ASM vs Thornova Solar - 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
Thornova Solar, formerly known as Sunova Solar Technology Co., Ltd., is a Chinese manufacturer of high-efficiency photovoltaic modules and solar cells with production facilities in China and Indonesia. The company specializes in advanced solar panel technology and holds BNEF Tier 1 bankable module manufacturer status...
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- Wuxi, China
- Annual capacity
- 5-10 GW/year
- Employees
- 500-1000
- Tier 1 bankable
- Yes
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, known as Australian Solar Manufacturing, is a small, fully Australian-owned panel assembler founded in 2009 and based in Hallam, Victoria. The company assembles crystalline modules using components sourced internationally and directs its output almost entirely at the domestic residential rooftop market. It does not appear on the BloombergNEF Tier 1 module manufacturer list, placing it in the category of smaller regional assemblers with limited institutional backing. Thornova Solar, by contrast, achieved BloombergNEF Tier 1 status in Q3 2023 and operates at a significantly larger scale, reporting cumulative shipments of approximately 7.1 GW through end-2024. Thornova is understood to operate under the broader Sunova group with roots in Chinese manufacturing and an international distribution presence. On institutional footprint and bankability, Thornova Solar holds a clear and decisive advantage.
ASM's catalog centers on older-generation monocrystalline modules in the 170-200 W output range, suited to small residential installations in Australia. The company emphasizes local assembly and suitability for Australian conditions, though its publicly documented wattage and efficiency figures trail current market standards by a wide margin. Thornova Solar has moved squarely into n-type TOPCon technology, offering bifacial modules that span from compact all-black residential formats to large-format utility-scale panels in the 695-720 W range with conversion efficiencies up to 23.2%. Its Tangra M PRO series earned "Overall Highest Achiever" recognition in the RETC PV Module Index and was named a Top Performer by Kiwa PVEL across all seven reliability test categories in 2025, providing strong third-party validation of module durability and longevity.
For buyers outside of Australia - or Australian buyers pursuing commercial and utility-scale projects - Thornova Solar is the more relevant choice in 2025, offering bankable Tier 1 status, modern bifacial TOPCon technology, and application coverage from residential to large ground-mount. ASM occupies a narrow niche: buyers who specifically require domestically assembled panels for the Australian market and are willing to work with a lower-output, non-Tier-1 product. The two brands are not interchangeable in scale, technology generation, or geographic reach.
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-06-09
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.