--- title: "A.B. Energy vs First Solar - Brand Comparison | ComparePV" description: "Compare A.B. Energy vs First Solar solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background." source: "https://comparepv.com/a-b-energy-vs-first-solar" --- # A.B. Energy vs First Solar First Solar has the broader catalog (63 vs 0 models). First Solar leans bifacial (19% of lineup). ## The two companies | Attribute | A.B. Energy | First Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | Country | Germany | USA | | Headquarters | Wiesbaden | Tempe, AZ | | Founded | 1996 | 1999 | | Employees | 1,400 | 5500-8100 | | Annual capacity | | 21+ GW/year | | Tier 1 | | yes | | Listed | Xetra, Frankfurt Stock Exchange: AB9 | NASDAQ: FSLR | | Website | [https://abo-energy.com](https://abo-energy.com) | [https://www.firstsolar.com](https://www.firstsolar.com) | ABO Energy is a renewable energy company that develops and constructs renewable energy projects, focusing on wind, solar, and storage facilities. They offer turnkey solutions and have connected several gigawatts of nominal output to the grid. The company is active internationally and is committed to driving the energy... First Solar is a leading American solar technology company and global provider of responsibly produced eco-efficient solar modules, advancing the fight against climate change. The company manufactures thin-film photovoltaic (PV) modules using cadmium telluride (CdTe) semiconductor technology. First Solar is unique... ## Catalog & Power | Measure | A.B. Energy | First Solar | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Panel Models | 0 | 63 | +63 | | Max Power | 0 W | 550 W | +550 W | | Avg Power | 0 W | 481 W | +481 W | ## Efficiency | Measure | A.B. Energy | First Solar | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Max Efficiency | - | 19.70% | | | Avg Efficiency | - | 18.56% | | ## Reliability & Warranty | Measure | A.B. Energy | First Solar | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Avg Temp Coefficient | - | -0.320%/°C | | | Bifacial Share | 0 (0%) | 12 (19%) | +19 pp | | Avg Warranty | - | 29.3 yrs | | ## Efficiency distribution | Efficiency band | A.B. Energy | First Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | \<20% | 0 | 63 (100.0%) | ## Power distribution | Power band | A.B. Energy | First Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | 400-499W | 0 | 44 (69.8%) | | 500-599W | 0 | 19 (30.2%) | ## Cell technology Dominant cell tech: **CdTe** (81%) | Technology | A.B. Energy | First Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | CdTe | 0 | 51 (81.0%) | | Unknown | 0 | 12 (19.0%) | ## Top panels, First Solar | # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [FS-7550A-TR1](https://comparepv.com/panel/first-solar-fs-7550a-tr1) | 550 | 19.7 | -0.320 | Thin film | | 2 | [FS-7550A-FT1](https://comparepv.com/panel/first-solar-fs-7550a-ft1) | 550 | 19.7 | -0.320 | Thin film | | 3 | [FS-7545A-TR1](https://comparepv.com/panel/first-solar-fs-7545a-tr1) | 545 | 19.5 | -0.320 | Thin film | | 4 | [FS-7545A-FT1](https://comparepv.com/panel/first-solar-fs-7545a-ft1) | 545 | 19.5 | -0.320 | Thin film | | 5 | [FS-7540A-TR1](https://comparepv.com/panel/first-solar-fs-7540a-tr1) | 540 | 19.3 | -0.320 | Thin film | | 6 | [FS-7540A-FT1](https://comparepv.com/panel/first-solar-fs-7540a-ft1) | 540 | 19.3 | -0.320 | Thin film | | 7 | [FS-7535A-TR1](https://comparepv.com/panel/first-solar-fs-7535a-tr1) | 535 | 19.1 | -0.320 | Thin film | | 8 | [FS-7535A-FT1](https://comparepv.com/panel/first-solar-fs-7535a-ft1) | 535 | 19.1 | -0.320 | Thin film | | 9 | [FS-7532A-FT1](https://comparepv.com/panel/first-solar-fs-7532a-ft1) | 532 | 19.0 | -0.320 | Thin film | | 10 | [FS-7530A-TR1](https://comparepv.com/panel/first-solar-fs-7530a-tr1) | 530 | 19.0 | -0.320 | Thin film | ## Summary First Solar is a United States-based manufacturer headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, with manufacturing