--- title: "A.B. Energy vs Sunman - Brand Comparison | ComparePV" description: "Compare A.B. Energy vs Sunman solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background." source: "https://comparepv.com/a-b-energy-vs-sunman" --- # A.B. Energy vs Sunman Sunman has the broader catalog (6 vs 0 models). ## The two companies | Attribute | A.B. Energy | Sunman | | --- | --- | --- | | Country | Germany | China | | Headquarters | Wiesbaden | Shanghai | | Founded | 1996 | 2014 | | Employees | 1,400 | 51-200 | | Annual capacity | | 1-2 GW/year | | Tier 1 | | | | Listed | Xetra, Frankfurt Stock Exchange: AB9 | | | Website | [https://abo-energy.com](https://abo-energy.com) | [https://www.sunman-energy.com](https://www.sunman-energy.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... Sunman Energy is a technology company pioneering ultra-light, glass-free crystalline silicon solar modules under its proprietary eArc technology — the world's first such product, weighing up to 70% less than conventional glass panels. Founded by Dr. Zhengrong Shi (the founder of Suntech), the company targets niche... ## Catalog & Power | Measure | A.B. Energy | Sunman | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Panel Models | 0 | 6 | +6 | | Max Power | 0 W | 520 W | +520 W | | Avg Power | 0 W | 312 W | +312 W | ## Efficiency | Measure | A.B. Energy | Sunman | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Max Efficiency | - | 19.40% | | | Avg Efficiency | - | 17.74% | | ## Reliability & Warranty | Measure | A.B. Energy | Sunman | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Avg Temp Coefficient | - | -0.356%/°C | | | Bifacial Share | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | | | Avg Warranty | - | 25.0 yrs | | ## Efficiency distribution | Efficiency band | A.B. Energy | Sunman | | --- | --- | --- | | \<20% | 0 | 6 (100.0%) | ## Power distribution | Power band | A.B. Energy | Sunman | | --- | --- | --- | | \<400W | 0 | 3 (50.0%) | | 400-499W | 0 | 2 (33.3%) | | 500-599W | 0 | 1 (16.7%) | ## Cell technology Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (100%) | Technology | A.B. Energy | Sunman | | --- | --- | --- | | PERC | 0 | 6 (100.0%) | ## Top panels, Sunman | # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [SMF520J-12X12UW](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunkean-smf520j-12x12uw) | 520 | 19.3 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline | | 2 | [SMF430F-12X12UW](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunman-smf430f-12x12uw) | 430 | 19.4 | -0.380 | Monocrystalline | | 3 | [SMF425F-12X12UW](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunman-smf425f-12x12uw) | 425 | 19.2 | -0.380 | Monocrystalline | | 4 | [SMF200F-8X09DB-e](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunkean-smf200f-8x09db-e) | 200 | 16.3 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline | | 5 | [SMF200J-6X10DB-e](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunkean-smf200j-6x10db-e) | 200 | 16.6 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline | | 6 | [SMF100F-3X12UW](https://comparepv.com/panel/sunman-smf100f-3x12uw) | 100 | 15.7 | - | Monocrystalline | ## Summary Sunman is an Australian-Chinese manufacturer founded in 2014 by Dr. Zhengrong Shi, a recognized pioneer in the photovoltaics industry. The company operates production capacity of around 1 GW per year, primarily for its proprietary glass-free eArc module line, and recently secured AUD 171 million in Australian federal and state funding to build a 500 MW plant in the Hunter Valley. Sunman is not currently listed on the Bloomberg NEF Tier 1 bankability roster, which limits its appeal to risk-averse project financiers, though the government backing signals growing institutional confidence. A.B. Energy SRLS is a small Italian distributor headquartered in Catanzaro, Italy, established from roughly three decades of shareholder experience in electrical and electronic equipment. It does not manufacture panels and carries no independent production capacity; instead it resells modules from established brands such as JA Solar, Trina Solar, LONGi, and REC, alongside inverters and storage systems. On institutional footprint, Sunman clearly outweighs A.B. Energy as a recognized, IP-owning product innovator versus a regional reseller. Sunman's product identity is built entirely around its eArc series - glass-free, polymer-composite modules that are roughly 70 percent lighter than conventional framed glass panels. The current lineup reaches up to 520 W with approximately 19.3 percent efficiency using monocrystalline PERC cells. These panels target applications where weight or flexibility matter: low-load commercial rooftops, balcony plug-in PV systems, recreational vehicles, boats, and trains. They command a notable price premium over standard glass modules. A.B. Energy, as a distributor, offers whatever its supply partners produce - meaning a buyer can access mainstream TOPCon and HJT panels from top-tier Chinese manufacturers, along with battery storage and inverter packages, through a single local Italian vendor. For most buyers in 2025, the two brands are not interchangeable because they operate in entirely different market segments. Sunman is the right choice only when low weight or surface conformability is a genuine constraint - it fills a real niche but is not a default recommendation for standard residential or utility-scale projects. A.B. Energy suits Italian buyers who want a one-stop local distributor assembling a system from well-known Tier 1 brands, though buyers should evaluate it on the quality of its supply chain and service rather than on any proprietary product advantage. \---LINKS--- \- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/02/sunman-to-build-500-mw-solar-panel-manufacturing-plant-in-australia/ \| Sunman to build 500 MW solar panel manufacturing plant in Australia \| article \- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/03/15/sunman-unveils-520-w-glass-free-solar-panel-with-19-3-efficiency/ \| Sunman unveils 520 W glass-free solar panel with 19.3% efficiency \| article \- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/04/17/sunman-launches-glass-free-balcony-solar-modules/ \| Sunman launches glass-free balcony solar modules \| article \- https://www.cefc.com.au/case-studies/sunman-flexible-earc-technology-a-solar-revolution/ \| Sunman flexible eArc technology - Clean Energy Finance Corporation case study \| article \- https://www.enfsolar.com/a-b-energy \| A.B. Energy SRLS - ENF Solar company directory entry \| article Sources: \- \[Sunman to build 500 MW solar panel manufacturing plant in Australia\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/12/02/sunman-to-build-500-mw-solar-panel-manufacturing-plant-in-australia/) \- \[Sunman unveils 520 W glass-free solar panel with 19.3% efficiency\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/03/15/sunman-unveils-520-w-glass-free-solar-panel-with-19-3-efficiency/) \- \[Sunman launches glass-free balcony solar modules\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/04/17/sunman-launches-glass-free-balcony-solar-modules/) \- \[Sunman flexible eArc technology - CEFC case study\](https://www.cefc.com.au/case-studies/sunman-flexible-earc-technology-a-solar-revolution/) \- \[A.B. Energy SRLS - ENF Solar directory\](https://www.enfsolar.com/a-b-energy) 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 Sunman](https://comparepv.com/aeet-vs-sunman) - [A.B. Energy vs AIKO](https://comparepv.com/a-b-energy-vs-aiko) - [AKCOME vs Sunman](https://comparepv.com/akcome-vs-sunman) - [A.B. Energy vs ARTsolar](https://comparepv.com/a-b-energy-vs-artsolar) - [ASM vs Sunman](https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-sunman) --- Source: https://comparepv.com/a-b-energy-vs-sunman