AIKO vs Rarlon PV Tech - solar panel manufacturer comparison
AIKO has the broader catalog (144 vs 52 models). AIKO leads on peak efficiency at 25.20%. AIKO leans bifacial (24% of lineup).
Both catalogues are read from the manufacturers' own datasheets. A brand is not scored against the market here, only against the other brand on this page.
The two companies
- Founded
- 2009
- Headquarters
- Shanghai, China
- Listed
- SZSE: 600732
- Tier 1 bankable
- Yes
Rarlon PV Tech, also known as Rarlon Solar, has specialized in the solar field for over 10 years. They are a professional manufacturer and supplier of green energy products, engaging in the production and installation of solar panels, solar systems, and solar projects. Their products are exported to various countries...
- Headquarters
- Ningbo, China
Catalogue against catalogue
An average over a catalogue describes the range a manufacturer publishes, not the module you would buy. A brand with two flagship panels and eighty older ones averages worse than one that has retired its back catalogue.
What each of them builds
AIKO skews to higher efficiency: 85% of lineup is 23%+
AIKO offers more 600W+ panels (60% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>Back Contact</strong> (83%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (77%)
The flagships
Written summary
AIKO is a Chinese solar manufacturer founded in 2009 and headquartered in Guangdong, China. It is publicly listed and has earned BloombergNEF Tier 1 status, a bankability designation confirming that at least six independent commercial banks have financed projects using its modules. Its annual production capacity stood at roughly 20 GW in early 2025 and has grown substantially since. Rarlon PV Tech, formally Ningbo Rarlon Photovoltaic Technology Co., Ltd., is also a Chinese manufacturer based in the High-Tech Zone of Ningbo, with more than 15 years of operating history. It holds TUV, CE, and ISO 9001 certifications but does not appear on any BloombergNEF or equivalent Tier 1 bankability list in the available industry sources. AIKO carries the considerably stronger institutional footprint of the two.
On the product side, AIKO has built its identity around a proprietary N-type All Back Contact cell architecture it calls ABC - distinct from conventional TOPCon or HJT in that all contacts sit on the rear face of the cell, eliminating front-side shading. This translates into some of the highest confirmed module efficiencies available commercially today. AIKO organizes its catalog into the Neostar family for residential rooftops, the Comet series for commercial and industrial applications, and the Stellar line for utility-scale ground mounts. Rarlon's catalog spans a wide power range using mono-crystalline half-cell technology with multi-busbar cells, targeting cost-sensitive buyers across emerging markets in Europe, South America, the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. No independent performance reviews or head-to-head field tests for Rarlon panels were found.
For most buyers in 2025 - whether residential, commercial, or utility - AIKO is the more defensible default. Its bankability status matters for project financing, its warranty terms are among the longest in the industry, and its ABC technology has been validated in independent installer surveys. Rarlon may suit buyers seeking a lower upfront price in markets where bankability is not a financing requirement, but the absence of third-party reviews and Tier 1 recognition makes it harder to recommend with confidence.
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-06-21
Other brand comparisons
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Comparisons are computed from manufacturer datasheets held in the ComparePV database and may not reflect a brand's complete current lineup. Nothing on this page is paid placement.