--- title: "ASM vs KB Solar - Brand Comparison | ComparePV" description: "Compare ASM vs KB Solar solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background." source: "https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-kb-solar" --- # ASM vs KB Solar KB Solar has the broader catalog (5 vs 1 models). KB Solar leads on peak efficiency at 20.90%. KB Solar leans bifacial (100% of lineup). ## The two companies | Attribute | ASM | KB Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | Country | Australia | | | Headquarters | Hallam, Victoria | | | Founded | 2009 | | | Employees | 1-10 | | | Annual capacity | | | | Tier 1 | no | no | | Listed | | | | Website | [https://www.australiansolarmanufacturing.com.au](https://www.australiansolarmanufacturing.com.au) | | 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... ## Catalog & Power | Measure | ASM | KB Solar | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Panel Models | 1 | 5 | +4 | | Max Power | 170 W | 385 W | +215 W | | Avg Power | 170 W | 375 W | +205 W | ## Efficiency | Measure | ASM | KB Solar | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Max Efficiency | 16.00% | 20.90% | +4.90 pp | | Avg Efficiency | 16.00% | 20.38% | +4.38 pp | ## Reliability & Warranty | Measure | ASM | KB Solar | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.438%/°C | -0.330%/°C | +0.108 | | Bifacial Share | 0 (0%) | 5 (100%) | +100 pp | | Avg Warranty | - | 30.0 yrs | | ## Efficiency distribution | Efficiency band | ASM | KB Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | \<20% | 1 (100.0%) | 0 | | 20-21% | 0 | 5 (100.0%) | ## Power distribution | Power band | ASM | KB Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | \<400W | 1 (100.0%) | 5 (100.0%) | ## Cell technology Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (100%) | Technology | ASM | KB Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | Unknown | 1 (100.0%) | 0 | | PERC | 0 | 5 (100.0%) | ## Top panels, ASM | # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [ASM170M](https://comparepv.com/panel/australian-solar-manufacturing-asm170m) | 170 | 16.0 | -0.438 | Monocrystalline | ## Top panels, KB Solar | # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [KBS-385](https://comparepv.com/panel/kb-solar-kbs-385) | 385 | 20.9 | -0.330 | Monocrystalline | | 2 | [KBS-380](https://comparepv.com/panel/kb-solar-kbs-380) | 380 | 20.6 | -0.330 | Monocrystalline | | 3 | [KBS-375](https://comparepv.com/panel/kb-solar-kbs-375) | 375 | 20.3 | -0.330 | Monocrystalline | | 4 | [KBS-370](https://comparepv.com/panel/kb-solar-kbs-370) | 370 | 20.1 | -0.330 | Monocrystalline | | 5 | [KBS-365](https://comparepv.com/panel/kb-solar-kbs-365) | 365 | 20.0 | -0.330 | Monocrystalline | ## Summary ASM Solar is an Australian solar installation and electrical company headquartered in Chipping Norton, New South Wales, founded around 2010. Web searches return no evidence that ASM Solar manufactures its own panels; rather, it operates as a commercial solar installer and integrator, serving clients across Australia and the Middle East with over 2,000 completed projects. It does not appear on any BloombergNEF Tier 1 module manufacturer list, which is consistent with it being a downstream installer rather than a module producer. KB Solar, by contrast, is a small US-based panel manufacturer, wholesaler, and distributor based in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It manufactures panels locally, sells wholesale to dealers and installers, and operates at a niche regional scale with no publicly confirmed GW-level production capacity or Tier 1 bankability rating. In terms of institutional footprint, neither company commands broad recognition in global module markets, but KB Solar at least occupies the manufacturer role that this comparison assumes. KB Solar's confirmed product range consists of 375 W and 450 W modules built around 12-busbar PERC half-cell cells, available in both monofacial and bifacial configurations, with a rated efficiency of around 20.7%. These panels are aimed at residential rooftops, small commercial rooftops, and off-grid or preparedness applications - evidenced by retail listings on survival-equipment sites alongside its dealer wholesale channel. ASM Solar, as an installer, sources panels from third-party brands rather than offering a proprietary product family, so no direct product-specification comparison is possible. For a buyer specifically seeking a US-manufactured panel at a regional scale, KB Solar fills a genuine niche with its South Carolina facility, PERC technology, and a 30-year power output warranty. ASM Solar serves a different function entirely - it is an integration and installation contractor in the Australian market - and the two brands are not meaningfully interchangeable. A buyer needing a panel manufacturer should evaluate KB Solar on its own merits against other small US producers, while a buyer in Australia seeking an installation contractor might consider ASM Solar's track record separately. \---LINKS--- \- https://www.productreview.com.au/listings/asm-solar \| ASM Solar customer reviews - ProductReview Australia \| review \- https://www.solarquotes.com.au/installer-review/asm-solar-and-electrical/ \| ASM Solar and Electrical installer review - SolarQuotes \| review \- https://kb-solar.com/products/ \| KB Solar panel product lineup - official site \| article \- https://practicalpreppers.com/product/kb-solar-450w-solar-panel/ \| KB Solar 450W panel listing - Practical Preppers \| review \- https://www.enfsolar.com/kb-solar-2 \| KB Solar profile - ENF Solar directory \| article Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above. ## Other comparisons - [ASM vs A.B. Energy](https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-a-b-energy) - [AE Solar vs KB Solar](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-kb-solar) - [ASM vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-aeet) - [AIKO vs KB Solar](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-kb-solar) - [ASM vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-akcome) - [ARTsolar vs KB Solar](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-kb-solar) --- Source: https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-kb-solar Not in this file, on the page: the distributions above drawn as charts.