ASM vs TCL - solar panel manufacturer comparison
ASM has the broader catalog (1 vs 0 models).
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
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
The flagships
Written summary
ASM (Australian Solar Manufacturing) is a small domestic assembler headquartered in Victoria, Australia, founded in 2009 with a workforce of just one to ten employees. The company does not manufacture photovoltaic cells itself but assembles panels from imported components sourced from Germany, Japan, and Asia. No published production capacity figures are available, and the company carries no Tier 1 bankability designation. TCL is a significantly larger operation founded in 1981 and based in China, with a documented commercial panel portfolio and a recent track record of institutional recognition: the company earned a spot on BloombergNEF's Global Tier 1 PV Module Manufacturer list beginning in Q3 2025 and retained it through Q1 2026, though the data provided here still marks it as non-bankable - likely reflecting a snapshot taken before that designation was confirmed. On institutional footprint alone, TCL has the stronger standing by a wide margin.
The contrast in product portfolios is equally stark. ASM provides no aggregated efficiency, wattage, or technology data in its current profile, and historically its panels sat in the modest 170-200 Wp range, placing them well outside the specifications demanded by any modern commercial or utility project. TCL's 12-panel lineup is built entirely on TOPCon cell architecture, is 100% bifacial, and delivers an average output of 665 Wp with a peak of 725 Wp. Average efficiency sits at 22.9%, topping out at 23.3%, and the average temperature coefficient of -0.285%/°C is competitive for the technology class. A 30-year linear performance warranty rounds out a specification sheet that fits well-funded commercial rooftop and ground-mount projects where bankability, long-term yield guarantees, and high-density power matter.
For a typical buyer in 2025, TCL is the clear default between these two options. ASM's near-absence of verifiable panel data, its micro-scale assembly operation, and its lack of any bankability rating make it difficult to recommend for any project requiring financing, insurance, or long-horizon performance assurance. TCL, by contrast, offers a modern, fully documented TOPCon bifacial lineup with a 30-year warranty and a freshly earned Tier 1 designation - making it a credible choice for residential buyers seeking high efficiency and for commercial developers needing a financeable module. The main caveat is that TCL still lacks the depth of field data that larger Chinese tier-1 manufacturers such as LONGi or Jinko carry, so buyers on large projects may want to request independent test reports before committing.
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-05-11
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.