---
title: "ARTsolar vs Q-Cells - Brand Comparison | ComparePV"
description: "Compare ARTsolar vs Q-Cells solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background."
source: "https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-q-cells"
---

# ARTsolar vs Q-Cells

Q-Cells has the broader catalog (89 vs 0 models). Q-Cells leans bifacial (39% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | ARTsolar | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | South Africa | South Korea |
| Headquarters | Durban | Seoul |
| Founded | 2010 | 1999 |
| Employees |  | 2000+ |
| Annual capacity |  | 11.2 GW/year |
| Tier 1 | no | yes |
| Listed |  | NASDAQ: HQCL |
| Website | [https://www.artsolar.co.za](https://www.artsolar.co.za) | [https://www.qcells.com](https://www.qcells.com) |

Qcells is a renowned global provider of complete energy solutions, specializing in solar cells and modules, energy storage solutions, downstream project business, and energy retail. The company has a strong heritage dating back to its foundation in Germany and has become a leader in technology innovations. As an...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | ARTsolar | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 0 | 89 | +89 |
| Max Power | 0 W | 675 W | +675 W |
| Avg Power | 0 W | 468 W | +468 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | ARTsolar | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | - | 23.20% |  |
| Avg Efficiency | - | 21.21% |  |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | ARTsolar | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | - | -0.325%/°C |  |
| Bifacial Share | 0 (0%) | 35 (39%) | +39 pp |
| Avg Warranty | - | 27.0 yrs |  |


## Efficiency distribution

Q-Cells skews to higher efficiency: 2% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | ARTsolar | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 0 | 7 (7.9%) |
| 20-21% | 0 | 29 (32.6%) |
| 21-22% | 0 | 30 (33.7%) |
| 22-23% | 0 | 21 (23.6%) |
| 23%+ | 0 | 2 (2.2%) |


## Power distribution

Q-Cells offers more 600W+ panels (19% of lineup)


| Power band | ARTsolar | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 0 | 20 (22.5%) |
| 400-499W | 0 | 41 (46.1%) |
| 500-599W | 0 | 11 (12.4%) |
| 600-699W | 0 | 17 (19.1%) |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (43%)


| Technology | ARTsolar | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PERC | 0 | 38 (42.7%) |
| N-type | 0 | 23 (25.8%) |
| Unknown | 0 | 20 (22.5%) |
| TOPCon | 0 | 8 (9.0%) |


## Top panels, Q-Cells


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 675](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-675) | 675 | 21.7 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 670](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-670) | 670 | 21.6 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 665](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-665) | 665 | 21.4 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 660](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-660) | 660 | 21.2 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 655](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-655) | 655 | 21.1 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 650](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-650) | 650 | 20.9 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 645](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-645) | 645 | 23.1 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 640](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-640) | 640 | 22.9 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 635](https://comparepv.com/panel/hanwha-q-cells-america-inc-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-635) | 635 | 22.7 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 630](https://comparepv.com/panel/hanwha-q-cells-america-inc-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-630) | 630 | 22.6 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

ARTsolar is a South African manufacturer headquartered in Pinetown, KwaZulu-Natal, founded in 2010 and widely described as the country's only locally owned solar panel producer. The company does not carry an independent BloombergNEF Tier 1 bankability rating, but it operates as a certified OEM partner for globally recognized Tier 1 suppliers - most recently formalizing an agreement with JA Solar in 2025 to run a 340 MW annual assembly line at its Durban facility, building on an earlier partnership with LONGi Solar. Q-Cells, formally Hanwha Q CELLS, traces its roots to Germany in 1999 and has been part of South Korea's Hanwha Group since 2012; it carries confirmed BloombergNEF Tier 1 status and operates at a far larger scale, with global module production capacity reported above 11 GW per year and a facility in Dalton, Georgia that represents the largest silicon solar manufacturing footprint in the Western Hemisphere. On institutional depth - lender confidence, global distribution reach, and manufacturing scale - Q-Cells holds a decisive advantage.

ARTsolar's catalog targets the South African market, covering residential rooftops and small-to-medium commercial installations with monocrystalline modules and TUV SUD certification; its local assembly model also qualifies panels for South Africa's domestic-content requirements under the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme. Q-Cells addresses a far broader spectrum, from premium residential rooftops across North America and Europe to utility-scale ground mounts, with its Q.ANTUM-based and increasingly TOPCon-equipped lineup delivering efficiencies up to 22.5 percent and temperature coefficients that independent reviewers consistently rank among the best in class for hot-climate deployment.

For buyers outside sub-Saharan Africa, Q-Cells is the more straightforward default in 2025 - it brings Tier 1 bankability, a wide installer network, and a deep track record across residential and large commercial segments. ARTsolar is not a like-for-like global competitor; its real value proposition is regional. South African buyers who prioritize local manufacturing content, shorter supply chains, and compliance with domestic procurement rules will find it a credible - and in those specific contexts - genuinely preferable option.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/06/17/ja-solar-artsolar-agree-to-expand-pv-module-manufacturing-in-south-africa/ \| JA Solar and ARTsolar agree to expand PV module manufacturing in South Africa \| article

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/11/07/talesun-artsolar-open-325-mw-module-factory-in-south-africa/ \| Talesun and ARTsolar open 325 MW module factory in South Africa \| article

\- https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review \| Expert Review of Qcells Solar Panels for 2025 - SolarReviews \| review

\- https://www.ecowatch.com/solar/reviews/qcells-solar-panels \| Qcells Solar Panels Review 2025 - Cost, Efficiency and Performance - EcoWatch \| review

\- https://taiyangnews.info/technology/qcells-to-invest-big-in-tandem-solar \| Q Cells to Invest Big in Tandem Solar - TaiyangNews \| article

Sources:

\- \[JA Solar, ARTsolar agree to expand PV module manufacturing in South Africa\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/06/17/ja-solar-artsolar-agree-to-expand-pv-module-manufacturing-in-south-africa/)

\- \[Talesun, ARTsolar open 325 MW module factory in South Africa\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2022/11/07/talesun-artsolar-open-325-mw-module-factory-in-south-africa/)

\- \[Expert Review of Qcells Solar Panels for 2025 - SolarReviews\](https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review)

\- \[Qcells Solar Panels Review 2025 - EcoWatch\](https://www.ecowatch.com/solar/reviews/qcells-solar-panels)

\- \[Q Cells to Invest Big in Tandem Solar - TaiyangNews\](https://taiyangnews.info/technology/qcells-to-invest-big-in-tandem-solar)

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


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Source: https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-q-cells