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

# AIKO vs GCL

GCL has the broader catalog (232 vs 144 models). AIKO leads on peak efficiency at 25.20%. GCL leans bifacial (65% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | AIKO | GCL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | China | China |
| Headquarters | Shanghai | Suzhou/Hong Kong |
| Founded | 2009 | 1990 |
| Employees |  | 6000+ |
| Annual capacity |  | 30+ GW/year |
| Tier 1 | yes | yes |
| Listed | SZSE: 600732 | Hong Kong Stock Exchange/Shenzhen Stock Exchange: 03800.HK/002506.SZ |
| Website | [https://www.aikosolar.com](https://www.aikosolar.com) | [http://www.gcltech.com/](http://www.gcltech.com/) |

GCL is a global company focusing on green energy and high-efficiency photovoltaic materials. They are known for their innovation in polysilicon and wafer technologies, with a focus on low-carbon solutions. GCL is committed to building a low-carbon PV value chain and advancing global clean energy transformation.


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | AIKO | GCL | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 144 | 232 | +88 |
| Max Power | 805 W | 740 W | +65 W |
| Avg Power | 581 W | 558 W | +23 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | AIKO | GCL | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 25.20% | 24.50% | +0.70 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 23.65% | 22.03% | +1.63 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | AIKO | GCL | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.271%/°C | -0.320%/°C | +0.050 |
| Bifacial Share | 35 (24%) | 151 (65%) | +41 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 29.5 yrs | 28.4 yrs | +1.2 yr |


## Efficiency distribution

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


| Efficiency band | AIKO | GCL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 3 (2.1%) | 2 (0.9%) |
| 20-21% | 3 (2.1%) | 43 (18.5%) |
| 21-22% | 3 (2.1%) | 73 (31.5%) |
| 22-23% | 12 (8.3%) | 48 (20.7%) |
| 23%+ | 123 (85.4%) | 66 (28.4%) |


## Power distribution

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


| Power band | AIKO | GCL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 2 (1.4%) | 6 (2.6%) |
| 400-499W | 50 (34.7%) | 60 (25.9%) |
| 500-599W | 5 (3.5%) | 63 (27.2%) |
| 600-699W | 78 (54.2%) | 81 (34.9%) |
| 700W+ | 9 (6.2%) | 22 (9.5%) |


## Cell technology

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

Dominant cell tech: **TOPCon** (47%)


| Technology | AIKO | GCL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Back Contact | 119 (82.6%) | 0 |
| N-type | 17 (11.8%) | 10 (4.3%) |
| PERC | 7 (4.9%) | 102 (44.0%) |
| Flexible | 1 (0.7%) | 0 |
| TOPCon | 0 | 108 (46.6%) |
| HJT | 0 | 7 (3.0%) |
| BIPV | 0 | 5 (2.2%) |


## 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, GCL


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-740](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-740) | 740 | 23.8 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-735](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-735) | 735 | 23.7 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-730](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-730) | 730 | 23.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [NT12/66GDF-730](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12-66gdf-730) | 730 | 23.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-725](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-725) | 725 | 23.3 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [NT12/66GDF-725](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12-66gdf-725) | 725 | 23.3 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF 725](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-725-1) | 725 | 23.3 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [GCL-NH12/66GDF-720](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nh12-66gdf-720) | 720 | 23.2 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-720](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-720) | 720 | 23.2 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [NT12/66GDF-720](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12-66gdf-720) | 720 | 23.2 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

AIKO is a Chinese solar manufacturer founded in 2009, initially operating primarily as a solar cell specialist before expanding into full module production. The company achieved Bloomberg Tier 1 bankability status in 2024, marking its formal entry into institutional project finance eligibility. AIKO has been rapidly scaling its manufacturing footprint, with stated ambitions to grow ABC cell capacity significantly. GCL, by contrast, is part of the GCL Group conglomerate founded in 1990 and headquartered in Jiangsu, China - one of the world's most established polysilicon and module producers. GCL SI reports module capacity in the range of tens of gigawatts annually and is ranked among the six largest solar panel manufacturers globally, giving it a substantially deeper institutional track record and supply-chain presence than AIKO.

AIKO's defining differentiator is its proprietary ABC (All Back Contact) n-type cell architecture, which places all electrical contacts on the rear of the cell and eliminates front-side shading losses. This allows AIKO modules to reach efficiencies above 25%, and the company's product lines - most recently the INFINITE BC series launched in 2026 - target residential rooftop and commercial and industrial (C&I) segments where high output per square meter commands a premium. The 30-year linear performance warranty, with annual degradation capped at roughly 0.35% after year one, is also a competitive advantage versus many peers. GCL's current lineup leans on n-type TOPCon technology, spanning power outputs from around 380 W to 680 W, which makes its portfolio suitable for residential, C&I and large utility-scale ground-mount projects alike. The TOPCon 2.0 series incorporates a busbar-free metallization design and a low temperature coefficient.

For a typical international buyer, AIKO is the stronger choice in space-constrained residential and premium C&I applications where efficiency and warranty depth are decisive. GCL is well-suited to utility-scale procurement and cost-sensitive markets where proven supply scale, broad product range and price flexibility matter more than headline efficiency. The two brands are not interchangeable: AIKO represents a high-efficiency, higher-cost proposition from a newer global player, while GCL offers the reassurance of decades of production volume and an extensive worldwide distribution network.

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 GCL](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-gcl)
- [AIKO vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-aeet)
- [AKCOME vs GCL](https://comparepv.com/akcome-vs-gcl)
- [AIKO vs ARTsolar](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-artsolar)
- [ASM vs GCL](https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-gcl)


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Source: https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-gcl

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