GCL vs AE Solar - Solar Panel Manufacturer Comparison
GCL
China · est. 1990AE Solar
Germany · est. 2003
Panel models
205
vs
442
Max power
730 W
vs
730 W
Max efficiency
24.06%
vs
24.43%
Bifacial share
60%
vs
64%
At a glance
AE Solar has the broader catalog (442 vs 205 models). AE Solar leads on peak efficiency at 24.43%.
GCL
Website
GCL is a global company focusing on green energy and high-efficiency photovoltaic materials. They are known for their innovation in polysilicon and wafer technologies, with a focus on low-carbon solutions. GCL is committed to building a low-carbon PV value chain and advancing global clean energy transformation.
Headquarters
Suzhou/Hong Kong, China
Founded
1990
Employees
6000+
Production Capacity
30+ GW/year
Tier 1 Bankable
Yes
AE Solar
Website
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...
Headquarters
Gersthofen, Germany
Founded
2003
Employees
501-1000
Production Capacity
2+ GW/year
Tier 1 Bankable
Yes
Stock
-
Side-by-Side Specs
winner + margin shown| Metric |
GCL
|
AE Solar
|
|---|---|---|
| Catalog & Power | ||
| Panel Models | 205 | 442 +237 |
| Max Power | 730 W | 730 W |
| Avg Power | 552 W +55 W | 497 W |
| Efficiency | ||
| Max Efficiency | 24.06% | 24.43% +0.37 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 21.83% +0.48 pp | 21.34% |
| Reliability & Warranty | ||
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.324%/°C | -0.313%/°C +0.011 |
| Bifacial Share | 124 (60%) | 282 (64%) +3 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 28.1 yrs | 29.7 yrs +1.6 yr |
Top Panels Side-by-Side
Top 10 highest-power models from each brandGCL
| # | Model | Power | Eff. | T.coeff | Tech |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GCL-NT12/66GDF-730 Bi | 730W | 23.5% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | NT12/66GDF-730 Bi | 730W | 23.5% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | GCL-NT12/66GDF 725 Bi | 725W | 23.3% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | GCL-NT12/66GDF-725 Bi | 725W | 23.3% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | NT12/66GDF-725 Bi | 725W | 23.3% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | GCL-NT12/66GDF 720 Bi | 720W | 23.2% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | GCL-NT12/66GDF-720 Bi | 720W | 23.2% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | NT12/66GDF-720 Bi | 720W | 23.2% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | GCL-NH12/66GDF-720 Bi | 720W | 23.2% | -0.240%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | GCL-NH12/66GDF-715 Bi | 715W | 23.0% | -0.240%/°C | Monocrystalline |
AE Solar
| # | Model | Power | Eff. | T.coeff | Tech |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CME-132BDS-730 Bi | 730W | 23.5% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | CME-132BDS-725 Bi | 725W | 23.4% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | AE CME-132-720 | 720W | 23.2% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | AE CME-132 720 | 720W | 23.2% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | CME-132BDS-720 Bi | 720W | 23.2% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | CME-132BDS-715 Bi | 715W | 23.0% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | AE CME-132 715 | 715W | 23.0% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | AE CME-132-715 | 715W | 23.0% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | AE CME-132-710 | 710W | 22.9% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | CME-132BDS-710 Bi | 710W | 22.9% | -0.290%/°C | Monocrystalline |
Top 10 panels average
Efficiency
23.28%
Temp coeff
-0.280%/°C
Top 10 panels average
Efficiency
23.14%
Temp coeff
-0.290%/°C
Efficiency Distribution
Share of each brand's lineup by efficiency tier
GCL skews to higher efficiency: 20% of lineup is 23%+
Power Distribution
Share of each brand's lineup by rated power range
GCL offers more 600W+ panels (41% of lineup)
GCL Cell Technology
Mix of cell technologies across the portfolio
Dominant cell tech: PERC (36%)
AE Solar Cell Technology
Mix of cell technologies across the portfolio
Dominant cell tech: TOPCon (50%)
Disclaimer: This comparison is based on our database and may not reflect complete product lineups. Help the community by suggesting missing panels.