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520 vs 515 18 of 19 identical Swap Change panels

Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-515

Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520
TSM-NEG18R.20-520
520 Wp 23.40 % TOPCon
VS
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-515
TSM-NEG18R.20-515
515 Wp 23.20 % TOPCon
The verdict

520 leads on the differences that matter

The largest is module efficiency: 0.20 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 520 515 Difference
Module efficiency 23.40 % 23.20 % 0.20 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
515
17,279 kWh
Lifetime gap
168 kWh
Output when it is hot
Rated power carried across the range a module actually sees
Scenario 520 515
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 520 515 Difference
Power and efficiency
Rated power 520 Wp 515 Wp Effectively the same
Module efficiency 23.40 % 23.20 % +0.20 pp for 520
Power density 233.8 Wp/m² 231.6 Wp/m² Effectively the same
Open-circuit voltage 41.20 V 40.90 V Effectively the same
Voltage at max power 34.10 V 33.90 V Effectively the same
Short-circuit current 15.99 A 15.96 A Effectively the same
Current at max power 15.25 A 15.20 A Effectively the same
Temperature
Temperature coefficient -0.290 %/°C -0.290 %/°C Same
Mechanical
Dimensions 1961x1134x30 mm 1961x1134x30 mm Same
Module area 2.224 m² 2.224 m² Same
Weight 23.5 kg 23.5 kg Same
Weight per kWp 45.2 kg/kWp 45.6 kg/kWp Effectively the same
Warranty and degradation
Product warranty 15 yrs 15 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 No No Same
04

Against the whole database

14,005 panels
Efficiency
#882 vs #1,306
520 leads by 424 places
Power density
#909 vs #1,473
520 leads by 564 places
Heat behaviour
#2,165 vs #2,165
Tied - the same position in the database
Weight
#635 vs #789
520 leads by 154 places
Warranty
#21 vs #21
Tied - the same position in the database
Overall
#4,727 vs #5,086
520 leads by 359 places
05

More useful comparisons

Open the full database
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Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20Q-760
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Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20Q-755
16 differences, the largest is module efficiency
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Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20Q-750
16 differences, the largest is module efficiency
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Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20Q-745
16 differences, the largest is rated power
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Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-740
14 differences, the largest is rated power
Same manufacturer
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 740
14 differences, the largest is rated power
06

Written summary

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07

Questions about this pairing

Which panel is better: Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520 or Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-515?
According to our database: Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520 has higher module efficiency (23.40% vs 23.20%). See the full spec comparison and 30-year energy simulation above for a complete picture.
What is the efficiency of Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520 and Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-515?
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520 has a module efficiency of 23.40%, while Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-515 is 23.20%. Higher efficiency means more electricity from the same roof area - useful when space is limited.
What cell technology does Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520 use vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-515?
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520 uses TOPCon cells; Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-515 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 Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520 and Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-515?
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-520 has a 30 years power warranty; Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.20-515 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.

Shop prices: See 248 Trina Solar 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.