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

# AKCOME vs First Solar

First Solar has the broader catalog (63 vs 3 models). AKCOME leads on peak efficiency at 22.54%. AKCOME leans bifacial (100% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | AKCOME | First Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | China | USA |
| Headquarters | Suzhou | Tempe, AZ |
| Founded | 2003 | 1999 |
| Employees |  | 5500-8100 |
| Annual capacity |  | 21+ GW/year |
| Tier 1 | no | yes |
| Listed |  | NASDAQ: FSLR |
| Website | [https://www.akcome.com](https://www.akcome.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 | AKCOME | First Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 3 | 63 | +60 |
| Max Power | 700 W | 550 W | +150 W |
| Avg Power | 672 W | 481 W | +191 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | AKCOME | First Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 22.54% | 19.70% | +2.84 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 21.63% | 18.56% | +3.07 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | AKCOME | First Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.240%/°C | -0.320%/°C | +0.080 |
| Bifacial Share | 3 (100%) | 12 (19%) | +81 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 30.0 yrs | 29.3 yrs | +0.7 yr |


## Efficiency distribution


| Efficiency band | AKCOME | First Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 21-22% | 2 (66.7%) | 0 |
| 22-23% | 1 (33.3%) | 0 |
| \<20% | 0 | 63 (100.0%) |


## Power distribution

AKCOME offers more 600W+ panels (100% of lineup)


| Power band | AKCOME | First Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 600-699W | 2 (66.7%) | 0 |
| 700W+ | 1 (33.3%) | 0 |
| 400-499W | 0 | 44 (69.8%) |
| 500-599W | 0 | 19 (30.2%) |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **HJT** (100%)

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


| Technology | AKCOME | First Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HJT | 3 (100.0%) | 0 |
| CdTe | 0 | 51 (81.0%) |
| Unknown | 0 | 12 (19.0%) |


## Top panels, AKCOME


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [SKA611HDGDC-700W](https://comparepv.com/panel/akcome-ska611hdgdc-700w) | 700 | 22.5 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [SKA611HDGDC-660W](https://comparepv.com/panel/akcome-ska611hdgdc-660w) | 660 | 21.2 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [SKA611HDGDC-655W](https://comparepv.com/panel/akcome-ska611hdgdc-655w) | 655 | 21.1 | -0.240 | 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

AKCOME is a Chinese manufacturer founded as Zhejiang Akcome New Energy Technology, based in Zhejiang province. The company built its reputation around HJT (heterojunction) cell technology and at one point held BloombergNEF Tier 1 status, but was removed from the list in 2024. Its financial position deteriorated sharply amid China's panel oversupply crisis: the company reported net losses every year from 2019, suspended production at multiple subsidiaries, and in July 2024 a Chinese court accepted a bankruptcy reorganization application for its main photovoltaic unit, Zhejiang Akcome Photovoltaic Technology. Its shares were subsequently delisted from the Shenzhen Stock Exchange. First Solar, by contrast, is a US-based manufacturer headquartered in Tempe, Arizona, founded in 1999. It holds a consistent BloombergNEF AA bankability rating - one of only four module suppliers globally at that level - and has been expanding aggressively, with total nameplate capacity reported at roughly 23.5 GW across facilities in Ohio, Alabama, and overseas by late 2025, plus a further US plant planned for 2026. In terms of institutional standing, First Solar is in a different league.

The two companies serve largely non-overlapping segments. AKCOME targeted the high-efficiency crystalline-silicon market using HJT technology, positioning modules toward commercial rooftop and smaller utility projects, but its near-term product availability is deeply uncertain given its restructuring status. First Solar's entire lineup is built around CdTe (cadmium telluride) thin-film technology, which produces lower per-cell efficiency than crystalline silicon but delivers superior performance in high-temperature and diffuse-light conditions, a lower annual degradation rate of around 0.3%, and a 30-year performance warranty. Its Series 7 modules - rated at roughly 525-550 W - are designed exclusively for large utility-scale ground-mount projects and are almost entirely sold through long-term supply agreements with developers.

For any buyer evaluating these two brands today, First Solar is the clear default for utility-scale procurement where US-manufactured content, bankability, and long-term supply certainty matter. AKCOME, given its unresolved restructuring and delisting, cannot be recommended for new project commitments without very specific due diligence on the current legal and operational status of any remaining entity.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/07/30/chinese-pv-industry-brief-akcome-provides-update-on-restructuring-process/ \| AKCOME restructuring update - July 2024 \| article

\- https://www.pv-tech.org/first-solar-inaugurates-3-5gw-thin-film-solar-manufacturing-facility-in-alabama/ \| First Solar inaugurates 3.5GW Alabama thin-film facility \| article

\- https://www.pv-tech.org/first-solar-to-open-new-3-7gw-us-manufacturing-plant-in-2026/ \| First Solar to open new 3.7GW US plant in 2026 \| article

\- https://a1solarstore.com/blog/first-solar-panels-review-big-in-america.html \| First Solar panels review 2026 - A1 SolarStore \| review

\- https://www.solarquotes.com.au/panels/akcome-review.html \| Akcome solar panels review - SolarQuotes \| review

Sources:

\- \[AKCOME restructuring update - pv-magazine\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/07/30/chinese-pv-industry-brief-akcome-provides-update-on-restructuring-process/)

\- \[First Solar Alabama facility - PV Tech\](https://www.pv-tech.org/first-solar-inaugurates-3-5gw-thin-film-solar-manufacturing-facility-in-alabama/)

\- \[First Solar 2026 US plant - PV Tech\](https://www.pv-tech.org/first-solar-to-open-new-3-7gw-us-manufacturing-plant-in-2026/)

\- \[First Solar review 2026 - A1 SolarStore\](https://a1solarstore.com/blog/first-solar-panels-review-big-in-america.html)

\- \[AKCOME review - SolarQuotes\](https://www.solarquotes.com.au/panels/akcome-review.html)

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


## Other comparisons

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


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

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