---
title: "ASM vs REC - Brand Comparison | ComparePV"
description: "Compare ASM vs REC solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background."
source: "https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-rec"
---

# ASM vs REC

REC has the broader catalog (58 vs 1 models). REC leads on peak efficiency at 22.80%. REC leans bifacial (59% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | ASM | REC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | Australia | Norway |
| Headquarters | Hallam, Victoria | Sandvika |
| Founded | 2009 | 1996 |
| Employees | 1-10 |  |
| Annual capacity |  |  |
| Tier 1 | no | yes |
| Listed |  |  |
| Website | [https://www.australiansolarmanufacturing.com.au](https://www.australiansolarmanufacturing.com.au) | [https://www.recgroup.com](https://www.recgroup.com) |

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 | REC | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 1 | 58 | +57 |
| Max Power | 170 W | 640 W | +470 W |
| Avg Power | 170 W | 385 W | +215 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | ASM | REC | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 16.00% | 22.80% | +6.80 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 16.00% | 18.92% | +2.92 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | ASM | REC | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.438%/°C | -0.300%/°C | +0.138 |
| Bifacial Share | 0 (0%) | 34 (59%) | +59 pp |
| Avg Warranty | - | 25.5 yrs |  |


## Efficiency distribution


| Efficiency band | ASM | REC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 1 (100.0%) | 20 (34.5%) |
| 20-21% | 0 | 8 (13.8%) |
| 21-22% | 0 | 15 (25.9%) |
| 22-23% | 0 | 15 (25.9%) |


## Power distribution

REC offers more 600W+ panels (17% of lineup)


| Power band | ASM | REC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 1 (100.0%) | 21 (36.2%) |
| 400-499W | 0 | 26 (44.8%) |
| 500-599W | 0 | 1 (1.7%) |
| 600-699W | 0 | 10 (17.2%) |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **HJT** (59%)


| Technology | ASM | REC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unknown | 1 (100.0%) | 22 (37.9%) |
| HJT | 0 | 34 (58.6%) |
| N-type | 0 | 2 (3.4%) |


## 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, REC


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [REC640AA PRO M](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec640aa-pro-m) | 640 | 22.5 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [REC640AA Pro MG](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec640aa-pro-mg) | 640 | 22.5 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [REC630AA PRO M](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec630aa-pro-m) | 630 | 22.2 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [REC630AA Pro MG](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec630aa-pro-mg) | 630 | 22.2 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [REC620AA PRO M](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec620aa-pro-m) | 620 | 21.8 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [REC620AA Pro MG](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec620aa-pro-mg) | 620 | 21.8 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [REC610AA PRO M](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec610aa-pro-m) | 610 | 21.5 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [REC610AA Pro MG](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec610aa-pro-mg) | 610 | 21.5 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [REC600AA PRO M](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec600aa-pro-m) | 600 | 21.1 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [REC600AA Pro MG](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec600aa-pro-mg) | 600 | 21.1 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

ASM (Australian Solar Manufacturing) is a small, Australian-owned assembler established around 2009 and headquartered in Hallam, Victoria. The company sources photovoltaic cells and components from international suppliers and assembles them domestically for the Australian market. It does not appear on BloombergNEF's Tier 1 bankability list and operates at a niche scale with no confirmed large-scale production capacity on record. REC Group, by contrast, was founded in 1996 in Norway and relocated manufacturing to Singapore, where it runs a highly automated production plant reportedly turning out around 26 million panels annually. REC carries confirmed Tier 1 BNEF status and since its acquisition by India's Reliance Industries in 2021 has broader institutional backing. On institutional footprint and global bankability, REC is substantially the stronger brand.

ASM's catalog consists of conventional monocrystalline modules aimed at budget-conscious Australian residential and small commercial rooftop buyers. Its older product lines were built around standard crystalline silicon at modest wattages, and no adoption of newer cell architectures such as TOPCon or HJT has been confirmed through available sources. REC's lineup centers on the Alpha Pure and Alpha Pro M series, which use heterojunction (HJT) technology to achieve verified efficiencies up to 22.6%, alongside the TwinPeak series for broader commercial and industrial rooftop applications. REC backs its panels with a 25-year combined product and performance warranty that guarantees at least 92% of rated output after 25 years - well above the industry norm.

For most buyers in 2025, REC is the default choice. It offers confirmed HJT technology, deep warranty coverage, Tier 1 bankability, and a global installer network, at a price premium that independent reviewers note is still meaningfully lower than comparable premium competitors. ASM may suit buyers with a firm preference for Australian-assembled products, but it cannot match REC on efficiency, market reach, or financial standing. These two brands are not interchangeable - they occupy different tiers of the market entirely.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/rec-solar-panels-complete-review \| REC Solar Panels Expert Review 2025 - SolarReviews \| review

\- https://www.energysage.com/solar/best-solar-panels-complete-ranking/rec-solar-panels-complete-review/ \| REC Solar Panel Review - above-average performance - EnergySage \| review

\- https://www.enfsolar.com/asm \| Australian Solar Manufacturing (ASM) company profile - ENF Solar \| article

\- https://www.pv-tech.org/sunpower-rec-group-development-agreement-us-residential-solar-panels/ \| SunPower and REC Group sign US residential solar development deal - PV Tech \| article

Sources:

\- \[2025 Expert Review Of REC Solar Panels - SolarReviews\](https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/rec-solar-panels-complete-review)

\- \[REC Group solar panel review - EnergySage\](https://www.energysage.com/solar/best-solar-panels-complete-ranking/rec-solar-panels-complete-review/)

\- \[Australian Solar Manufacturing Pty Ltd - ENF Solar\](https://www.enfsolar.com/asm)

\- \[SunPower, REC Group sign development agreement - PV Tech\](https://www.pv-tech.org/sunpower-rec-group-development-agreement-us-residential-solar-panels/)

\- \[REC Group Alpha Series mass production in Singapore - PR Newswire\](https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rec-group-kicks-off-mass-production-of-its-ground-breaking-alpha-module-in-singapore-300936844.html)

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 REC](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-rec)
- [ASM vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-aeet)
- [AIKO vs REC](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-rec)
- [ASM vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-akcome)
- [ARTsolar vs REC](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-rec)


---

Source: https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-rec

Not in this file, on the page: the distributions above drawn as charts.

