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

# GCL vs Phono Solar

GCL has the broader catalog (232 vs 174 models). GCL leads on peak efficiency at 24.50%. GCL leans bifacial (65% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | GCL | Phono Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | China | China |
| Headquarters | Suzhou/Hong Kong | Nanjing |
| Founded | 1990 | 2004 |
| Employees | 6000+ | 13000+ |
| Annual capacity | 30+ GW/year | 3-4 GW/year |
| Tier 1 | yes | yes |
| Listed | Hong Kong Stock Exchange/Shenzhen Stock Exchange: 03800.HK/002506.SZ |  |
| Website | [http://www.gcltech.com/](http://www.gcltech.com/) | [https://www.phonosolar.com](https://www.phonosolar.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.

Phono Solar Technology Co., Ltd. specializes in the research, development, and manufacture of photovoltaic solar panels and is a global provider of solar products and services. The company is affiliated with SUMEC Group, a subsidiary of China National Machinery Industry Corporation (SINOMACH). Phono Solar has been...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | GCL | Phono Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 232 | 174 | +58 |
| Max Power | 740 W | 730 W | +10 W |
| Avg Power | 558 W | 515 W | +44 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | GCL | Phono Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 24.50% | 23.50% | +1.00 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 22.03% | 21.77% | +0.25 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | GCL | Phono Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.320%/°C | -0.306%/°C | +0.014 |
| Bifacial Share | 151 (65%) | 74 (43%) | +23 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 28.4 yrs | 27.1 yrs | +1.2 yr |


## Efficiency distribution

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


| Efficiency band | GCL | Phono Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 2 (0.9%) | 3 (1.7%) |
| 20-21% | 43 (18.5%) | 37 (21.3%) |
| 21-22% | 73 (31.5%) | 53 (30.5%) |
| 22-23% | 48 (20.7%) | 62 (35.6%) |
| 23%+ | 66 (28.4%) | 19 (10.9%) |


## Power distribution

GCL offers more 600W+ panels (44% of lineup)


| Power band | GCL | Phono Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 6 (2.6%) | 10 (5.7%) |
| 400-499W | 60 (25.9%) | 78 (44.8%) |
| 500-599W | 63 (27.2%) | 51 (29.3%) |
| 600-699W | 81 (34.9%) | 23 (13.2%) |
| 700W+ | 22 (9.5%) | 12 (6.9%) |


## Cell technology

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

Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (37%)


| Technology | GCL | Phono Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| TOPCon | 108 (46.6%) | 53 (30.5%) |
| PERC | 102 (44.0%) | 65 (37.4%) |
| N-type | 10 (4.3%) | 50 (28.7%) |
| HJT | 7 (3.0%) | 5 (2.9%) |
| BIPV | 5 (2.2%) | 0 |
| Back Contact | 0 | 1 (0.6%) |


## 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, Phono Solar


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [PS730M13GFH-22/WSHW](https://comparepv.com/panel/phono-solar-co-ltd-phono-solar-technology-co-ltd-ps730m13gfh-22-wshw) | 730 | 23.5 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [NS-730MH-132](https://comparepv.com/panel/phono-solar-ns-730mh-132) | 730 | 23.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [PS725M13GFH-22/WSHW](https://comparepv.com/panel/phono-solar-co-ltd-phono-solar-technology-co-ltd-ps725m13gfh-22-wshw) | 725 | 23.3 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [PS720M13GFH-22/WSHW](https://comparepv.com/panel/phono-solar-co-ltd-phono-solar-technology-co-ltd-ps720m13gfh-22-wshw) | 720 | 23.2 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [NS-720MH-132](https://comparepv.com/panel/phono-solar-ns-720mh-132) | 720 | 23.2 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [PS715M13GFH-22/WSHW](https://comparepv.com/panel/phono-solar-co-ltd-phono-solar-technology-co-ltd-ps715m13gfh-22-wshw) | 715 | 23.0 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [PS710M13GFH-22/WNH](https://comparepv.com/panel/phono-solar-technology-co-ltd-ps710m13gfh-22-wnh) | 710 | 22.9 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [PS710M13GFH-22/WSHW](https://comparepv.com/panel/phono-solar-co-ltd-phono-solar-technology-co-ltd-ps710m13gfh-22-wshw) | 710 | 22.9 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [NS-710MH-132](https://comparepv.com/panel/phono-solar-ns-710mh-132) | 710 | 22.9 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [PS705M13GFH-22/WNH](https://comparepv.com/panel/phono-solar-technology-co-ltd-ps705m13gfh-22-wnh) | 705 | 22.7 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

GCL (GCL System Integration, or GCL-SI) is a Chinese manufacturer headquartered in Suzhou and part of the broader GCL Group, one of the world's dominant producers of polysilicon and silicon wafers. Its module division has scaled aggressively, holding a BloombergNEF Tier 1 ranking across multiple quarters including Q1 2025, with annual module production capacity of approximately 30 GW and shipments of around 25 GW in 2024 - placing it ninth among global module suppliers in the first half of 2025. Phono Solar is also Chinese, operating as a core brand within the SUMEC Group, a subsidiary of SINOMACH, a Fortune Global 500 conglomerate, and has held continuous BloombergNEF Tier 1 status since 2014 - one of the longest unbroken records on that list. By sheer volume GCL commands the larger institutional footprint, but Phono Solar's decade-plus of uninterrupted Tier 1 tenure points to more consistent bankability over the long run.

Both manufacturers have made a decisive shift to n-type TOPCon cell technology. GCL's current flagship offering centers on large-format bifacial TOPCon modules - including a 700 W panel based on 210 mm wafers with a module efficiency of 22.53% - targeted primarily at utility-scale ground-mount and large C&I installations where GCL's purchasing scale translates into competitive per-watt pricing. The company is also pushing into next-generation territory, having commissioned a 1 GW perovskite module factory in 2025. Phono Solar's Draco series spans a wider range of end markets, from residential rooftop through commercial rooftop to utility-scale ground-mount, with power classes running from the 400 W range up to high-density 590 W-plus formats. Phono Solar panels earned Top Performer recognition in Kiwa PVEL's 2025 PV Module Reliability Scorecard, a credential that carries meaningful weight with project financiers and asset owners focused on long-term performance.

For large utility or C&I procurement where price per watt is the primary driver, GCL's volume advantage is genuine and should not be discounted. For residential installers, smaller commercial integrators, or buyers placing a premium on independently verified reliability and long-standing bankability, Phono Solar is a marginally safer default choice, particularly in European markets where its distribution network is well-established and the PVEL Top Performer credential provides a tangible quality benchmark. At the technology level the two brands are broadly interchangeable; a buyer with preferential pricing or reliable supply access on either side should not hesitate to proceed on that basis.

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


## Other comparisons

- [GCL vs A.B. Energy](https://comparepv.com/gcl-vs-a-b-energy)
- [AE Solar vs Phono Solar](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-phono-solar)
- [GCL vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/gcl-vs-aeet)
- [AIKO vs Phono Solar](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-phono-solar)
- [GCL vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/gcl-vs-akcome)
- [ARTsolar vs Phono Solar](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-phono-solar)


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Source: https://comparepv.com/gcl-vs-phono-solar

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