G-STAR vs AIKO - solar panel manufacturer comparison

G-STAR is a Singapore-headquartered solar manufacturer founded in 2019, operating under a vertically integrated model that spans silicon wafers, cells, and finished modules. The company has built a growing manufacturing footprint across Southeast Asia, including a first-phase plant in the Philippines rated at 1 GW of modules and 1.5 GW of cells, with a second phase planned to extend module capacity to 2 GW. No publicly available source confirms G-STAR as a BloombergNEF Tier 1 supplier, which limits its visibility in project-finance contexts where bankability documentation is required. AIKO Solar, by contrast, is a Chinese manufacturer that achieved BloombergNEF Tier 1 status in Q3 2024 and reported roughly 20 GW of nameplate production capacity as of early 2025 - giving it a substantially larger institutional footprint.

AIKO's defining product differentiator is its proprietary ABC (All Back Contact) N-type cell architecture, which relocates all electrical contacts to the rear of the cell so the entire front surface captures light. Multiple independent reviewers confirm module efficiencies up to 24.4%, among the highest in mass production today, and AIKO took first place in the 2025 SolarQuotes Installers' Choice Awards, reflecting strong real-world installer confidence. G-STAR offers a broader technology mix spanning PERC, TOPCon, HJT, monofacial, bifacial, and full-black formats across a wide wattage range, positioning it as a flexible supplier for residential rooftops through to utility-scale ground mounts. Both manufacturers back their panels with international certifications - G-STAR holds ETL and TUV approvals - and both offer long-form power warranties extending to 30 years.

For a typical buyer in 2025, AIKO is the stronger default when peak efficiency, bankability, and installer ecosystem matter most, particularly for premium residential and commercial rooftop applications. G-STAR warrants serious consideration where procurement favors a Southeast Asia-based supply chain - relevant given ongoing US tariff pressures on Chinese goods - or where diverse panel specifications are needed across a single project. The two brands address partly overlapping but distinct market positions rather than being straightforward substitutes.

Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-05-17