energy market has never cooled down, leading to the growth of panel manufacturers day by day. Along with the long-standing names such as AE Solar, Risen Energy, Canadian Solar, the brands established later on also confirmed their names on the global energy chart. Based on the efficiency of electricity conversion, EHCMC sorts the order from high to low. Let’s take a look at the Top 10 solar panel brands in the world through the below statistics:
| No. | Brand | Country | Founded year | Efficiency |
| 1 | AE Solar | Germany | 1992 | 17.0 – 21.6% |
| 2 | Hanwha Q Cells | Korea | 1999 | 17.4 – 19.5% |
| 3 | GCL – SL | Hong Kong | 1996 | 18.4 – 19.4% |
| 4 | JA Solar | China | 2005 | 18.5 – 19.3% |
| 5 | LONGi Solar | China | 2000 | 18.0 – 19.3% |
| 6 | Trina Solar | China | 1997 | 17.5 – 19.3% |
| 7 | Risen Energy | China | 1986 | 15.4 – 18.8% |
| 8 | Canadian Solar | Canada | 1999 | 16.4 – 18.3% |
| 9 | Shunfeng | China | 2005 | 17 – 17.43% |
| 10 | Jinko Solar | China | 2006 | – 16.23% |
1. AE Solar
AE Solar GmbH was founded by the three brothers Alexander Maier, Waldemar Maier and Victor Maier in Königsbrun, Germany. AE Solar is one of the leading brands in the renewable energy industry, providing high quality new energy products and services since 2003. As of 2017, AE Solar has served 3,000 solar power projects worldwide.
AE Solar not only focuses on manufacturing solar panels and selects only the highest quality materials but also owns the world’s leading automated production line. Therefore, they can offer high quality products at competitive prices. AE Solar’s German engineers must oversee the manufacturing process, inspect and ensure every panel making procedure from welding to packaging, so as to meet the highest standards in the world.
AE Solar ensures the quality and performance of solar panels, using premium materials and components from an A level Tier 1 supplier. AE Solar’s panels are all integrated with Smart Hot Spot Free technology and get a performance boost with PERC technology.
2. Hanwha Q Cells
Hanwha Q Cells, established in 1999, is one of the largest PV manufacturers in the world. The company is headquartered in Seoul, Korea and Thalheim, Germany. Regarding its widely distributed factories in Korea, Malaysia and China, Hanwha Q Cells is gradually asserting its position in the global market in the field of solar panel production.
Hanwha Q CELLS, as a subsidiary of Hanwha Group with assets of more than 150 billion USD, is a reliable solar partner for customers around the world. In the second half of 2017, Hanwha Q Cells succeeded in producing 8 GW solar modules.
3. GCL – SL
Golden Concord Holdings Limited (GCL), registered in Hong Kong, is a diversified energy group specializing in new and clean energy covering a wide range of electrical industries, PV, natural gas, industrial zones, and Integrated circuit material and electric vehicle operation. Holding assets across China, Africa, the Middle East, North America, Southeast Asia and Europe, with several companies listed in A-shares and H-shares, GCL was ranked 139th in the Top 500 Chinese enterprises in 2018.
Established in 2005, JA Solar is the manufacturer of high performance photovoltaic products. JA Solar’s products have been present in more than 100 countries and regions with outstanding achievements, and accounted for 10% of the global market share; $3 billion in annual revenue; supplying 27GW (as of the fourth quarter of 2017); serving 33,000 customers worldwide together with a team of 20,000 employees
Thanks to the innovations in technology and advanced sales service network, JA Solar is accredited by many customers around the world. For many consecutive years, JA Solar was listed in “Fortune China 500” and “Top 500 of the world’s leading energy companies”.
5. LONGi Solar
LONGi Solar, founded in 2000, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of high-end single crystal solar panels. LONGi Solar has focused on MONO for 18 years and is currently the world’s largest supplier of Mono, with total assets of over $5.23 billion (2017). LONGi Solar plans to reach the number of 45 GW in 2020.
As a result of the application of advanced and modern technology, together with long-term experience in the field of manufacturing Mono solar cells, LONGi Solar managed to export about 6.5 GW products in 2017. Its growth rate reached over 100% in 3 consecutive years. LONGi Solar is headquartered in Xi’an and has branches in Japan, Europe, North America, India, Malaysia, Australia and Africa.
