DAON vs Q-Cells - solar panel manufacturer comparison
Q-Cells has the broader catalog (89 vs 0 models). Q-Cells leans bifacial (39% 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
Qcells is a renowned global provider of complete energy solutions, specializing in solar cells and modules, energy storage solutions, downstream project business, and energy retail. The company has a strong heritage dating back to its foundation in Germany and has become a leader in technology innovations. As an...
- Founded
- 1999
- Headquarters
- Seoul, South Korea
- Annual capacity
- 11.2 GW/year
- Employees
- 2000+
- Listed
- NASDAQ: HQCL
- 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
Q-Cells skews to higher efficiency: 2% of lineup is 23%+
Q-Cells offers more 600W+ panels (19% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (43%)
The flagships
Written summary
DAON is the module brand of DAS Solar, a Chinese manufacturer founded in 2018 and headquartered in Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province. Despite its relatively short history, DAS Solar has earned BloombergNEF Tier 1 status for four consecutive quarters in 2025, signaling solid bankability with project financiers. Its cell capacity stands at roughly 5 GW per year and module capacity at approximately 3 GW per year. Q-Cells, operating as Hanwha Q CELLS under the South Korean Hanwha Group, traces its roots to the German Q-Cells brand founded in 1999 and carries decades of accumulated manufacturing experience alongside consistent BNEF Tier 1 recognition. Hanwha Q CELLS' global module capacity reaches approximately 11 GW per year, with shipments anticipated to exceed 9 GW in 2025, and the company secured a $1.45 billion U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantee in late 2024 for its Georgia facility. By sheer scale and institutional backing, Q-Cells holds the stronger footprint.
On the product side, DAON modules are built around N-type TOPCon cell technology, with DAS Solar's road map also including a DBC (DAON Back-Contact) line and perovskite-TOPCon tandem research, positioning the brand primarily for commercial and utility-scale buyers seeking cutting-edge cell architecture at competitive Chinese manufacturing cost structures. Q-Cells competes with its Q.ANTUM NEO platform, also N-type TOPCon-based, and is well established across premium residential rooftop, commercial, and utility segments globally. Its panels are noted for low temperature coefficients, low annual degradation rates, and 25-year product and performance warranties, making them a strong fit for homeowners and commercial developers who prioritize long-term reliability and installer network depth, particularly in the United States and Europe.
For a typical buyer in 2025, Q-Cells is generally the safer default where installer support, localized warranty service, and financing acceptance are priorities. DAON is a credible emerging alternative for price-sensitive utility or large commercial projects where access to next-generation TOPCon cell efficiency and a confirmed BNEF Tier 1 rating matter more than brand recognition depth.
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-05-25
Other brand comparisons
Shop prices: See 23 Q-Cells 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.