---
title: "AIKO vs First Solar - Brand Comparison | ComparePV"
description: "Compare AIKO vs First Solar solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background."
source: "https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-first-solar"
---

# AIKO vs First Solar

AIKO has the broader catalog (144 vs 63 models). AIKO leads on peak efficiency at 25.20%.


## The two companies


| Attribute | AIKO | First Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | China | USA |
| Headquarters | Shanghai | Tempe, AZ |
| Founded | 2009 | 1999 |
| Employees |  | 5500-8100 |
| Annual capacity |  | 21+ GW/year |
| Tier 1 | yes | yes |
| Listed | SZSE: 600732 | NASDAQ: FSLR |
| Website | [https://www.aikosolar.com](https://www.aikosolar.com) | [https://www.firstsolar.com](https://www.firstsolar.com) |

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 | AIKO | First Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 144 | 63 | +81 |
| Max Power | 805 W | 550 W | +255 W |
| Avg Power | 581 W | 481 W | +101 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | AIKO | First Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 25.20% | 19.70% | +5.50 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 23.65% | 18.56% | +5.10 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | AIKO | First Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.271%/°C | -0.320%/°C | +0.049 |
| Bifacial Share | 35 (24%) | 12 (19%) | +5 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 29.5 yrs | 29.3 yrs | +0.2 yr |


## Efficiency distribution

AIKO skews to higher efficiency: 85% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | AIKO | First Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 3 (2.1%) | 63 (100.0%) |
| 20-21% | 3 (2.1%) | 0 |
| 21-22% | 3 (2.1%) | 0 |
| 22-23% | 12 (8.3%) | 0 |
| 23%+ | 123 (85.4%) | 0 |


## Power distribution

AIKO offers more 600W+ panels (60% of lineup)


| Power band | AIKO | First Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 2 (1.4%) | 0 |
| 400-499W | 50 (34.7%) | 44 (69.8%) |
| 500-599W | 5 (3.5%) | 19 (30.2%) |
| 600-699W | 78 (54.2%) | 0 |
| 700W+ | 9 (6.2%) | 0 |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **Back Contact** (83%)

Dominant cell tech: **CdTe** (81%)


| Technology | AIKO | First Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Back Contact | 119 (82.6%) | 0 |
| N-type | 17 (11.8%) | 0 |
| PERC | 7 (4.9%) | 0 |
| Flexible | 1 (0.7%) | 0 |
| CdTe | 0 | 51 (81.0%) |
| Unknown | 0 | 12 (19.0%) |


## Top panels, AIKO


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [AIKO-A805-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a805-grh78dw) | 805 | 25.1 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [AIKO-A800-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a800-grh78dw) | 800 | 24.9 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [AIKO-A795-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a795-grh78dw) | 795 | 24.8 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [AIKO-A790-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a790-grh78dw) | 790 | 24.6 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [AIKO-A785-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a785-grh78dw) | 785 | 24.4 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [AIKO-A780-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a780-grh78dw) | 780 | 24.3 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [AIKO-A775-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a775-grh78dw) | 775 | 24.1 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [AIKO-A770-GRH78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a770-grh78dw) | 770 | 24.0 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [AIKO-A700-MAE78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a700-mae78dw) | 700 | 25.0 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [AIKO-A695-MAE78Dw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a695-mae78dw) | 695 | 24.9 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |


## 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 an American manufacturer headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, founded in 1999 and traded on the NASDAQ. It is the only large-scale module producer based in the Western hemisphere and has consistently held a strong bankability position with institutional financiers. The company operates factories across the United States, India, Malaysia, and Vietnam, and by 2025 its combined nameplate capacity had grown well beyond 14 GW annually, with further expansion underway toward a stated target approaching 20 GW. AIKO is a Chinese manufacturer founded in 2009 and headquartered in Guangzhou, China. It holds Bloomberg NEF Tier 1 bankability status and has reported annual production capacity exceeding 5 GW, a figure that has grown rapidly alongside its technology push. Between the two, First Solar carries the stronger institutional footprint in Western markets, particularly in the United States where domestic manufacturing grants it significant advantages under the Inflation Reduction Act.

The two companies serve almost entirely different market segments, which makes a head-to-head comparison somewhat unusual. First Solar produces its Series 6 and Series 7 modules, both built on its proprietary cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film technology. These large-format modules are engineered almost exclusively for utility-scale ground-mount projects, and the company does not meaningfully compete in the residential or small commercial rooftop segment. AIKO, by contrast, has staked its identity on N-type all back contact (ABC) cell technology, which eliminates front-side shading losses by moving all electrical contacts to the rear of the cell. Its Neostar series targets residential rooftops with compact high-efficiency panels, the Comet series serves commercial and industrial rooftops at higher wattages, and the company has also introduced bifacial ABC modules aimed at utility applications.

For a residential or commercial rooftop buyer in 2025, First Solar is simply not a realistic option - its products and sales model are oriented toward large project developers. AIKO, with its ABC technology and strong installer reception, is a credible premium choice for those segments. For utility-scale developers, particularly in North America, First Solar's domestic supply chain, thin-film performance advantages in high-temperature environments, and deep project-finance track record make it the default institutional pick. The two brands are not interchangeable - the right choice depends almost entirely on project scale and geography.

\---LINKS---

\- https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/11/03/first-solar-to-open-its-fifth-u-s-factory-adding-3-7-gw-of-annual-production/ \| First Solar to open fifth U.S. factory adding 3.7 GW annual capacity \| article

\- https://www.pv-tech.org/first-solar-added-6-8-gw-nameplate-capacity-in-2023/ \| First Solar added 6.8 GW of module capacity in 2023 \| article

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/02/07/aiko-launches-new-rooftop-solar-panels-with-24-3-efficiency/ \| Aiko launches new rooftop solar panels with 24.3% efficiency \| article

\- https://taiyangnews.info/aiko-solar-launches-next-gen-all-back-contact-modules/ \| AIKO Solar launches next-gen all back contact modules \| article

\- https://www.solarchoice.net.au/products/panels/aiko-solar-panels-review/ \| Aiko Solar panels independent review - Solar Choice \| review

Sources:

\- \[First Solar to open its fifth U.S. factory, adding 3.7 GW of annual production\](https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/11/03/first-solar-to-open-its-fifth-u-s-factory-adding-3-7-gw-of-annual-production/)

\- \[First Solar adds 6.8GW of module capacity in 2023 - PV Tech\](https://www.pv-tech.org/first-solar-added-6-8-gw-nameplate-capacity-in-2023/)

\- \[Aiko launches new rooftop solar panels with 24.3% efficiency - PV Magazine\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/02/07/aiko-launches-new-rooftop-solar-panels-with-24-3-efficiency/)

\- \[AIKO Solar Launches Next Gen All Back Contact Modules - TaiyangNews\](https://taiyangnews.info/aiko-solar-launches-next-gen-all-back-contact-modules/)

\- \[Aiko Solar Panels Review - Solar Choice\](https://www.solarchoice.net.au/products/panels/aiko-solar-panels-review/)

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


## Other comparisons

- [AIKO vs A.B. Energy](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-a-b-energy)
- [AE Solar vs First Solar](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-first-solar)
- [AIKO vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-aeet)
- [AKCOME vs First Solar](https://comparepv.com/akcome-vs-first-solar)
- [AIKO vs ARTsolar](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-artsolar)
- [ASM vs First Solar](https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-first-solar)


---

Source: https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-first-solar

Not in this file, on the page: the distributions above drawn as charts.