plants in Ohio, Alabama, Louisiana, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Founded in 1999 and spun out of the Walsin Lihwa group's thin-film research program, First Solar has grown into one of the most institutionally recognized solar module producers globally. The company consistently appears on BloombergNEF Tier 1 bankability lists and commands more than 30% of the U.S. utility-scale PV market. Its annual nameplate production capacity reached approximately 13 GW in 2025 and is projected to exceed 25 GW globally by 2026, according to SEC filings. A.B. Energy, by contrast, is an Italian company that search results characterize as a distributor and energy-efficiency solutions provider rather than a vertically integrated module manufacturer. No evidence of Tier 1 or BloombergNEF bankability recognition could be found for the brand, and its production footprint appears to be regional and modest at best. First Solar clearly holds the stronger institutional footprint by a wide margin. On the product side, First Solar is built around a single, well-defined technology: cadmium telluride thin-film modules, most notably the Series 7 line, which is optimized for large utility-scale ground-mount deployments. The technology delivers module efficiency in the 18-20% range and performs relatively well under high-temperature and diffuse-light conditions. First Solar offers a 30-year performance warranty - unusually long for the industry - and NREL data cited by independent reviewers shows panels retaining roughly 88% efficiency after 25 years of outdoor testing. A.B. Energy's product offering in solar panels could not be characterized from available sources; the company appears to distribute or resell equipment from third-party brands rather than manufacturing its own modules. For any buyer evaluating these two brands in 2025 - whether for utility-scale, commercial, or residential projects - First Solar is the clear default. Its technology pedigree, manufacturing scale, warranty terms, and bankability record are all verifiable. A.B. Energy, based on available information, is not a comparable manufacturer and would need significant independent due diligence before being considered for a financed project. \---LINKS--- \- https://a1solarstore.com/blog/first-solar-panels-review-big-in-america.html \| First Solar panels review 2026 - A1 SolarStore Magazine \| review \- https://comparepv.com/reviews/first-solar \| First Solar Panels Review 2026: Pros, Cons and Specs \| review \- https://www.enfsolar.com/a-b-energy \| A.B. Energy srls - Seller profile on ENF Solar Italy \| article \- https://www.vicoexport.com/en/64212/tier-1-solar-panel-manufacturers-list-q4-2025/ \| Tier 1 Solar Panel Manufacturers List Q4 2025 \| article Sources: \- \[First Solar panels review 2026 - A1 SolarStore Magazine\](https://a1solarstore.com/blog/first-solar-panels-review-big-in-america.html) \- \[First Solar Panels Review 2026: Pros, Cons & Specs\](https://comparepv.com/reviews/first-solar) \- \[A.B. Energy srls - ENF Solar\](https://www.enfsolar.com/a-b-energy) \- \[Tier 1 Solar Panel Manufacturers List Q4 2025\](https://www.vicoexport.com/en/64212/tier-1-solar-panel-manufacturers-list-q4-2025/) \- \[First Solar SEC Annual Report FY2025\](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1274494/000127449426000098/fslr2025annualreportpdf.pdf) Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above. ## Other comparisons - [A.B. Energy vs AE Solar](https://comparepv.com/a-b-energy-vs-ae-solar) - [AEET vs First Solar](https://comparepv.com/aeet-vs-first-solar) - [A.B. Energy vs AIKO](https://comparepv.com/a-b-energy-vs-aiko) - [AKCOME vs First Solar](https://comparepv.com/akcome-vs-first-solar) - [A.B. Energy vs ARTsolar](https://comparepv.com/a-b-energy-vs-artsolar) - [ASM vs First Solar](https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-first-solar) --- Source: https://comparepv.com/a-b-energy-vs-first-solar