ASM vs Hounen Solar - solar panel manufacturer comparison
Hounen Solar has the broader catalog (44 vs 1 models). Hounen Solar leads on peak efficiency at 23.34%. Hounen Solar leans bifacial (86% 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
Australian Solar Manufacturing (ASM) is a small Australian solar panel assembler that produces crystalline monocrystalline modules domestically using components sourced from Germany, Japan, the USA, and China. The company focuses on providing locally assembled PV modules tailored to Australian conditions, supporting...
- Founded
- 2009
- Headquarters
- Hallam, Victoria, Australia
- Employees
- 1-10
Hounen Solar (Zhejiang Haoneng Optoelectronics) is a Chinese solar PV module manufacturer with its U.S. operations branded as Hounen Solar America. The company produces solar panels for residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications, and in 2023 established a 1 GW module assembly facility in Orangeburg, South...
- Founded
- 2010
- Headquarters
- Haining, China
- Annual capacity
- 1-2 GW/year
- Employees
- 200-500
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
Hounen Solar skews to higher efficiency: 7% of lineup is 23%+
Hounen Solar offers more 600W+ panels (43% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>N-type</strong> (48%)
The flagships
Written summary
ASM, formally Australian Solar Manufacturing Pty Ltd, is a small panel assembler headquartered in Keysborough, Victoria, Australia, founded in 2009. The company does not manufacture photovoltaic cells internally; instead it assembles modules using components sourced from Germany, Japan, the United States, and China. Its catalog spans a monocrystalline lineup in the 170-200 Wp range, reflecting an older product generation. ASM holds no confirmed BloombergNEF Tier 1 listing and is positioned as a niche, domestically assembled option within the Australian market. Hounen Solar, by contrast, operates a 1 GW PERC module assembly plant in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, established in 2024, with a planned expansion to approximately 3 GW in Summerville targeting completion by the end of 2026. Backed by a Chinese parent company, Hounen Solar America pursued a US manufacturing strategy to sidestep import tariffs and exhibited at RE+ 2025, covering a product range from roughly 400 W residential modules up to 720 W utility-scale panels. Hounen has not been confirmed on the BloombergNEF Tier 1 list as of mid-2025, reflecting its status as an emerging brand, but its production scale and institutional visibility are considerably greater than ASM's.
In terms of product scope, ASM's legacy monocrystalline lineup suits mainly small residential or light commercial rooftop installations in Australia, given the modest wattage of its assembled panels. Hounen Solar's range, currently centered on PERC cell technology, spans residential rooftops through to utility-scale ground-mount projects, and the company has publicly committed to introducing HJT technology in future production runs. Hounen's multi-segment coverage and US tariff-advantaged manufacturing make it the more versatile option for project developers supplying the North American market.
For a typical buyer in 2025-2026 evaluating these two brands directly, Hounen Solar is the more practical default. Its larger manufacturing base, broader wattage range, and US domestic production credentials offer advantages that ASM's small-scale Australian assembly operation cannot currently match. ASM may still serve buyers who specifically require Australian-assembled provenance, but on general bankability and product breadth, Hounen Solar leads clearly.
- Hounen Solar America to set up 1 GW module assembly plant in South Carolina
- Hounen Solar showcases solar modules for the US market - pv magazine USA
- Hounen Solar to open second panel assembly plant in South Carolina
- ASM Australian Solar Manufacturing - ENF Solar company profile
- Hounen Solar panels review 2026 - US-assembled panels from 400W to 720W
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-06-08
Other brand comparisons
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.