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630 XL vs 520 XM 8 of 19 identical Swap Change panels

Silfab SIL-630 XL vs Silfab SIL-520 XM

Silfab
SIL-630 XL
630 Wp 22.56 % 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

630 XL leads on the differences that matter

The largest is module efficiency: 0.66 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 630 XL 520 XM Difference
Module efficiency 22.56 % 21.90 % 0.66 pp more efficient
Rated power 630 Wp 520 Wp 110 W more power
Weight 29.5 kg 26.2 kg 3.3 kg lighter
Power density 225.6 Wp/m² 218.8 Wp/m² 6.8 Wp/m² higher
Open-circuit voltage 57.49 V 47.52 V 9.97 V apart
Module area 2.793 m² 2.377 m² 0.416 m² apart
Weight per kWp 46.8 kg/kWp 50.4 kg/kWp 3.6 kg/kWp lighter
Cell technology N-type TOPCon N-type vs TOPCon
Voltage at max power 48.47 V 40.48 V 7.99 V apart
Cell count 156 132 24 cells apart
Dimensions 2465x1133x35 mm 2098x1133x35 mm 2465x1133x35 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.
630 XL
21,240 kWh
520 XM
17,531 kWh
Lifetime gap
3,709 kWh
Output when it is hot
Rated power carried across the range a module actually sees
Scenario 630 XL 520 XM
Standard test conditions 25 °C 100.0% of rated power 630 W 520 W
Cool, bright day 40 °C 95.7% of rated power 603 W 497 W
Typical summer roof 55 °C 91.3% of rated power 575 W 475 W
Hot roof 70 °C 87.0% of rated power 548 W 452 W
03

Full specification

Parameter 630 XL 520 XM Difference
Power and efficiency
Rated power 630 Wp 520 Wp +110 W for 630 XL
Module efficiency 22.56 % 21.90 % +0.66 pp for 630 XL
Power density 225.6 Wp/m² 218.8 Wp/m² +6.8 Wp/m² for 630 XL
Open-circuit voltage 57.49 V 47.52 V 9.97 V apart
Voltage at max power 48.47 V 40.48 V 7.99 V apart
Short-circuit current 13.66 A 13.65 A Effectively the same
Current at max power 13.00 A 12.85 A Effectively the same
Temperature
Temperature coefficient -0.290 %/°C -0.290 %/°C Same
Mechanical
Dimensions 2465x1133x35 mm 2098x1133x35 mm 2465x1133x35 mm vs 2098x1133x35 mm
Module area 2.793 m² 2.377 m² 0.416 m² apart
Weight 29.5 kg 26.2 kg -3.3 kg for 520 XM
Weight per kWp 46.8 kg/kWp 50.4 kg/kWp -3.6 kg/kWp for 630 XL
Warranty and degradation
Product warranty 25 yrs 25 yrs Same
Performance warranty 30 yrs 30 yrs Same
Annual degradation 0.30 %/yr 0.30 %/yr Same
Technology
Cell technology N-type TOPCon N-type vs TOPCon
Cell type Monocrystalline Monocrystalline Same
Cell count 156 132 24 cells apart
Bifacial Yes Yes Same
04

Against the whole database

14,269 panels
Efficiency
#4,028 vs #6,940
630 XL leads by 2,912 places
Power density
#3,996 vs #6,993
630 XL leads by 2,997 places
Heat behaviour
#2,260 vs #2,260
Tied - the same position in the database
Weight
#1,375 vs #3,806
630 XL leads by 2,431 places
Warranty
#31 vs #31
Tied - the same position in the database
Overall
#1,037 vs #4,586
630 XL leads by 3,549 places
05

More useful comparisons

Open the full database
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Silfab SIL-630 XL vs Silfab SIL-640 XL
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Silfab SIL-630 XL vs Silfab SIL-620 XL
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Silfab SIL-520 XM vs Silfab SIL-590 XM+
11 differences, the largest is module efficiency
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Silfab SIL-520 XM vs Silfab SIL-580-XM+-BIFACIAL
10 differences, the largest is rated power
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Silfab SIL-520 XM vs Silfab SIL-570 XM+ BIFACIAL
9 differences, the largest is rated power
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Silfab SIL-520 XM vs Silfab SIL-570 XM+
9 differences, the largest is rated power
06

Written summary

07

Questions about this pairing

Which panel is better: Silfab SIL-630 XL or Silfab SIL-520 XM?
According to our database: Silfab SIL-630 XL has higher module efficiency (22.56% 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-630 XL and Silfab SIL-520 XM?
Silfab SIL-630 XL has a module efficiency of 22.56%, 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-630 XL use vs Silfab SIL-520 XM?
Silfab SIL-630 XL 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-630 XL and Silfab SIL-520 XM?
Silfab SIL-630 XL 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-630 XL and Silfab SIL-520 XM bifacial panels?
Both Silfab SIL-630 XL 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.