Skip to main content
520 vs 525 18 of 19 identical Swap Change panels

GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 vs GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-525

GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520
520 Wp 23.37 % TOPCon Bifacial
VS
GCL-NT12R/54GDF-525
525 Wp 23.60 % TOPCon Bifacial
The verdict

525 leads on the differences that matter

The largest is module efficiency: 0.23 pp more efficient. 18 of 19 comparable parameters are identical.

See the one difference
How alike are they
18 of 19 comparable
parameters are identical
identical differs
01

What actually differs

1 of 19 parameters
Parameter 520 525 Difference
Module efficiency 23.37 % 23.60 % 0.23 pp more efficient
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 (-0.290 %/°C), so a warmer roof scales both curves by the same factor: the totals fall together and neither panel gains on the other.
520
17,447 kWh
525
17,615 kWh
Lifetime gap
168 kWh
Output when it is hot
Rated power carried across the range a module actually sees
Scenario 520 525
Standard test conditions 25 °C 100.0% of rated power 520 W 525 W
Cool, bright day 40 °C 95.7% of rated power 497 W 502 W
Typical summer roof 55 °C 91.3% of rated power 475 W 479 W
Hot roof 70 °C 87.0% of rated power 452 W 456 W
03

Full specification

Parameter 520 525 Difference
Power and efficiency
Rated power 520 Wp 525 Wp Effectively the same
Module efficiency 23.37 % 23.60 % +0.23 pp for 525
Power density 233.7 Wp/m² 236.0 Wp/m² Effectively the same
Open-circuit voltage 40.05 V 40.30 V Effectively the same
Voltage at max power 33.99 V 34.20 V Effectively the same
Short-circuit current 16.11 A 16.16 A Effectively the same
Current at max power 15.30 A 15.35 A Effectively the same
Temperature
Temperature coefficient -0.290 %/°C -0.290 %/°C Same
Mechanical
Dimensions 1962x1134x30 mm 1962x1134x30 mm Same
Module area 2.225 m² 2.225 m² Same
Weight 27.3 kg 27.3 kg Same
Weight per kWp 52.5 kg/kWp 52.0 kg/kWp Effectively the same
Warranty and degradation
Product warranty 12 yrs 12 yrs Same
Performance warranty 30 yrs 30 yrs Same
Annual degradation 0.40 %/yr 0.40 %/yr Same
Technology
Cell technology TOPCon TOPCon Same
Cell type Monocrystalline Monocrystalline Same
Cell count 108 108 Same
Bifacial Yes Yes Same
04

Against the whole database

14,005 panels
Efficiency
#930 vs #627
525 leads by 303 places
Power density
#919 vs #653
525 leads by 266 places
Heat behaviour
#2,165 vs #2,165
Tied - the same position in the database
Weight
#6,043 vs #5,417
525 leads by 626 places
Warranty
#21 vs #21
Tied - the same position in the database
Overall
#5,503 vs #5,035
525 leads by 468 places
05

More useful comparisons

Open the full database
Same series, other bin
GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 vs GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-530
3 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same series, other bin
GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 vs GCL NT12R/54GDF-525W
One difference: module efficiency
Same series, other bin
GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 vs GCL NT12R/54BGDF-520W
3 differences, the largest is open-circuit voltage
Same series, other bin
GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 vs GCL NT12R/54GDF-520W
The same specification on paper
Same series, other bin
GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 vs GCL NT12R/54BGDF-515W
3 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same series, other bin
GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 vs GCL NT12R/54GDF-515W
One difference: module efficiency
06

Written summary

Checking cache...
07

Questions about this pairing

Which panel is better: GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 or GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-525?
According to our database: GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-525 has higher module efficiency (23.60% vs 23.37%). See the full spec comparison and 30-year energy simulation above for a complete picture.
What is the efficiency of GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 and GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-525?
GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 has a module efficiency of 23.37%, while GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-525 is 23.60%. Higher efficiency means more electricity from the same roof area - useful when space is limited.
What cell technology does GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 use vs GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-525?
GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 uses TOPCon cells; GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-525 uses TOPCon. 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-NT12R/54GDF-520 and GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-525?
GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 has a 30 years power warranty; GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-525 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-NT12R/54GDF-520 and GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-525 bifacial panels?
Both GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 and GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-525 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.

Shop prices: See 5 GCL offers

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.