CSUN vs AE Solar - solar panel manufacturer comparison
AE Solar has the broader catalog (646 vs 35 models). AE Solar leads on peak efficiency at 24.43%. AE Solar leans bifacial (63% of lineup).
Both catalogues are read from the manufacturers' own datasheets. A brand is not scored against the market here, only against the other brand on this page.
The two companies
China Sunergy (CSUN) is a Chinese manufacturer of solar cells and photovoltaic modules headquartered in Nanjing, Jiangsu. The company produces high-efficiency mono- and multicrystalline solar cells and modules from production facilities in China and, historically, Turkey. It was formerly listed on NASDAQ and was...
- Founded
- 2004
- Headquarters
- Nanjing, China
- Annual capacity
- 2-3 GW/year
- Employees
- 1000-5000
- Tier 1 bankable
- Yes
AE Solar is a German Tier 1 manufacturer of high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) modules. The company specializes in producing durable and innovative solar panels with German engineering standards, offering solutions for residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications. AE Solar operates in over 100 countries and...
- Founded
- 2003
- Headquarters
- Gersthofen, Germany
- Annual capacity
- 2+ GW/year
- Employees
- 501-1000
- Tier 1 bankable
- Yes
Catalogue against catalogue
An average over a catalogue describes the range a manufacturer publishes, not the module you would buy. A brand with two flagship panels and eighty older ones averages worse than one that has retired its back catalogue.
What each of them builds
AE Solar skews to higher efficiency: 9% of lineup is 23%+
CSUN offers more 600W+ panels (20% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (94%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>TOPCon</strong> (54%)
The flagships
Written summary
AE Solar is a German-headquartered manufacturer operating since 2003, with production facilities in China, Georgia and Turkey delivering a combined annual output of roughly 2.5 GW. The company has appeared on BloombergNEF's Tier 1 list sixteen consecutive times, most recently in Q1 2025, positioning it as one of the more consistently bankable mid-sized producers serving the European market. CSUN, formally China Sunergy, is a Chinese company headquartered in Nanjing, founded in 2004 and NASDAQ-listed since 2007, holding Tier 1 status as well, with a similar design capacity of around 2.5 GW and a track record of having shipped more than 15 GW of modules globally over the past decade. In terms of continuity on bankability lists and institutional footprint, AE Solar currently holds a slight edge, though both brands are recognized as established, financeable suppliers.
AE Solar's lineup spans several distinct series - the PERC-based Aurora range as its mainstream product, the TOPCon-based Meteor series, and the HJT-based Comet series, which reaches efficiencies above 23 percent and performs well in low-light and high-temperature conditions, alongside the Terra series aimed at utility-scale and AgriPV projects. This gives AE Solar a fairly broad footprint across residential rooftop, commercial and utility-scale segments. CSUN's portfolio centers on monocrystalline and multicrystalline modules, including standard P-type and HP cells, marketed for residential, commercial and industrial systems and sold both under its own brand and via OEM arrangements with system integrators and developers.
For an international buyer weighing the two, AE Solar is the more forward-looking default given its broader adoption of TOPCon and HJT cell technology and its steadier presence on Tier 1 bankability lists, making it a reasonable fit for both rooftop and larger commercial projects. CSUN remains a credible alternative, particularly where a long supply history and Tier 1 status matter more than cutting-edge cell technology, but its product range leans more conservative. The gap between the two, however, is not dramatic, and both can be considered viable, bankable options depending on project priorities.
Generated by Claude Sonnet 5 · 2026-08-18
Other brand comparisons
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Comparisons are computed from manufacturer datasheets held in the ComparePV database and may not reflect a brand's complete current lineup. Nothing on this page is paid placement.