Canadian Solar vs ENCOR - solar panel manufacturer comparison
Canadian Solar has the broader catalog (292 vs 4 models). Canadian Solar leads on peak efficiency at 24.40%. Canadian Solar leans bifacial (46% 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
Canadian Solar Inc. is a global renewable energy company founded in 2001. Headquartered in Kitchener, Ontario, it manufactures solar PV modules and provides battery energy storage solutions. The company also develops utility-scale solar power and battery energy storage projects.
- Founded
- 2001
- Headquarters
- Kitchener, Canada
- Annual capacity
- 51 GW/year
- Employees
- 17,113
- Listed
- NASDAQ: CSIQ
- Tier 1 bankable
- Yes
ENCOR is a proprietary solar brand owned by CORAB S.A., a Polish manufacturer and distributor of photovoltaic systems founded in 1991. The brand covers an ecosystem of own-label PV modules, inverters, and energy storage units produced to CORAB's specifications. CORAB is one of the largest photovoltaic mounting...
- Founded
- 1991
- Headquarters
- Olsztyn, Poland
- Employees
- 200-500
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
Canadian Solar skews to higher efficiency: 13% of lineup is 23%+
Canadian Solar offers more 600W+ panels (24% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (67%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (75%)
The flagships
Written summary
Canadian Solar is a Canadian-founded company (Guelph, Ontario, 2001) whose manufacturing base is centered in China, with module production capacity targets in the range of 51-59 GW reported for 2025. It has been publicly listed on NASDAQ since 2006 and earned placement on the S&P Global Commodity Insights Premier List of Tier 1 Cleantech Companies in 2025, cementing its status as one of the most bankable names in the global solar industry. ENCOR, by contrast, is a proprietary panel brand operated by CORAB S.A., a Polish company founded in 1991 that built its reputation as one of Poland's largest manufacturers of PV mounting structures before extending into own-label modules distributed across more than 30 countries. Canadian Solar carries the far stronger institutional footprint of the two, with decades of utility-scale project development and a well-established global financing track record behind it.
In terms of product scope, Canadian Solar's portfolio covers the full spectrum - from residential rooftop modules to large utility-scale ground-mount systems. Its current lineup leans heavily on TOPCon cell technology, as seen in the TOPHiKu series, with HJT-based low-carbon modules also in active development. ENCOR's catalog is narrower, targeting residential and light-commercial buyers with a power range of approximately 375 W to 460 W. Its technology mix combines PERC and TOPCon cells, with average panel efficiency reported around 21%, a solid mid-range figure but below the headline numbers Canadian Solar's premium TOPCon lines can reach.
For a typical buyer in 2025, Canadian Solar is the lower-risk default - it offers greater financing acceptance, wider installer familiarity, and a broader product ladder from entry-level to premium. ENCOR can be a viable choice in European residential markets where CORAB's distribution network is well established, especially for buyers who value a European-manufactured product. Outside that regional context, the two brands are not interchangeable; Canadian Solar's scale and bankability give it a meaningful structural advantage.
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-06-09
Other brand comparisons
Shop prices: See 40 Canadian Solar offers · See 1 ENCOR offer
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.