---
title: "GCL vs AKCOME - Brand Comparison | ComparePV"
description: "Compare GCL vs AKCOME solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background."
source: "https://comparepv.com/gcl-vs-akcome"
---

# GCL vs AKCOME

GCL has the broader catalog (232 vs 3 models). GCL leads on peak efficiency at 24.50%. AKCOME leans bifacial (100% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | GCL | AKCOME |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | China | China |
| Headquarters | Suzhou/Hong Kong | Suzhou |
| Founded | 1990 | 2003 |
| Employees | 6000+ |  |
| Annual capacity | 30+ GW/year |  |
| Tier 1 | yes | no |
| Listed | Hong Kong Stock Exchange/Shenzhen Stock Exchange: 03800.HK/002506.SZ |  |
| Website | [http://www.gcltech.com/](http://www.gcltech.com/) | [https://www.akcome.com](https://www.akcome.com) |

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.


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | GCL | AKCOME | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 232 | 3 | +229 |
| Max Power | 740 W | 700 W | +40 W |
| Avg Power | 558 W | 672 W | +113 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | GCL | AKCOME | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 24.50% | 22.54% | +1.96 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 22.03% | 21.63% | +0.40 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | GCL | AKCOME | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.320%/°C | -0.240%/°C | +0.080 |
| Bifacial Share | 151 (65%) | 3 (100%) | +35 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 28.4 yrs | 30.0 yrs | +1.6 yr |


## Efficiency distribution

GCL skews to higher efficiency: 28% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | GCL | AKCOME |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 2 (0.9%) | 0 |
| 20-21% | 43 (18.5%) | 0 |
| 21-22% | 73 (31.5%) | 2 (66.7%) |
| 22-23% | 48 (20.7%) | 1 (33.3%) |
| 23%+ | 66 (28.4%) | 0 |


## Power distribution

AKCOME offers more 600W+ panels (100% of lineup)


| Power band | GCL | AKCOME |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 6 (2.6%) | 0 |
| 400-499W | 60 (25.9%) | 0 |
| 500-599W | 63 (27.2%) | 0 |
| 600-699W | 81 (34.9%) | 2 (66.7%) |
| 700W+ | 22 (9.5%) | 1 (33.3%) |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **TOPCon** (47%)

Dominant cell tech: **HJT** (100%)


| Technology | GCL | AKCOME |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TOPCon | 108 (46.6%) | 0 |
| PERC | 102 (44.0%) | 0 |
| N-type | 10 (4.3%) | 0 |
| HJT | 7 (3.0%) | 3 (100.0%) |
| BIPV | 5 (2.2%) | 0 |


## Top panels, GCL


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-740](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-740) | 740 | 23.8 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-735](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-735) | 735 | 23.7 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-730](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-730) | 730 | 23.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [NT12/66GDF-730](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12-66gdf-730) | 730 | 23.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-725](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-725) | 725 | 23.3 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [NT12/66GDF-725](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12-66gdf-725) | 725 | 23.3 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF 725](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-725-1) | 725 | 23.3 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [GCL-NH12/66GDF-720](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nh12-66gdf-720) | 720 | 23.2 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-720](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-720) | 720 | 23.2 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [NT12/66GDF-720](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12-66gdf-720) | 720 | 23.2 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |


## Top panels, AKCOME


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [SKA611HDGDC-700W](https://comparepv.com/panel/akcome-ska611hdgdc-700w) | 700 | 22.5 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [SKA611HDGDC-660W](https://comparepv.com/panel/akcome-ska611hdgdc-660w) | 660 | 21.2 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [SKA611HDGDC-655W](https://comparepv.com/panel/akcome-ska611hdgdc-655w) | 655 | 21.1 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

GCL, formally GCL SI under the GCL-Poly Energy Holdings umbrella, is a Chinese manufacturer headquartered in Jiangsu province with roots in the broader GCL Group energy conglomerate. It is one of the largest solar producers in the world by output, having shipped more than 16 GW of modules in 2023 alone and operating a declared module production capacity of around 30 GW, with further expansion planned. Despite that scale, GCL has not consistently appeared on the Bloomberg NEF Tier 1 bankability list, which some project-finance lenders still use as a shortcut for due diligence. AKCOME Group, founded in 2006 and publicly listed in China since 2010, operates at a considerably smaller scale - its panel production capacity stood at roughly 6 GW as of early 2024 - but did achieve Bloomberg Tier 1 recognition as of 2022. On institutional footprint and raw shipment volume, GCL is the larger player by a wide margin.

The two companies diverge sharply on technology strategy. GCL has built its recent commercial lineup around n-type TOPCon cells and, as of early 2025, extended into back-contact modules targeting utility-scale and large commercial ground-mount projects. AKCOME has taken a narrower but deliberate path, concentrating its entire panel portfolio on heterojunction (HJT) cell technology, which the company uses across both residential rooftop and commercial applications. AKCOME quotes a 30-year linear power-output guarantee on its HJT modules and has reported cell efficiencies above 25.6 percent in lab conditions. It has also started pilot work on perovskite cells, signaling a longer-term technology roadmap.

For a typical buyer in 2025, GCL suits large-scale procurement where volume, supply-chain depth, and competitive module pricing matter most. AKCOME is the more relevant choice for buyers who specifically want HJT technology and are willing to accept a smaller supplier in exchange for a differentiated warranty position and cell architecture. Neither brand competes head-to-head with the dominant Tier 1 names on global market share, so project-specific bankability checks remain advisable for both.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/01/07/gcl-si-enters-back-contact-business-with-660-w-solar-module/ \| GCL SI enters back contact business with 660 W solar module \| article

\- https://www.energysage.com/solar-panels/gcl/ \| GCL Solar Panels - EnergySage profile and specs \| review

\- https://www.solarreviews.com/manufacturers/gcl-poly-(suzhou)-energy \| GCL-Poly Suzhou Energy - SolarReviews manufacturer page \| review

\- https://comparepv.com/reviews/akcome \| AKCOME Solar Panels Review 2026 - Pros, Cons and Specs \| review

\- https://hjtpv.com/hjt-producers/akcome-solar-panel/ \| AKCOME HJT solar panel overview - HJT PV Modules \| article

Sources:

\- \[GCL SI enters back contact business with 660 W solar module\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/01/07/gcl-si-enters-back-contact-business-with-660-w-solar-module/)

\- \[GCL Solar Panels - EnergySage\](https://www.energysage.com/solar-panels/gcl/)

\- \[GCL-Poly Suzhou Energy - SolarReviews\](https://www.solarreviews.com/manufacturers/gcl-poly-(suzhou)-energy)

\- \[AKCOME Solar Panels Review 2026 - ComparePV\](https://comparepv.com/reviews/akcome)

\- \[AKCOME HJT Solar Panel Overview - HJT PV Modules\](https://hjtpv.com/hjt-producers/akcome-solar-panel/)

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


## Other comparisons

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- [AIKO vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-akcome)
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- [ASM vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/asm-vs-akcome)


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Source: https://comparepv.com/gcl-vs-akcome

Not in this file, on the page: the distributions above drawn as charts.