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550 vs 540 16 of 19 identical Swap Change panels

GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 vs GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-540

GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550
550 Wp 21.00 % PERC Bifacial
Open panel page Datasheet PDF
VS
GCL-M10/72GDF-B-540
540 Wp 20.60 % PERC Bifacial
Open panel page Datasheet PDF
The verdict

550 leads on the differences that matter

The largest is module efficiency: 0.40 pp more efficient. 16 of 19 comparable parameters are identical.

See all 3 differences
How alike are they
16 of 19 comparable
parameters are identical
identical differs
01

What actually differs

3 of 19 parameters
Parameter 550 540 Difference
Module efficiency 21.00 % 20.60 % 0.40 pp more efficient
Power density 209.6 Wp/m² 205.8 Wp/m² 3.8 Wp/m² higher
Rated power 550 Wp 540 Wp 10 W more power
02

What it means on a roof

Thirty years of production
Each panel's own declared degradation curve, at 1,200 kWh/kWp a year
Same temp coeff. for both panels (-0.350 %/°C), so a warmer roof scales both curves by the same factor: the totals fall together and neither panel gains on the other.
550
18,112 kWh
540
17,783 kWh
Lifetime gap
329 kWh
Output when it is hot
Rated power carried across the range a module actually sees
Scenario 550 540
Standard test conditions 25 °C 100.0% of rated power 550 W 540 W
Cool, bright day 40 °C 94.8% of rated power 521 W 512 W
Typical summer roof 55 °C 89.5% of rated power 492 W 483 W
Hot roof 70 °C 84.2% of rated power 463 W 455 W
03

Full specification

Parameter 550 540 Difference
Power and efficiency
Rated power 550 Wp 540 Wp +10 W for 550
Module efficiency 21.00 % 20.60 % +0.40 pp for 550
Power density 209.6 Wp/m² 205.8 Wp/m² +3.8 Wp/m² for 550
Open-circuit voltage 49.80 V 49.24 V Effectively the same
Voltage at max power 41.93 V 41.45 V Effectively the same
Short-circuit current 13.88 A 13.78 A Effectively the same
Current at max power 13.12 A 13.03 A Effectively the same
Temperature
Temperature coefficient -0.350 %/°C -0.350 %/°C Same
Mechanical
Dimensions 2290x1146x30 mm 2290x1146x30 mm Same
Module area 2.624 m² 2.624 m² Same
Weight 33.2 kg 33.2 kg Same
Weight per kWp 60.4 kg/kWp 61.5 kg/kWp Effectively the same
Warranty and degradation
Product warranty 12 yrs 12 yrs Same
Performance warranty 30 yrs 30 yrs Same
Annual degradation 0.45 %/yr 0.45 %/yr Same
Technology
Cell technology PERC PERC Same
Cell type Monocrystalline Monocrystalline Same
Cell count 144 144 Same
Bifacial Yes Yes Same
04

Against the whole database

14,005 panels
Efficiency
#9,758 vs #11,093
550 leads by 1,335 places
Power density
#9,926 vs #11,142
550 leads by 1,216 places
Heat behaviour
#10,419 vs #10,419
Tied - the same position in the database
Weight
#12,444 vs #12,653
550 leads by 209 places
Warranty
#21 vs #21
Tied - the same position in the database
Overall
#7,387 vs #8,312
550 leads by 925 places
05

More useful comparisons

Open the full database
Same series, other bin
GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 vs GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-555
The same specification on paper
Same series, other bin
GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 vs GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-545
One difference: module efficiency
Same series, other bin
GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 vs GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-535
3 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same manufacturer
GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 vs GCL GCL-NT12/66GDF-740
13 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same manufacturer
GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 vs GCL GCL-NT12/66GDF-735
13 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same manufacturer
GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 vs GCL GCL-NT12/66GDF-730
13 differences, the largest is module efficiency
06

Written summary

07

Questions about this pairing

Which panel is better: GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 or GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-540?
According to our database: GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 has higher module efficiency (21.00% vs 20.60%). See the full spec comparison and 30-year energy simulation above for a complete picture.
What is the efficiency of GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 and GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-540?
GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 has a module efficiency of 21.00%, while GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-540 is 20.60%. Higher efficiency means more electricity from the same roof area - useful when space is limited.
What cell technology does GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 use vs GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-540?
GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 uses PERC cells; GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-540 uses PERC. 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 GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 and GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-540?
GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 has a 30 years power warranty; GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-540 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.
Are GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 and GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-540 bifacial panels?
Both GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-550 and GCL GCL-M10/72GDF-B-540 are bifacial - they capture reflected light from the ground, which can add 5-15% more annual energy on ground-mount or elevated rooftop installations with a light surface beneath.

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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.