6. Trina Solar
Trina Solar was established in 1997 and is a leading global solar solution provider. Thanks to the continuous innovations, Trina Solar keeps on elevating the PV (Photovoltaic) industry by marketing and promoting the benefits of renewable energy.
As of 2017, Trina Solar had provided more than 32 GW solar modules worldwide. In 2016, Trina Solar was also honored at the 13th position in the “2016 Global Top 500 New Energy Enterprises”. Currently, Trina Solar is focusing on studying and developing 2 big projects, which are Smart PV Energy and Energy Internet Solution.
7. Risen Energy
Risen Energy, founded in 1986, is located in the east coast of Ninghai, Zhejiang province (China). Risen Energy is a company manufacturing, trading and servicing solar panels, PV technology products, and solar terminal equipment applications. The annual capacity of solar cells and the produced modules is 4.5 GW.
In 2015, Risen Energy with its standard, independent, and CNAS certified PV laboratory was ranked in the top 10 global solar panel manufacturers.
8. Canadian Solar
Established in 2001 in Canada, Canadian Solar is a supplier of solar energy products with strong growth of many branches in 20 countries worldwide. In addition to being a leading manufacturer of solar panels and solutions, Canadian Solar has also conducted large-scale projects with capacity up to 20GW around the world.
9. Shunfeng
Shunfeng is China’s largest supplier of solar products and services. As of 2013, Shunfeng’s grid-connected solar power generation capacity reached 890 MW.
Currently, Shunfeng is implementing solar power plant projects in areas that are the most exposed to solar radiation like Gangsu, Ningxia, Hainan, Inner Mongolia, Tibet, Shaanxi and Henan, etc. The Group is also actively getting involved in the development and operation of solar projects distributed through acquisitions and cooperation.
Through its expansion and acquisition strategies, the Group has formed a comprehensive solar PV production line and has developed the foundation for the world’s leading solar power generation technologies. After the completion of the acquisition of Wuxi Suntech, the Group’s solar production capabilities are being further strengthened. The group hopes to achieve a total production capacity of 2.2 GW for solar cells and 2.4 GW for solar modules by 2014.
10. Jinko Solar
Jinko Solar, founded in 2006, is a globally leading company in the solar energy industry with main production activities in Jiangxi and Zhejiang (China) and sales system, marketing in Shanghai, Beijing as well as many other countries such as Australia, Italy, Switzerland, Japan, Canada, South Africa…
Jinko Solar has built up value for solar panels with an annual capacity of about 8GW for wafer (ultra-thin panels cut from the surface of silicon ingots) and silicon ingots, 5 GW for solar cells, and 8 GW for solar power modules (as of December 31, 2017).
Jinko Solar’s products are manufactured based on 3 criteria: Efficiency – Trust – Safety, which are the 3 pillars making up “Quality”. The entire production line of Jinko Solar is closely monitored. Each solar panel must undergo the most rigorous 36 steps of quality management and a series of UL certified laboratory controls.
The quality of Jinko Solar’s panels has been proven through the results from the Photon Lab 2012. It is concluded as follows:
JinkoSolar panels perform better than other brands in high temperature and high humidity environments.
JinkoSolar panels always excel in harsh natural conditions (storms, earthquakes, snow, wind, coastal areas or farms covered with ammonia, etc.), thanks to their great mechanical and chemical strength.
JinkoSolar panels generate more electricity in the early mornings and late in the day, even on cloudy days. Performance decrease over time at the lowest metric.
10. Yingli Green
Yingli Green, founded in 1998, is one of the largest solar panel manufacturers in the world. More than 85 million Yingli solar panels (more than 20 GW) are operating in more than 90 countries, including Germany, Spain, Italy, Greece, France, Korea, China, Japan, Brazil, Australia, South Africa, Mexico and the United States … From 1998 to the present, the production capacity of Yingli Green has increased from 3 MW to 2.45 GW.
In September 2008, Yingli Green was awarded the title “Enterprise for the environment” by the Chinese Ministry of the Environment with the aim of honoring companies with achievements in controlling emissions, conserving natural resources, recycling and using industrial waste … In 2010, Yingli was awarded the title of company with the lowest carbon content by the economics magazine Observer, one of the leading economics journals in China.
