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We compare top solar brands – including Project Solar, Jinko Solar, SunPower, JA Solar, and Suntech – to pick the best solar panels in the UK in 2024.
Our experts researched a broad range of solar panels to help you decide which option will best suit your needs. While looking at different providers, we examined the cost of solar panels, as well as their efficiency, reliability and low-light performance. Our choice for the best overall solar panel is Project Solar’s Evolution Titan 445 – it ticks all the important boxes, combining a high power output with a lifetime warranty.
There are several solar panels available on the market, so we also looked at other top brands to determine which offer the best budget panel, the best sustainable choice, the best for small spaces and the most efficient solar panel.
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Panel | Best for: | Power output | Efficiency | Price | Warranty |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Project Solar Evolution Titan 445 | Best overall | 445W | 21.4% | About £400 per panel | Lifetime |
Jinko Solar Tiger Neo 420W N-Type 54 Cell | Sustainability | 420W | 21.3% | About £177 per panel | 25-year product warranty, 30-year power output warranty |
SunPower Maxeon 6 AC 415W | Efficiency | 415W | 22.2% | About £400 per panel | 25-year product and performance warranty, with option to extend to 40 years extension |
JA Solar JAM72S30 | Power output | 550W | 21.3% | About £164 per panel | 12-year product warranty, 25-year linear power output warranty |
Suntech Ultra V Mini Mono 405W | Budgets | 450W | 20.7% | About £170 per panel | 15-year product warranty, 25-year performance warranty |
Aiko NEOSTAR 2n Mono-Glass 450-470W | Small spaces | 450W | 23.6% | About £80 per panel | 15-year product warranty, 30-year performance warranty |
The first step is to consider how much power you need your solar panels to generate. You can look at your latest energy bill to find your household’s average daily energy consumption, which will guide you as to how much solar energy you need. This will vary, but a solar panel generates an average of 2kWh of energy per day.
Once you know the number of solar panels you need, ask yourself:
These questions can help you narrow your options among the different panels.
Company overview
Award-winning Project Solar is the largest and most accredited solar panel installation company in the UK. It has installed over 45,000 solar panel systems and stands apart with its exceptional services and market-leading energy products.
But it’s Project Solar’s product warranties that give it its edge.
Project Solar offers a lifetime warranty
According to our research, even though solar panels have a lifespan of more than 25 years, most companies only offer a 15-year product warranty. Project Solar offers some of the longest warranties on the market; its Evolution Titan 445 solar panel even comes with a lifetime warranty.
The Evolution Titan 445 has an efficiency of 21.4 per cent, which is achieved with its innovative structure and high-density layout, meaning its power output is high even with a small surface area. For homeowners concerned about the aesthetic of their solar panels, the Evolution Titan 445 has a sleek ultra-black design.
Thanks to its bifacial design, Project Solar also claims that this solar panel delivers optimal performance, even in low-light conditions – a concern for many UK homeowners – due to the country’s lack of sunny weather. Bifacial panels use solar panel cells that can generate energy from both the front and reverse surfaces, maximising light capture and, therefore, energy production.
Unlike other manufacturers that give prices per panel, Project Solar offers bespoke quotes for a solar panel system. This means you should request free quotes from the company directly to determine the exact price of your system. According to our research, the Evolution Titan 445 panels cost around £400 per panel.
Read our full Project Solar review.
Company overview
Headquartered in Shanghai, China, Jinko Solar is a major solar module manufacturer. Its products are available in more than 160 countries worldwide, and it is known for its innovations in the photovoltaic (PV) industry, such as being one of the first companies to offer N-type monocrystalline cells.
Why we chose the Jinko Solar Tiger panel as the most sustainable option
While all solar panels are technically a sustainable choice, as they reduce or completely eliminate your household’s reliance on non-renewable energy, some panels remain better for the environment than others. Jinko Solar commits to the RE100 and EP100 initiatives, meaning it pledges to use 100 per cent renewable energy for global operations by 2025, proving the company’s dedication to sustainability.
Jinko Solar Tiger panels have an above-average efficiency of 21.27 per cent and a high power output of 425W. It can also withstand adverse environmental conditions thanks to its high resistance to salt mist and ammonia. Plus, over a 30-year period, the panel has an annual degradation of just 0.44 per cent, while most other panels can degrade by up to 2 per cent in the first year, with a higher degradation rate from year two on.
Solar panels have a relatively long lifespan, which is why Jinko Solar’s 25-year product warranty is another attractive benefit. The panel also comes with a 30-year power output warranty. According to our research, the average price of this solar panel is around £177 per panel.
