G-STAR vs Q-Cells - solar panel manufacturer comparison
Q-Cells has the broader catalog (89 vs 36 models). G-STAR leads on peak efficiency at 23.51%. G-STAR leans bifacial (86% 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
G-STAR skews to higher efficiency: 28% of lineup is 23%+
G-STAR offers more 600W+ panels (36% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>TOPCon</strong> (72%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (43%)
The flagships
Written summary
G-STAR is a Singapore-based solar manufacturer founded in 2019, with its primary production in Subic Bay, Philippines, where Phase 1 of its factory delivers 1.5 GW of cell capacity and 1 GW of module capacity, with a second phase planned to bring module output to 2 GW. The company holds third-party certifications from ETL, TUV, and the California CEC, but search results do not confirm a BloombergNEF Tier 1 designation as of mid-2025. Q-Cells traces its origins to Germany in 1999 and was acquired by South Korea's Hanwha Group in 2012; the combined entity has grown into one of the largest solar manufacturers globally, with module shipments anticipated to exceed 9 GW in 2025 and an 8.4 GW module facility in Dalton, Georgia - the largest solar factory in the Western Hemisphere. Q-Cells holds confirmed BloombergNEF Tier 1 status, giving it a considerably stronger institutional and bankability footprint.
G-STAR's catalog spans P-type PERC, N-type, Back Contact, and HJT formats across a wide output range, positioning the brand for residential rooftops, commercial installations, and utility-scale ground mounts. Its newest N-type bifacial module manufactured in the Philippines achieves a peak output of 595 W with conversion efficiency above 23%, according to PV Tech. Q-Cells competes primarily in the premium residential and mid-market commercial segments with its Q.TRON N-type line, which is noted for a low temperature coefficient and annual degradation rates the brand publishes at 0.33% for that series. Q-Cells is also actively developing perovskite-silicon tandem technology, with 28.6% efficiency verified by the Fraunhofer Institute at the cell level in late 2024.
For a typical buyer prioritizing supply-chain transparency, domestic US manufacturing, and long-term project financing in 2025, Q-Cells is the more defensible choice given its Tier 1 standing and proven track record. G-STAR is an emerging option worth monitoring, particularly for buyers who need competitive pricing on N-type product out of Southeast Asia, but its shorter operating history and unconfirmed bankability rating make it a less conventional selection for large financed projects.
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-06-21
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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.