AKCOME vs Panasonic - solar panel manufacturer comparison

AKCOME is a Chinese solar manufacturer founded in 2006 and headquartered in Jiangsu province, with manufacturing operations in Huzhou, Zhejiang. The company is publicly listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange and has built an annual module production capacity in the multi-gigawatt range. It held Bloomberg NEF Tier 1 bankability status in prior years, though its listing status fluctuated in 2024-2025 - it was reportedly delisted from the Taiyang News top-modules tracker in January 2025 when its website became inaccessible. Panasonic, by contrast, is a Japanese electronics giant that entered solar manufacturing decades ago and built one of the most recognized premium residential brands in the United States under the EverVolt name. On April 28, 2025, Panasonic North America announced it was exiting the solar and battery storage business entirely - no new panels are being manufactured. In terms of active institutional footprint, AKCOME is currently the only operating manufacturer between the two.

AKCOME's product lineup is built around HJT (heterojunction) and PERC cell technology. In 2021 the company reported achieving 24.2% HJT cell efficiency in mass production, and it has since also launched a pilot line for perovskite cells. Its modules target both residential rooftops and commercial ground-mount segments. Panasonic's EverVolt range, now discontinued, was similarly centered on HJT cells - the HK2 Black series reached over 22% module efficiency - and was positioned squarely at the premium residential market in North America. Panasonic's temperature coefficient and degradation figures were among the best in the residential tier, which contributed to its strong installer reputation before market-share erosion and the eventual business exit.

For any buyer in 2025 or beyond, the comparison is no longer symmetrical. Panasonic panels exist only as secondary-market or residual installer stock, with warranties still honored by the parent corporation but production permanently halted. AKCOME remains an active manufacturer, and buyers seeking HJT-class technology from a Chinese producer would evaluate it alongside more broadly distributed peers. The better default for a new installation is AKCOME - not because it outperforms Panasonic on paper, but simply because it is still making panels.

Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-06-09