--- title: "Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-520 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730 - Solar Panel Comparison | ComparePV" description: "Compare Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-520 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730 side by side: what actually differs, output when it is hot, thirty-year production, and the full specification." source: "https://comparepv.com/compare/trina-solar-co-ltd-tsm-neg18r-28-520-1/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20-730" updated: 2026-09-11 --- # Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-520 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730 NEG18R.28-520 leads on the differences that matter The largest is rated power: 210 W more power. 7 of 19 comparable parameters are identical. ## The two panels | Attribute | A | B | | --- | --- | --- | | Panel | [Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-520](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-co-ltd-tsm-neg18r-28-520-1) | [Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20-730) | | Manufacturer | Trina Solar | Trina Solar | | Power | 520 Wp | 730 Wp | | Efficiency | 23.40 % | 23.50 % | | Technology | TOPCon | TOPCon | ## Where they differ Ranked by how much the difference matters, not by datasheet order. | Parameter | NEG18R.28-520 | NEG21C.20 730 | Difference | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Rated power | 520 Wp | 730 Wp | +210 W for NEG21C.20 730 | | Weight | 23.5 kg | 38.3 kg | -14.8 kg for NEG18R.28-520 | | Weight per kWp | 45.2 kg/kWp | 52.5 kg/kWp | -7.3 kg/kWp for NEG18R.28-520 | | Product warranty | 15 yrs | 12 yrs | +3 yrs for NEG18R.28-520 | | Open-circuit voltage | 41.20 V | 49.90 V | 8.70 V apart | | Short-circuit current | 15.99 A | 18.58 A | 2.59 A apart | | Module area | 2.224 m² | 3.106 m² | 0.883 m² apart | | Voltage at max power | 34.10 V | 41.70 V | 7.60 V apart | | Current at max power | 15.25 A | 17.51 A | 2.26 A apart | | Cell count | 108 | 132 | 24 cells apart | | Bifacial | No | Yes | No vs Yes | | Dimensions | 1961x1134x30 mm | 2384x1303x33 mm | 1961x1134x30 mm vs 2384x1303x33 mm | ## Every compared parameter | Parameter | NEG18R.28-520 | NEG21C.20 730 | | --- | --- | --- | | Rated power | 520 Wp | 730 Wp | | Module efficiency | 23.40 % | 23.50 % | | Power density | 233.8 Wp/m² | 235.0 Wp/m² | | Open-circuit voltage | 41.20 V | 49.90 V | | Voltage at max power | 34.10 V | 41.70 V | | Short-circuit current | 15.99 A | 18.58 A | | Current at max power | 15.25 A | 17.51 A | | Temperature coefficient | -0.290 %/°C | -0.290 %/°C | | Dimensions | 1961x1134x30 mm | 2384x1303x33 mm | | Module area | 2.224 m² | 3.106 m² | | Weight | 23.5 kg | 38.3 kg | | Weight per kWp | 45.2 kg/kWp | 52.5 kg/kWp | | Product warranty | 15 yrs | 12 yrs | | Performance warranty | 30 yrs | 30 yrs | | Annual degradation | 0.40 %/yr | 0.40 %/yr | | Cell technology | TOPCon | TOPCon | | Cell type | Monocrystalline | Monocrystalline | | Cell count | 108 | 132 | | Bifacial | No | Yes | ## Thirty-year yield 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. - **Cumulative output, NEG18R.28-520:** 17,447 kWh - **Cumulative output, NEG21C.20 730:** 24,493 kWh - **Gap:** 7,046 kWh ## Output when hot | Condition | Cell temperature | NEG18R.28-520 | NEG21C.20 730 | Retained | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Standard test conditions | 25 °C | 520 W | 730 W | 100.0% of rated power | | Cool, bright day | 40 °C | 497 W | 698 W | 95.7% of rated power | | Typical summer roof | 55 °C | 475 W | 666 W | 91.3% of rated power | | Hot roof | 70 °C | 452 W | 635 W | 87.0% of rated power | ## Against the whole database | Measure | NEG18R.28-520 | NEG21C.20 730 | Out of | Note | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Efficiency | #882 | #716 | 14,005 | NEG21C.20 730 leads by 166 places | | Power density | #909 | #800 | 14,005 | NEG21C.20 730 leads by 109 places | | Heat behaviour | #2,165 | #2,165 | 14,005 | Tied - the same position in the database | | Weight | #635 | #5,993 | 14,005 | NEG18R.28-520 leads by 5,358 places | | Warranty | #21 | #21 | 14,005 | Tied - the same position in the database | | Overall | #4,727 | #312 | 14,005 | NEG21C.20 730 leads by 4,415 places | ## Questions ### Which panel is better: Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-520 or Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730? According to our database: **Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730** has higher module efficiency (**23.50%** vs **23.40%**). See the full spec comparison and 30-year energy simulation above for a complete picture. ### What is the efficiency of Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-520 and Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730? **Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-520** has a module efficiency of **23.40%**, while **Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730** is **23.50%**. Higher efficiency means more electricity from the same roof area - useful when space is limited. ### What cell technology does Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-520 use vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730? **Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-520** uses **TOPCon** cells; **Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730** 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.28-520 and Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730? **Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-520** has a **30 years** power warranty; **Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730** 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 Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-520 and Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730 bifacial panels? **Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730** is bifacial (captures light from both faces); **Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-520** is monofacial. Bifacial panels work best on ground mounts or raised structures with a light-coloured surface underneath. ## Related comparisons - [Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-520 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-515](https://comparepv.com/compare/trina-solar-co-ltd-tsm-neg18r-28-520-1/trina-solar-co-ltd-tsm-neg18r-28-515-1) - One difference: module efficiency - [Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20Q-760](https://comparepv.com/compare/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20-730/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-760) - 9 differences, the largest is module efficiency - [Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20Q-755](https://comparepv.com/compare/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20-730/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-755) - 7 differences, the largest is module efficiency - [Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20Q-750](https://comparepv.com/compare/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20-730/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-750) - 6 differences, the largest is module efficiency - [Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20Q-745](https://comparepv.com/compare/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20-730/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-745) - 6 differences, the largest is temperature coefficient - [Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20 730 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-740](https://comparepv.com/compare/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20-730/trina-solar-co-ltd-tsm-neg21c-20-740) - 3 differences, the largest is module efficiency --- Source: https://comparepv.com/compare/trina-solar-co-ltd-tsm-neg18r-28-520-1/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20-730 Not in this file, on the page: the thirty-year yield curve year by year at a cell temperature you pick and a written summary generated on request.