CSUN vs AIKO - solar panel manufacturer comparison
AIKO has the broader catalog (144 vs 35 models). AIKO leads on peak efficiency at 25.20%. AIKO leans bifacial (24% 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
- Founded
- 2009
- Headquarters
- Shanghai, China
- Listed
- SZSE: 600732
- 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
AIKO skews to higher efficiency: 85% of lineup is 23%+
AIKO offers more 600W+ panels (60% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (94%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>Back Contact</strong> (83%)
The flagships
Written summary
CSUN is a Chinese solar manufacturer with roots dating back to 2004, originally established as China Sunergy, and it carries Tier 1 bankability status. Its manufacturing footprint is comparatively modest, with design capacity around 2.5 GW spread across facilities in China, the United States, Turkey, South Korea and Vietnam, though the company has cumulatively shipped more than 15 GW of modules over the past decade. AIKO, also China-based, is a newer but faster-growing player that achieved BloombergNEF Tier 1 status and has scaled rapidly, moving from roughly 20 GW of annual production capacity in early 2025 to about 35.5 GW by mid-2026, placing it among the larger global module makers. On institutional footprint and momentum, AIKO clearly has the stronger and more rapidly expanding position.
The two brands also diverge in product focus and technology. CSUN's lineup centers on conventional PERC and half-cut monocrystalline modules aimed at residential, commercial and utility-scale projects, with efficiencies in the 19-21% range and standard 12-year product and 25-year performance warranties, positioning it as a solid but conventional mid-tier supplier. AIKO has built its identity around proprietary All Back Contact (ABC) cell technology, an N-type architecture that removes front-side busbars to maximize light absorption; its modules, including the Infinite series, reach efficiencies of roughly 22.1% to 24.4% and are marketed for premium residential rooftops as well as high-efficiency commercial and industrial installations, with 2025 innovations like silver-free copper metallization aimed at improving durability and cost.
For a typical buyer in 2025, AIKO is generally the stronger default choice given its larger production scale, faster capacity growth, and access to higher-efficiency ABC technology, which suits space-constrained or premium installations. CSUN remains a reasonable, cost-oriented option for buyers prioritizing a longer-established Tier 1 supplier with conventional PERC panels, particularly where efficiency headroom matters less than price.
Generated by Claude Sonnet 5 · 2026-08-25
Other brand comparisons
Shop prices: See 1 CSUN offer · See 181 AIKO offers
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.