A status of Bloomberg New Energy Finance Tier 1 signifies a company has a strong reputation for quality, reliability and financial stability, as well as for well-manufactured products. Only 2 per cent of solar companies worldwide currently hold Tier 1 status.
Company overview
SunPower Corporation, founded in 1985 by Richard Swanson, is an American company specialising in solar panel systems and solar battery storage, mainly for residential customers. It originally developed and manufactured PV panels. However, in 2020, SunPower launched Maxeon Solar Technologies as a spin-off of this part of its business. Now, it sells Maxeon and SunPower products in more than 100 countries.
Why is the SunPower panel the most efficient option?
Throughout our research, the SunPower Maxeon 5 AC 415W solar panel stood out among its competitors thanks to its high efficiency of 22.2 per cent, which means you can power your home with fewer panels.
In addition to its high efficiency, the Maxeon 5 has a low annual degradation rate of just 0.25 per cent – one of the best on the market. The panel also comes with a 25-year warranty, with the option to extend it to 40 years. As SunPower estimated it to have a 40-year useful life, your warranty is likely to last the whole of the panel’s lifespan.
On the downside, the SunPower Maxeon 5 is one of the most expensive solar panels on the market. While prices are not published on the company’s website, our research suggests you could pay around £400 per panel. However, because of its high power output and efficiency, you’ll be able to invest in fewer panels to achieve the same output as other brands.
Company overview
JA Solar designs, develops and manufactures solar panels in Shanghai, China. Founded in 2005, the company has 12 manufacturing bases, and its panels are available in over 135 countries and regions, including the UK.
Why does JA Solar’s panel have the best power output?
Throughout our research, we found that the JA Solar JAM72S30 solar panels boast an impressive 550W maximum power output (PMax), much higher than most domestic solar panels.
While the JAM72S30 does not have the highest efficiency on the market at 21.3 per cent, it has a degradation rate of just 0.55 per cent per year across its 25-year linear power output warranty, compared to some panels that lose as much as 2 per cent in the first year.
However, JA Solar offers a standard 12-year product warranty on the JAM72S30, which is low considering the solar panel’s lifespan is about twice as long. In addition, its warranty is below the 15-year average we discovered during our research. Therefore, this might not be the best panel for peace of mind.
The JAM72S30 panels are available from some suppliers at around £164 per panel. As they offer one of the highest power outputs for domestic solar panels, we think they’re worth considering if you can look past the shorter warranty periods.
Read our full JA Solar review.
Company overview
Founded in 2001, Suntech has over 20 years of experience in solar panel manufacturing, and its panels are used in 100 countries and regions worldwide.
Why is Suntech’s Ultra V Mini our best solar panel for those on a budget?
The Suntech Ultra V Mini has an efficiency of 20.7 per cent (for context, an efficiency of over 20 per cent is considered good). The panel also offers a commendable power output of 405W, which is above the average solar panel’s efficiency of between 200W and 400W. Its excellent low-light performance is also noteworthy, which means the panel’s power output is still decent in weak light conditions, such as cloudy weather, early mornings and sunset.
Suntech’s Ultra V Mini is our best budget option, at £170 per solar panel. This budget solar panel comes with a 15-year product warranty, which is average compared to competitors. Unfortunately, Suntech’s Ultra V Mini has a 2 per cent power degradation for the first year and 0.55 per cent for every subsequent year, which is among the highest on the market.
Company overview
AIKO Solar was established in 1996. Today, it provides monocrystalline panels alongside battery storage systems. AIKO’s All-Black panels can be mounted onto any type of roof, and because they don’t have grid lines, their look is sleek and seamless.
Why are AIKO All-Black panels so good for small spaces?
AIKO All-Black panels have a stylish black design and no grid lines, meaning they look good on all roof types. The second-generation NEOSTAR panels now feature partial shading optimisation, so if your roof isn’t always in full daylight – which might be the case if you live in semi-detached housing or a city with several buildings around yours – the panels will work harder to maintain their efficiency.
The panels have a high efficiency of up to 23.6 per cent and a 30-year linear performance warranty, which provides even greater peace of mind. Their degradation rates are similarly impressive, at 1 per cent in the first year and just 0.35 per cent between years 2 and 30. With a power output of 450W, these panels seem to tick every box. Unfortunately, pricing information is not widely available, but a representative from the brand told us that these panels were around £80 per panel.
