Astronergy vs Phono Solar - solar panel manufacturer comparison
Phono Solar has the broader catalog (174 vs 150 models). Astronergy leads on peak efficiency at 24.80%. Astronergy leans bifacial (69% of lineup).
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
Astronergy is a global manufacturer and supplier of solar modules, and a subsidiary of Chint Group, one of the world's leading providers of smart energy solutions. The company focuses on the R&D, production, and sales of high-efficiency crystalline silicon PV cells and PV modules. Astronergy has established...
- Founded
- 2006
- Headquarters
- Hangzhou, China
- Annual capacity
- 76+ GW/year
- Employees
- 12000+
- Tier 1 bankable
- Yes
Phono Solar Technology Co., Ltd. specializes in the research, development, and manufacture of photovoltaic solar panels and is a global provider of solar products and services. The company is affiliated with SUMEC Group, a subsidiary of China National Machinery Industry Corporation (SINOMACH). Phono Solar has been...
- Founded
- 2004
- Headquarters
- Nanjing, China
- Annual capacity
- 3-4 GW/year
- Employees
- 13000+
- 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
Astronergy skews to higher efficiency: 39% of lineup is 23%+
Astronergy offers more 600W+ panels (40% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>TOPCon</strong> (89%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (37%)
The flagships
Written summary
Astronergy is a Chinese photovoltaic manufacturer founded in 2006 as part of CHINT Group, one of China's largest energy and electrical conglomerates. The company holds BloombergNEF Tier 1 bankable status and ranked among the top six globally by module shipment volume in 2024, with annual deliveries exceeding 40 GW and cumulative worldwide shipments surpassing 130 GW. It has earned Kiwa PVEL Top Performer recognition for eight consecutive years and was named the 2024 Overall Highest Achiever in the RETC PV Module Index - credentials that carry real weight with project finance teams. Phono Solar operates under SUMEC Group, a subsidiary of the Fortune Global 500 conglomerate SINOMACH, and is headquartered in Nanjing. It has maintained BloombergNEF Tier 1 status continuously since 2014, though its production capacity is considerably smaller, estimated at approximately 1.6 GW per year. On institutional footprint and global scale, Astronergy holds a clear advantage.
Astronergy has positioned itself as a pioneer in n-type TOPCon technology, anchoring its commercial lineup around the ASTRO N series. The latest ASTRO N7 Pro reaches up to 670 W with a conversion efficiency of 24.8%, while the anti-dust ASTRO N7 series covers 725-750 W at up to 23.2% efficiency - modules designed to serve utility-scale ground-mount plants, commercial and industrial rooftops, and residential installations alike. Phono Solar competes with its Draco TOPCon series, unveiled at Intersolar Munich 2024, spanning roughly 400 W to over 700 W and targeting similar residential and C&I applications. Both manufacturers thus converge on n-type TOPCon as the dominant cell architecture, leaving product technology as a relatively minor differentiator between them.
For a typical international buyer - an EPC contractor, independent power producer, or commercial developer - Astronergy is the stronger default choice when bankability documentation, supply chain continuity, and third-party test performance matter. Its scale makes it easier to source consistently across large projects. Phono Solar is a credible and bankable alternative, particularly for buyers who value the backing of SINOMACH and want a somewhat smaller, quality-focused supplier. Where either panel meets the project specification and both are available at comparable cost, they are broadly interchangeable from a technical standpoint.
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-06-27
Other brand comparisons
Shop prices: See 41 Astronergy offers · See 5 Phono Solar offers
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.