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GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 vs NT12R/54BGDF-515W 16 of 19 identical Swap Change panels

GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 vs GCL NT12R/54BGDF-515W

GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520
520 Wp 23.37 % TOPCon Bifacial
Open panel page Datasheet PDF
VS
NT12R/54BGDF-515W
515 Wp 23.15 % TOPCon Bifacial
Open panel page Datasheet PDF
The verdict

GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 leads on the differences that matter

The largest is module efficiency: 0.22 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 GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 NT12R/54BGDF-515W Difference
Module efficiency 23.37 % 23.15 % 0.22 pp more efficient
Short-circuit current 16.11 A 15.50 A 0.61 A apart
Open-circuit voltage 40.05 V 41.19 V 1.14 V apart
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.
GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520
17,447 kWh
NT12R/54BGDF-515W
17,279 kWh
Lifetime gap
168 kWh
Output when it is hot
Rated power carried across the range a module actually sees
Scenario GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 NT12R/54BGDF-515W
Standard test conditions 25 °C 100.0% of rated power 520 W 515 W
Cool, bright day 40 °C 95.7% of rated power 497 W 493 W
Typical summer roof 55 °C 91.3% of rated power 475 W 470 W
Hot roof 70 °C 87.0% of rated power 452 W 448 W
03

Full specification

Parameter GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 NT12R/54BGDF-515W Difference
Power and efficiency
Rated power 520 Wp 515 Wp Effectively the same
Module efficiency 23.37 % 23.15 % +0.22 pp for GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520
Power density 233.7 Wp/m² 231.5 Wp/m² Effectively the same
Open-circuit voltage 40.05 V 41.19 V 1.14 V apart
Voltage at max power 33.99 V 34.75 V Effectively the same
Short-circuit current 16.11 A 15.50 A 0.61 A apart
Current at max power 15.30 A 14.82 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 53.0 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 #1,503
GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 leads by 573 places
Power density
#919 vs #1,499
GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 leads by 580 places
Heat behaviour
#2,165 vs #2,165
Tied - the same position in the database
Weight
#6,043 vs #6,762
GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 leads by 719 places
Warranty
#21 vs #21
Tied - the same position in the database
Overall
#5,503 vs #5,886
GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 leads by 383 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 GCL-NT12R/54GDF-525
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/54GDF-515W
One difference: module efficiency
06

Written summary

07

Questions about this pairing

Which panel is better: GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 or GCL NT12R/54BGDF-515W?
According to our database: GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 has higher module efficiency (23.37% vs 23.15%). 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 NT12R/54BGDF-515W?
GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 has a module efficiency of 23.37%, while GCL NT12R/54BGDF-515 W is 23.15%. 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 NT12R/54BGDF-515W?
GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 uses TOPCon cells; GCL NT12R/54BGDF-515 W 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 NT12R/54BGDF-515W?
GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 has a 30 years power warranty; GCL NT12R/54BGDF-515 W 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 NT12R/54BGDF-515W bifacial panels?
Both GCL GCL-NT12R/54GDF-520 and GCL NT12R/54BGDF-515 W 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.