7540A-TR1 vs 7520A-TR1 12 of 18 identical Swap Change panels

First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 vs First Solar FS-7520A-TR1

Q: Which panel is better: First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 or First Solar FS-7520A-TR1?

According to our database: First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 has higher module efficiency (19.30% vs 18.60%). See the full spec comparison and 30-year energy simulation above for a complete picture.

Q: What is the efficiency of First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 and First Solar FS-7520A-TR1?

First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 has a module efficiency of 19.30%, while First Solar FS-7520A-TR1 is 18.60%. Higher efficiency means more electricity from the same roof area - useful when space is limited.

Q: What cell technology does First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 use vs First Solar FS-7520A-TR1?

First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 uses CdTe cells; First Solar FS-7520A-TR1 uses CdTe. Modern n-type technologies (TOPCon, HJT, BC) typically deliver higher efficiency and lower degradation compared to older PERC (p-type) cells.

Q: What is the warranty on First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 and First Solar FS-7520A-TR1?

First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 has a 30 years power warranty; First Solar FS-7520A-TR1 has a 30 years power warranty. The power warranty guarantees a minimum percentage of rated output at the end of the warranty period (typically 80-87%). Product (materials) warranties are usually shorter.

First Solar

FS-7540A-TR1

540 Wp 19.30 % CdTe

Open panel page Datasheet PDF

First Solar

FS-7520A-TR1

520 Wp 18.60 % CdTe

Open panel page Datasheet PDF

The verdict

7540A-TR1 leads on the differences that matter

The largest is module efficiency: 0.70 pp more efficient. 12 of 18 comparable parameters are identical, with 1 more left out because at least one datasheet does not publish it.

See all 6 differences

How alike are they

12 of 18 comparable
parameters are identical

identical differs not published

What actually differs

6 of 18 parameters

Parameter 7540A-TR1 7520A-TR1 Difference

Module efficiency 19.30 % 18.60 % 0.70 pp more efficient

Power density 193.1 Wp/m² 185.9 Wp/m² 7.2 Wp/m² higher

Rated power 540 Wp 520 Wp 20 W more power

Weight per kWp 73.5 kg/kWp 76.3 kg/kWp 2.8 kg/kWp lighter

Open-circuit voltage 227.70 V 225.60 V 2.10 V apart

Voltage at max power 188.70 V 185.20 V 3.50 V apart

What it means on a roof

Thirty years of production

Each panel's own declared degradation curve, at 1,200 kWh/kWp a year

Cell temperature

Same temp coeff. for both panels (-0.320 %/°C), so a warmer roof scales both curves by the same factor: the totals fall together and neither panel gains on the other.

7540A-TR1

18,206 kWh

7520A-TR1

17,531 kWh

Lifetime gap

675 kWh

Output when it is hot

Rated power carried across the range a module actually sees

Scenario 7540A-TR1 7520A-TR1

Standard test conditions 25 °C 100.0% of rated power 540 W 520 W

Cool, bright day 40 °C 95.2% of rated power 514 W 495 W

Typical summer roof 55 °C 90.4% of rated power 488 W 470 W

Hot roof 70 °C 85.6% of rated power 462 W 445 W

Full specification

Parameter 7540A-TR1 7520A-TR1 Difference

Power and efficiency

Rated power 540 Wp 520 Wp +20 W for 7540A-TR1

Module efficiency 19.30 % 18.60 % +0.70 pp for 7540A-TR1

Power density 193.1 Wp/m² 185.9 Wp/m² +7.2 Wp/m² for 7540A-TR1

Open-circuit voltage 227.70 V 225.60 V 2.10 V apart

Voltage at max power 188.70 V 185.20 V 3.50 V apart

Short-circuit current 3.06 A 3.04 A Effectively the same

Current at max power 2.86 A 2.81 A Effectively the same

Temperature

Temperature coefficient -0.320 %/°C -0.320 %/°C Same

Mechanical

Dimensions 2300x1216x49 mm 2300x1216x49 mm Same

Module area 2.797 m² 2.797 m² Same

Weight 39.7 kg 39.7 kg Same

Weight per kWp 73.5 kg/kWp 76.3 kg/kWp -2.8 kg/kWp for 7540A-TR1

Warranty and degradation

Product warranty 12 yrs 12 yrs Same

Performance warranty 30 yrs 30 yrs Same

Annual degradation 0.30 %/yr 0.30 %/yr Same

Technology

Cell technology CdTe CdTe Same

Cell type Thin film Thin film Same

Cell count - - Neither datasheet publishes this

Bifacial No No Same

Against the whole database

14,129 panels

Efficiency

#12,889 vs #13,181

7540A-TR1 leads by 292 places

Power density

#12,871 vs #13,165

7540A-TR1 leads by 294 places

Heat behaviour

#8,376 vs #8,376

Tied - the same position in the database

Weight

#13,685 vs #13,765

7540A-TR1 leads by 80 places

Warranty

#21 vs #21

Tied - the same position in the database

Overall

#9,831 vs #10,797

7540A-TR1 leads by 966 places

More useful comparisons

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Written summary

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Questions about this pairing

Which panel is better: First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 or First Solar FS-7520A-TR1?

According to our database: First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 has higher module efficiency (19.30% vs 18.60%). See the full spec comparison and 30-year energy simulation above for a complete picture.

What is the efficiency of First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 and First Solar FS-7520A-TR1?

First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 has a module efficiency of 19.30%, while First Solar FS-7520A-TR1 is 18.60%. Higher efficiency means more electricity from the same roof area - useful when space is limited.

What cell technology does First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 use vs First Solar FS-7520A-TR1?

First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 uses CdTe cells; First Solar FS-7520A-TR1 uses CdTe. Modern n-type technologies (TOPCon, HJT, BC) typically deliver higher efficiency and lower degradation compared to older PERC (p-type) cells.

What is the warranty on First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 and First Solar FS-7520A-TR1?

First Solar FS-7540A-TR1 has a 30 years power warranty; First Solar FS-7520A-TR1 has a 30 years power warranty. The power warranty guarantees a minimum percentage of rated output at the end of the warranty period (typically 80-87%). Product (materials) warranties are usually shorter.

Every figure here is from the manufacturers' own datasheets - a dash means the value is not published, never an estimate. The thirty-year projection and the temperature scenarios are calculations from those figures, and each states its assumption above.