Solar panel | Warranty | Efficiency | Power output | Price per panel |
---|---|---|---|---|
LONGi Solar Hi-Mo6 | 25-year product warranty, 25 year performance warranty | 21.80% | 425W | Around £90 |
REA Fusion 2 Bifacial | 25-year product and performance warranty | 23.90% | 420W | Around £400 |
Once you’ve determined the best solar panels for you, it’s time to think about where to get them and what’s involved in the installation process. We’ve broken down this key information below.
With over 2,000 solar panel providers nationwide, knowing which one to choose can be challenging. We’ve reviewed several of the best solar installers in the UK, taking into account factors such as reliability, cost, certifications and accreditations (always choose an installer with Microgeneration Certification Scheme accreditation) and the installation warranties for each. Although it is possible to install your own solar panels, we would never recommend it due to risks to the quality of the installation as well as your own health and safety.
To secure the best deal on solar panels:
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Discover how much solar panels would cost for your home by answering a few quick questions
We derived our selection of the best solar panels in the UK through extensive research to guarantee high quality and adherence to superior industry standards. To make our choices, our team consulted industry experts, analysed numerous online reviews and studied the technical specifications of each solar panel.
The total cost of a solar panel system − and the amount of money you can save on your electricity bill − varies according to:
Expect to pay a little higher for the best solar panels. However, by opting for panels that will last for several years without quick degradation rates or waning efficiency, the return on your investment will be worthwhile. While installing solar panels is a significant investment, when it comes to deciding on the right panels, cost isn’t necessarily the most important factor. You should also consider the elements we’ve laid out above, including warranties, reliability and power output.
A panel’s power output – measured by its PMax – represents the amount of energy it can supply to your home in optimal conditions. With greater power, you can reduce your reliance on grid-supplied electricity or even eliminate your dependence completely.
Solar panel efficiency describes how well a panel can capture and convert daylight into useable electricity. Domestic panels typically achieve an efficiency of 16-20 per cent. Solar panels naturally suffer from some degradation over their lifespan. This degradation rate is usually between 1 and 2 per cent in the first year and gets lower in subsequent years.
We assessed brand reliability through customer reviews, expert analysis and benchmarks from entities such as PV Evolution Labs (PVEL). PVEL is an independent reliability and performance testing laboratory generating trustworthy solar panel data.
Manufacturers offer product warranties that indicate the durability and quality of their panels. This is a critical factor in our evaluations, as it highlights the manufacturer’s confidence in its product and gives the homeowner a sense of security.
Solar panels naturally degrade over time. Typically, there is a 1-2 per cent efficiency loss during the first year, followed by an annual degradation rate of about 0.2-0.7 per cent. A performance warranty guarantees that the panels will perform as expected.
Considering that the reason for choosing to install solar panels most often arises out of a desire to reduce reliability on non-renewable energy sources, it makes sense to research the manufacturer’s environmental policies and ethics. Not all companies use recycled materials in their production process, though most solar brands have announced initiatives to reduce their carbon footprint during production. Ideally, look out for companies that don’t use lead or fluoride in their solar panel production.
Construction materials used to produce solar panels have an impact on their efficiency, durability and cost, as well as their environmental impact. Silicon, known for its semiconducting properties, is the most common material used to produce solar panels, with monocrystalline cells offering higher efficiency (at a higher cost) and polycrystalline cells providing lower efficiency (at a lower price). The choice of assembly materials – including glass, frame and backing – ensures the panels’ sturdiness and longevity. Thin-film solar panels, which are less common for domestic systems, use a material that can cause harm to the environment – another reason for choosing monocrystalline PV panels.
As with any purchase, make sure to check the reputation of any company you’re considering. In our research, we combed through several product and company reviews and have only included brands that are known for their reliable products and sound customer service.
Solar technology is continuously evolving, with numerous advancements aiming to increase panel efficiency and reduce costs. One of the best options on the market right now is the Project Solar Evolution Titan 445 solar panel. It represents a significant leap forward in solar energy technology, incorporating sophisticated engineering to achieve higher energy conversion efficiencies.
As well as helping to significantly lower your energy bills, your investment in solar panels may add to your home’s value – which is good news should you decide to sell in the future. According to Admiral Money, installing a solar panel system could add as much as 25 per cent to the value of your home.
The quality of panels varies across each brand. Most panels will have different degradation rates, power output, efficiency, temperature coefficients and of course, costs. All of these factors affect your solar panel system’s lifespan and quality, so it’s important to thoroughly research brands and their panels.