---
title: "Canadian Solar vs TCL - Brand Comparison | ComparePV"
description: "Compare Canadian Solar vs TCL solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background."
source: "https://comparepv.com/canadian-solar-vs-tcl"
---

# Canadian Solar vs TCL

Canadian Solar has the broader catalog (292 vs 0 models). Canadian Solar leans bifacial (46% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | Canadian Solar | TCL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | Canada | China |
| Headquarters | Kitchener | Huizhou |
| Founded | 2001 | 1981 |
| Employees | 17,113 |  |
| Annual capacity | 51 GW/year |  |
| Tier 1 | yes | no |
| Listed | NASDAQ: CSIQ |  |
| Website | [https://www.canadiansolar.com](https://www.canadiansolar.com) | [https://www.tcl.com](https://www.tcl.com) |

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.


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | Canadian Solar | TCL | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 292 | 0 | +292 |
| Max Power | 730 W | 0 W | +730 W |
| Avg Power | 472 W | 0 W | +472 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | Canadian Solar | TCL | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 24.40% | - |  |
| Avg Efficiency | 20.66% | - |  |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | Canadian Solar | TCL | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.331%/°C | - |  |
| Bifacial Share | 133 (46%) | 0 (0%) | +46 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 28.2 yrs | - |  |


## Efficiency distribution

Canadian Solar skews to higher efficiency: 13% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | Canadian Solar | TCL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 128 (43.8%) | 0 |
| 20-21% | 36 (12.3%) | 0 |
| 21-22% | 41 (14.0%) | 0 |
| 22-23% | 50 (17.1%) | 0 |
| 23%+ | 37 (12.7%) | 0 |


## Power distribution

Canadian Solar offers more 600W+ panels (24% of lineup)


| Power band | Canadian Solar | TCL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 104 (35.6%) | 0 |
| 400-499W | 72 (24.7%) | 0 |
| 500-599W | 45 (15.4%) | 0 |
| 600-699W | 64 (21.9%) | 0 |
| 700W+ | 7 (2.4%) | 0 |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (67%)


| Technology | Canadian Solar | TCL |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PERC | 195 (66.8%) | 0 |
| TOPCon | 85 (29.1%) | 0 |
| HJT | 12 (4.1%) | 0 |


## Top panels, Canadian Solar


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [CS7N-730TB-AG](https://comparepv.com/panel/csi-solar-co-ltd-canadian-solar-cs7n-730tb-ag) | 730 | 23.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [CS7N-725TB-AG](https://comparepv.com/panel/csi-solar-co-ltd-canadian-solar-cs7n-725tb-ag) | 725 | 23.3 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [CS7N-720TB-AG](https://comparepv.com/panel/csi-solar-co-ltd-canadian-solar-cs7n-720tb-ag) | 720 | 23.2 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [CS7N-715TB-AG](https://comparepv.com/panel/csi-solar-co-ltd-canadian-solar-cs7n-715tb-ag) | 715 | 23.0 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [CS7N-710TB-AG](https://comparepv.com/panel/csi-solar-co-ltd-canadian-solar-cs7n-710tb-ag) | 710 | 22.9 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [CS7N-705TB-AG](https://comparepv.com/panel/csi-solar-co-ltd-canadian-solar-cs7n-705tb-ag) | 705 | 22.7 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [CS7N-700TB-AG](https://comparepv.com/panel/csi-solar-co-ltd-canadian-solar-cs7n-700tb-ag) | 700 | 22.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [CS7N-695TB-AG](https://comparepv.com/panel/csi-solar-co-ltd-canadian-solar-cs7n-695tb-ag) | 695 | 22.4 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [CS7N-690TB-AG](https://comparepv.com/panel/csi-solar-co-ltd-canadian-solar-cs7n-690tb-ag) | 690 | 22.2 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [CS7N-675MS](https://comparepv.com/panel/csi-solar-co-ltd-canadian-solar-cs7n-675ms) | 675 | 21.7 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

Canadian Solar is a Canadian-founded manufacturer established in 2001, headquartered in Guelph, Ontario, with the bulk of its production concentrated in China. It holds Tier 1 status from S&P Global Commodity Insights and has long maintained a position on BloombergNEF's Tier 1 module list, making it one of the most bankable names in the industry. The company shipped 24.3 GW of modules in 2025 against a nameplate capacity of roughly 61 GW. TCL Solar is a newer module-market entrant under TCL Group, a Chinese conglomerate founded in 1981 originally known for consumer electronics. TCL's solar push accelerated sharply in early 2025 when it folded SunPower's international operations into a new entity called TCL SunPower Global, and the brand has since secured BNEF Tier 1 module manufacturer recognition through Q1 2026. On institutional depth and bankability history, Canadian Solar is clearly the stronger player.

