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NEG18RC.27-490 vs NEG21C.20-740 6 of 19 identical Swap Change panels

Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-490 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-740

Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-490
TSM-NEG18RC.27-490
490 Wp 22.00 % TOPCon Bifacial
Open panel page Datasheet PDF
VS
Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-740
TSM-NEG21C.20-740
740 Wp 23.80 % TOPCon Bifacial
Open panel page Datasheet PDF
The verdict

NEG21C.20-740 leads on the differences that matter

The largest is module efficiency: 1.80 pp more efficient. 6 of 19 comparable parameters are identical.

See all 13 differences
How alike are they
6 of 19 comparable
parameters are identical
identical differs
01

What actually differs

13 of 19 parameters
Parameter NEG18RC.27-490 NEG21C.20-740 Difference
Module efficiency 22.00 % 23.80 % 1.80 pp more efficient
Rated power 490 Wp 740 Wp 250 W more power
Power density 220.3 Wp/m² 238.2 Wp/m² 17.9 Wp/m² higher
Weight 23.5 kg 38.3 kg 14.8 kg lighter
Product warranty 15 yrs 12 yrs 3 yrs longer
Open-circuit voltage 39.60 V 50.30 V 10.70 V apart
Short-circuit current 15.80 A 18.66 A 2.86 A apart
Module area 2.224 m² 3.106 m² 0.883 m² apart
Weight per kWp 48.0 kg/kWp 51.8 kg/kWp 3.8 kg/kWp lighter
Voltage at max power 32.90 V 42.10 V 9.20 V apart
Current at max power 14.91 A 17.58 A 2.67 A apart
Cell count 108 132 24 cells apart
Dimensions 1961x1134x30 mm 2384x1303x33 mm 1961x1134x30 mm vs 2384x1303x33 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.
NEG18RC.27-490
16,440 kWh
NEG21C.20-740
24,828 kWh
Lifetime gap
8,388 kWh
Output when it is hot
Rated power carried across the range a module actually sees
Scenario NEG18RC.27-490 NEG21C.20-740
Standard test conditions 25 °C 100.0% of rated power 490 W 740 W
Cool, bright day 40 °C 95.7% of rated power 469 W 708 W
Typical summer roof 55 °C 91.3% of rated power 447 W 676 W
Hot roof 70 °C 87.0% of rated power 426 W 643 W
03

Full specification

Parameter NEG18RC.27-490 NEG21C.20-740 Difference
Power and efficiency
Rated power 490 Wp 740 Wp +250 W for NEG21C.20-740
Module efficiency 22.00 % 23.80 % +1.80 pp for NEG21C.20-740
Power density 220.3 Wp/m² 238.2 Wp/m² +17.9 Wp/m² for NEG21C.20-740
Open-circuit voltage 39.60 V 50.30 V 10.70 V apart
Voltage at max power 32.90 V 42.10 V 9.20 V apart
Short-circuit current 15.80 A 18.66 A 2.86 A apart
Current at max power 14.91 A 17.58 A 2.67 A apart
Temperature
Temperature coefficient -0.290 %/°C -0.290 %/°C Same
Mechanical
Dimensions 1961x1134x30 mm 2384x1303x33 mm 1961x1134x30 mm vs 2384x1303x33 mm
Module area 2.224 m² 3.106 m² 0.883 m² apart
Weight 23.5 kg 38.3 kg -14.8 kg for NEG18RC.27-490
Weight per kWp 48.0 kg/kWp 51.8 kg/kWp -3.8 kg/kWp for NEG18RC.27-490
Warranty and degradation
Product warranty 15 yrs 12 yrs +3 yrs for NEG18RC.27-490
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 108 132 24 cells apart
Bifacial Yes Yes Same
04

Against the whole database

14,005 panels
Efficiency
#6,517 vs #433
NEG21C.20-740 leads by 6,084 places
Power density
#6,276 vs #431
NEG21C.20-740 leads by 5,845 places
Heat behaviour
#2,165 vs #2,165
Tied - the same position in the database
Weight
#1,984 vs #5,125
NEG18RC.27-490 leads by 3,141 places
Warranty
#21 vs #21
Tied - the same position in the database
Overall
#7,493 vs #185
NEG21C.20-740 leads by 7,308 places
05

More useful comparisons

Open the full database
Same series, other bin
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-490 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-515
6 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same series, other bin
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-490 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-510
4 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same series, other bin
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-490 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-505
3 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same series, other bin
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-490 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-500
3 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same series, other bin
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-490 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-495
One difference: module efficiency
Same series, other bin
Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-740 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-735
The same specification on paper
06

Written summary

07

Questions about this pairing

Which panel is better: Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-490 or Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-740?
According to our database: Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-740 has higher module efficiency (23.80% vs 22.00%). See the full spec comparison and 30-year energy simulation above for a complete picture.
What is the efficiency of Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-490 and Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-740?
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-490 has a module efficiency of 22.00%, while Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-740 is 23.80%. Higher efficiency means more electricity from the same roof area - useful when space is limited.
What cell technology does Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-490 use vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-740?
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-490 uses TOPCon cells; Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-740 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-NEG18RC.27-490 and Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-740?
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-490 has a 30 years power warranty; Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-740 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-NEG18RC.27-490 and Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-740 bifacial panels?
Both Trina Solar TSM-NEG18RC.27-490 and Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20-740 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.

Shop prices: See 249 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.