--- title: "ARTsolar vs KDM Kingdom Solar - Brand Comparison | ComparePV" description: "Compare ARTsolar vs KDM Kingdom Solar solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background." source: "https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-kdm-kingdom-solar" --- # ARTsolar vs KDM Kingdom Solar KDM Kingdom Solar has the broader catalog (3 vs 0 models). ## The two companies | Attribute | ARTsolar | KDM Kingdom Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | Country | South Africa | China | | Headquarters | Durban | Hefei | | Founded | 2010 | 2010 | | Employees | | 100 | | Annual capacity | | 1 GW/year | | Tier 1 | no | no | | Listed | | | | Website | [https://www.artsolar.co.za](https://www.artsolar.co.za) | [https://www.kdmsolar.com](https://www.kdmsolar.com) | KDM Kingdom Solar is a Chinese solar module manufacturer based in Hefei, Anhui Province. The company specializes in manufacturing monocrystalline solar panels for global markets. ## Catalog & Power | Measure | ARTsolar | KDM Kingdom Solar | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Panel Models | 0 | 3 | +3 | | Max Power | 0 W | 590 W | +590 W | | Avg Power | 0 W | 533 W | +533 W | ## Efficiency | Measure | ARTsolar | KDM Kingdom Solar | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Max Efficiency | - | 22.80% | | | Avg Efficiency | - | 22.46% | | ## Reliability & Warranty | Measure | ARTsolar | KDM Kingdom Solar | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Avg Temp Coefficient | - | -0.290%/°C | | | Bifacial Share | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | | | Avg Warranty | - | 30.0 yrs | | ## Efficiency distribution | Efficiency band | ARTsolar | KDM Kingdom Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | 22-23% | 0 | 3 (100.0%) | ## Power distribution | Power band | ARTsolar | KDM Kingdom Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | 400-499W | 0 | 1 (33.3%) | | 500-599W | 0 | 2 (66.7%) | ## Cell technology Dominant cell tech: **N-type** (100%) | Technology | ARTsolar | KDM Kingdom Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | N-type | 0 | 3 (100.0%) | ## Top panels, KDM Kingdom Solar | # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [KD-M590-144-N](https://comparepv.com/panel/kdm-kingdom-solar-kd-m590-144-n) | 590 | 22.8 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline | | 2 | [KD-M570-144-N](https://comparepv.com/panel/kdm-kingdom-solar-kd-m570-144-n) | 570 | 22.1 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline | | 3 | [KD-M440-108-N](https://comparepv.com/panel/kingdom-kd-m440-108-n) | 440 | 22.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline | ## Summary KDM Kingdom Solar (formally Zhejiang Kingdom Solar Energy Technic Co., Ltd.) is a Chinese manufacturer headquartered in Linhai, Zhejiang province, founded in 2010 with a stated production capacity of 1 GW per year and roughly 100 employees. ARTsolar, also founded in 2010, is headquartered in Durban, South Africa and markets itself as the only locally owned South African panel manufacturer, though a 2024-2025 court case raised allegations that approximately 99% of its modules were imported from China rather than domestically produced. Neither manufacturer holds Tier 1 bankable status as recognized by Bloomberg NEF, and neither is publicly listed, meaning project finance lenders are unlikely to accept either brand without additional credit support. Of the two, KDM carries the somewhat stronger institutional footprint by virtue of its larger declared manufacturing base and distribution across more than 100 countries. On paper, ARTsolar's single-product portfolio edges ahead in raw performance. Its sole listed panel delivers 600 Wp at 23.21% efficiency using TOPCon cell technology, while KDM's two-panel lineup averages 580 Wp and 22.435% efficiency, topping out at 590 Wp and 22.8%, also on N-type silicon. Both lineups are fully monofacial - neither manufacturer offers bifacial panels - and both back their products with a 30-year warranty, placing them on equal footing for long-term yield guarantees. The temperature coefficient for maximum power is marginally better for KDM at -0.29%/degC versus ARTsolar's -0.31%/degC, a small but real advantage in hot climates. KDM's broader catalog suits commercial rooftop and small utility buyers who need supply volume; ARTsolar's single high-output module is aimed at premium residential or small commercial rooftops, particularly in the South African market. For a typical buyer in 2025, neither brand is a clear default choice. The efficiency and wattage edge belongs to ARTsolar, but the unresolved questions about its actual manufacturing origin complicate supply-chain due diligence. KDM offers greater production scale and a more established export track record, though it too lacks the bankability credentials that large project financiers require. Buyers prioritizing verified local content in South Africa should scrutinize ARTsolar's sourcing disclosures carefully before committing. \---LINKS--- \- https://groundup.org.za/article/local-manufacturer-actually-imports-99-its-product-court-told/ \| ARTsolar court case - imports 99% of product, GroundUp reports \| article \- https://www.climatescorecard.org/2025/02/artsolar-in-south-africa/ \| ARTsolar in South Africa - Climate Scorecard profile \| article \- https://www.enfsolar.com/artsolar \| ARTsolar manufacturer profile - ENF Solar directory \| review \- https://www.enfsolar.com/kingdom-solar \| KDM Kingdom Solar manufacturer profile - ENF Solar directory \| review \- https://www.pv-tech.org/the-pv-review-2025-a-year-of-performance-and-reliability-issues-for-topcon-and-n-type-solar-pv-modules/ \| PV Tech 2025 review - TOPCon and N-type reliability issues \| article Sources: \- \[ARTsolar court case - GroundUp\](https://groundup.org.za/article/local-manufacturer-actually-imports-99-its-product-court-told/) \- \[ARTsolar - Climate Scorecard\](https://www.climatescorecard.org/2025/02/artsolar-in-south-africa/) \- \[ARTsolar - ENF Solar\](https://www.enfsolar.com/artsolar) \- \[KDM Kingdom Solar - ENF Solar\](https://www.enfsolar.com/kingdom-solar) \- \[PV Tech 2025 TOPCon/N-type review\](https://www.pv-tech.org/the-pv-review-2025-a-year-of-performance-and-reliability-issues-for-topcon-and-n-type-solar-pv-modules/) Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above. ## Other comparisons - [ARTsolar vs A.B. Energy](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-a-b-energy) - [AE Solar vs KDM Kingdom Solar](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-kdm-kingdom-solar) - [ARTsolar vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-aeet) - [AIKO vs KDM Kingdom Solar](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-kdm-kingdom-solar) - [ARTsolar vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-akcome) - [ASM vs KDM Kingdom Solar](https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-kdm-kingdom-solar) --- Source: https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-kdm-kingdom-solar