Canadian Solar's product families span HJT-based HiHero panels aimed at high-efficiency residential and commercial rooftops, and larger-format TOPCon modules - the TOPHiKu and TOPBiHiKu lines - suited to utility-scale and commercial ground-mount projects. TCL Solar similarly leads with N-type TOPCon for utility and commercial applications, and differentiates through back contact modules inherited from the SunPower lineage, targeting the premium residential segment with efficiencies reported above 25% for select configurations and warranties cited at 25 years on product and 30 years on performance.

For most buyers in 2025, Canadian Solar is the lower-risk default: its multi-decade track record, broad installer network, and high shipment volumes translate into competitive pricing and straightforward warranty enforcement. TCL Solar is a credible alternative - particularly for buyers seeking back contact technology - but its newer identity as a module brand means fewer long-term field data points. Both brands rely on comparable underlying N-type cell technology, so the practical decision often comes down to local supply availability and installer familiarity.

\---LINKS---

\- https://investors.canadiansolar.com/news-releases/news-release-details/canadian-solar-makes-sp-global-commodity-insights-premier-list \| Canadian Solar named S&P Global Tier 1 Cleantech Company 2025 \| article

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/press-releases/tcl-solar-rated-as-bnef-tier-1-module-manufacturer-global-competitiveness-gains-authoritative-recognition/ \| TCL Solar rated BNEF Tier 1 module manufacturer - PV Magazine \| article

\- https://www.solarquotes.com.au/panels/tcl-review.html \| TCL Solar Panels Review - SolarQuotes Australia \| review

\- https://www.pv-tech.org/tcl-zhonghuan-to-invest-us2-billion-in-25gw-n-type-cell-and-35gw-silicon-wafer-plants/ \| TCL Zhonghuan $2B investment in 25GW n-type cell plants - PV Tech \| article

\- https://energyranked.com/learn/solar/best-solar-panels/ \| Best Solar Panels 2026 Expert Rankings - EnergyRanked \| review

Sources:

\- \[Canadian Solar named S&P Global Tier 1 Cleantech Company 2025\](https://investors.canadiansolar.com/news-releases/news-release-details/canadian-solar-makes-sp-global-commodity-insights-premier-list)

\- \[TCL Solar rated BNEF Tier 1 module manufacturer - PV Magazine\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/press-releases/tcl-solar-rated-as-bnef-tier-1-module-manufacturer-global-competitiveness-gains-authoritative-recognition/)

\- \[TCL Solar Panels Review - SolarQuotes Australia\](https://www.solarquotes.com.au/panels/tcl-review.html)

\- \[TCL Zhonghuan $2B investment in 25GW n-type cell plants - PV Tech\](https://www.pv-tech.org/tcl-zhonghuan-to-invest-us2-billion-in-25gw-n-type-cell-and-35gw-silicon-wafer-plants/)

\- \[Best Solar Panels 2026 Expert Rankings - EnergyRanked\](https://energyranked.com/learn/solar/best-solar-panels/)

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


## Other comparisons

- [Canadian Solar vs A.B. Energy](https://comparepv.com/canadian-solar-vs-a-b-energy)
- [AE Solar vs TCL](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-tcl)
- [Canadian Solar vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/canadian-solar-vs-aeet)
- [AIKO vs TCL](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-tcl)
- [Canadian Solar vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/canadian-solar-vs-akcome)
- [ARTsolar vs TCL](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-tcl)


---

Source: https://comparepv.com/canadian-solar-vs-tcl

Not in this file, on the page: the distributions above drawn as charts.