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590 XM+ vs 520 XM 8 of 19 identical Swap Change panels

Silfab SIL-590 XM+ vs Silfab SIL-520 XM

Silfab
SIL-590 XM+
590 Wp 22.80 % N-type Bifacial
Open panel page Datasheet PDF
VS
Silfab
SIL-520 XM
520 Wp 21.90 % TOPCon Bifacial
Open panel page Datasheet PDF
The verdict

590 XM+ leads on the differences that matter

The largest is module efficiency: 0.90 pp more efficient. 8 of 19 comparable parameters are identical.

See all 11 differences
How alike are they
8 of 19 comparable
parameters are identical
identical differs
01

What actually differs

11 of 19 parameters
Parameter 590 XM+ 520 XM Difference
Module efficiency 22.80 % 21.90 % 0.90 pp more efficient
Rated power 590 Wp 520 Wp 70 W more power
Power density 228.6 Wp/m² 218.8 Wp/m² 9.8 Wp/m² higher
Open-circuit voltage 52.50 V 47.52 V 4.98 V apart
Module area 2.581 m² 2.377 m² 0.204 m² apart
Weight 28.5 kg 26.2 kg 2.3 kg lighter
Cell technology N-type TOPCon N-type vs TOPCon
Voltage at max power 44.79 V 40.48 V 4.31 V apart
Cell count 144 132 12 cells apart
Weight per kWp 48.3 kg/kWp 50.4 kg/kWp 2.1 kg/kWp lighter
Dimensions 2278x1133x35 mm 2098x1133x35 mm 2278x1133x35 mm vs 2098x1133x35 mm
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.
590 XM+
19,830 kWh
520 XM
17,531 kWh
Lifetime gap
2,299 kWh
Output when it is hot
Rated power carried across the range a module actually sees
Scenario 590 XM+ 520 XM
Standard test conditions 25 °C 100.0% of rated power 590 W 520 W
Cool, bright day 40 °C 95.7% of rated power 564 W 497 W
Typical summer roof 55 °C 91.3% of rated power 539 W 475 W
Hot roof 70 °C 87.0% of rated power 513 W 452 W
03

Full specification

Parameter 590 XM+ 520 XM Difference
Power and efficiency
Rated power 590 Wp 520 Wp +70 W for 590 XM+
Module efficiency 22.80 % 21.90 % +0.90 pp for 590 XM+
Power density 228.6 Wp/m² 218.8 Wp/m² +9.8 Wp/m² for 590 XM+
Open-circuit voltage 52.50 V 47.52 V 4.98 V apart
Voltage at max power 44.79 V 40.48 V 4.31 V apart
Short-circuit current 13.91 A 13.65 A Effectively the same
Current at max power 13.17 A 12.85 A Effectively the same
Temperature
Temperature coefficient -0.290 %/°C -0.290 %/°C Same
Mechanical
Dimensions 2278x1133x35 mm 2098x1133x35 mm 2278x1133x35 mm vs 2098x1133x35 mm
Module area 2.581 m² 2.377 m² 0.204 m² apart
Weight 28.5 kg 26.2 kg -2.3 kg for 520 XM
Weight per kWp 48.3 kg/kWp 50.4 kg/kWp -2.1 kg/kWp for 590 XM+
Warranty and degradation
Product warranty 25 yrs 25 yrs Same
Performance warranty 30 yrs 30 yrs Same
Annual degradation 0.32 %/yr 0.30 %/yr Effectively the same
Technology
Cell technology N-type TOPCon N-type vs TOPCon
Cell type Monocrystalline Monocrystalline Same
Cell count 144 132 12 cells apart
Bifacial Yes Yes Same
04

Against the whole database

14,005 panels
Efficiency
#2,714 vs #6,783
590 XM+ leads by 4,069 places
Power density
#2,463 vs #6,837
590 XM+ leads by 4,374 places
Heat behaviour
#2,165 vs #2,165
Tied - the same position in the database
Weight
#2,190 vs #3,761
590 XM+ leads by 1,571 places
Warranty
#21 vs #21
Tied - the same position in the database
Overall
#1,554 vs #4,485
590 XM+ leads by 2,931 places
05

More useful comparisons

Open the full database
Same series, other bin
Silfab
Silfab SIL-590 XM+ vs Silfab SIL-580-XM+-BIFACIAL
3 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same series, other bin
Silfab
Silfab SIL-590 XM+ vs Silfab SIL-570 XM+ BIFACIAL
4 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same series, other bin
Silfab
Silfab SIL-590 XM+ vs Silfab SIL-570 XM+
4 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same series, other bin
Silfab
Silfab SIL-590 XM+ vs Silfab SIL-530 XM
9 differences, the largest is rated power
Same series, other bin
Silfab
Silfab SIL-590 XM+ vs Silfab SIL-520 QM
11 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same manufacturer
Silfab
Silfab SIL-590 XM+ vs Silfab SIL-640 XL
8 differences, the largest is rated power
06

Written summary

07

Questions about this pairing

Which panel is better: Silfab SIL-590 XM+ or Silfab SIL-520 XM?
According to our database: Silfab SIL-590 XM+ has higher module efficiency (22.80% vs 21.90%). See the full spec comparison and 30-year energy simulation above for a complete picture.
What is the efficiency of Silfab SIL-590 XM+ and Silfab SIL-520 XM?
Silfab SIL-590 XM+ has a module efficiency of 22.80%, while Silfab SIL-520 XM is 21.90%. Higher efficiency means more electricity from the same roof area - useful when space is limited.
What cell technology does Silfab SIL-590 XM+ use vs Silfab SIL-520 XM?
Silfab SIL-590 XM+ uses N-type cells; Silfab SIL-520 XM 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 Silfab SIL-590 XM+ and Silfab SIL-520 XM?
Silfab SIL-590 XM+ has a 30 years power warranty; Silfab SIL-520 XM 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 Silfab SIL-590 XM+ and Silfab SIL-520 XM bifacial panels?
Both Silfab SIL-590 XM+ and Silfab SIL-520 XM 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.