--- title: "ASM vs TCL - Brand Comparison | ComparePV" description: "Compare ASM vs TCL solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background." source: "https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-tcl" --- # ASM vs TCL ASM has the broader catalog (1 vs 0 models). ## The two companies | Attribute | ASM | TCL | | --- | --- | --- | | Country | Australia | China | | Headquarters | Hallam, Victoria | Huizhou | | Founded | 2009 | 1981 | | Employees | 1-10 | | | Annual capacity | | | | Tier 1 | no | no | | Listed | | | | Website | [https://www.australiansolarmanufacturing.com.au](https://www.australiansolarmanufacturing.com.au) | [https://www.tcl.com](https://www.tcl.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 | TCL | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Panel Models | 1 | 0 | +1 | | Max Power | 170 W | 0 W | +170 W | | Avg Power | 170 W | 0 W | +170 W | ## Efficiency | Measure | ASM | TCL | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Max Efficiency | 16.00% | - | | | Avg Efficiency | 16.00% | - | | ## Reliability & Warranty | Measure | ASM | TCL | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.438%/°C | - | | | Bifacial Share | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | | | Avg Warranty | - | - | | ## Efficiency distribution | Efficiency band | ASM | TCL | | --- | --- | --- | | \<20% | 1 (100.0%) | 0 | ## Power distribution | Power band | ASM | TCL | | --- | --- | --- | | \<400W | 1 (100.0%) | 0 | ## Cell technology | Technology | ASM | TCL | | --- | --- | --- | | Unknown | 1 (100.0%) | 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 | ## 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. \---LINKS--- \- https://solarquarter.com/2025/09/04/tcl-ranks-in-tier-1-pv-module-manufacturer-by-bnef-leading-with-technology-to-reshape-the-global-energy-ecosystem/ \| TCL ranks in Tier 1 PV Module Manufacturer by BNEF - SolarQuarter \| article \- https://www.solarbeglobal.com/tcl-solar-retains-spot-on-bnefs-tier-1-list-of-global-pv-module-manufacturers-for-q1-2026/ \| TCL Solar retains spot on BNEF Tier 1 list for Q1 2026 \| article \- https://www.solarquotes.com.au/panels/tcl-review.html \| TCL Solar Panels Review - SolarQuotes Australia \| review \- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/18/tcl-zhonghuan-unveils-25-15-efficient-topcon-solar-modules-series-with-multi-slice-design/ \| TCL Zhonghuan unveils 25.17%-efficient TOPCon solar modules \| article \- https://www.enfsolar.com/asm \| Australian Solar Manufacturing (ASM) company profile - ENF Solar \| article Sources: \- \[TCL ranks in Tier 1 PV Module Manufacturer by BNEF\](https://solarquarter.com/2025/09/04/tcl-ranks-in-tier-1-pv-module-manufacturer-by-bnef-leading-with-technology-to-reshape-the-global-energy-ecosystem/) \- \[TCL Solar retains spot on BNEF Tier 1 list for Q1 2026\](https://www.solarbeglobal.com/tcl-solar-retains-spot-on-bnefs-tier-1-list-of-global-pv-module-manufacturers-for-q1-2026/) \- \[TCL Solar Panels Review - SolarQuotes Australia\](https://www.solarquotes.com.au/panels/tcl-review.html) \- \[TCL Zhonghuan unveils 25.17%-efficient TOPCon modules - pv magazine\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/11/18/tcl-zhonghuan-unveils-25-15-efficient-topcon-solar-modules-series-with-multi-slice-design/) \- \[Australian Solar Manufacturing (ASM) - ENF Solar\](https://www.enfsolar.com/asm) 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 TCL](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-tcl) - [ASM vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-aeet) - [AIKO vs TCL](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-tcl) - [ASM vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-akcome) - [ARTsolar vs TCL](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-tcl) --- Source: https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-tcl Not in this file, on the page: the distributions above drawn as charts.