---
title: "Heliene vs Q-Cells - Brand Comparison | ComparePV"
description: "Compare Heliene vs Q-Cells solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background."
source: "https://comparepv.com/heliene-vs-q-cells"
---

# Heliene vs Q-Cells

Heliene has the broader catalog (91 vs 89 models). Q-Cells leads on peak efficiency at 23.20%. Heliene leans bifacial (65% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | Heliene | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | Canada | South Korea |
| Headquarters | Sault Ste. Marie | Seoul |
| Founded | 2010 | 1999 |
| Employees | 200-600 | 2000+ |
| Annual capacity | 1.3 GW/year | 11.2 GW/year |
| Tier 1 | yes | yes |
| Listed |  | NASDAQ: HQCL |
| Website | [https://heliene.com](https://heliene.com) | [https://www.qcells.com](https://www.qcells.com) |

Heliene is a North American headquartered manufacturer of high-quality, competitively priced solar photovoltaic modules. They have manufacturing operations in the US and Canada, and a global supply chain capability. Heliene is committed to providing reliable and high-performing solar solutions for utility-scale...

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...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | Heliene | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 91 | 89 | +2 |
| Max Power | 710 W | 675 W | +35 W |
| Avg Power | 528 W | 468 W | +60 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | Heliene | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 23.08% | 23.20% | +0.12 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 21.47% | 21.21% | +0.25 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | Heliene | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.315%/°C | -0.325%/°C | +0.009 |
| Bifacial Share | 59 (65%) | 35 (39%) | +26 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 25.0 yrs | 27.0 yrs | +2.0 yr |


## Efficiency distribution

Q-Cells skews to higher efficiency: 2% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | Heliene | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 4 (4.4%) | 7 (7.9%) |
| 20-21% | 29 (31.9%) | 29 (32.6%) |
| 21-22% | 21 (23.1%) | 30 (33.7%) |
| 22-23% | 35 (38.5%) | 21 (23.6%) |
| 23%+ | 2 (2.2%) | 2 (2.2%) |


## Power distribution

Heliene offers more 600W+ panels (21% of lineup)


| Power band | Heliene | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 10 (11.0%) | 20 (22.5%) |
| 400-499W | 22 (24.2%) | 41 (46.1%) |
| 500-599W | 40 (44.0%) | 11 (12.4%) |
| 600-699W | 16 (17.6%) | 17 (19.1%) |
| 700W+ | 3 (3.3%) | 0 |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (43%)

Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (43%)


| Technology | Heliene | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PERC | 39 (42.9%) | 38 (42.7%) |
| N-type | 27 (29.7%) | 23 (25.8%) |
| TOPCon | 20 (22.0%) | 8 (9.0%) |
| HJT | 5 (5.5%) | 0 |
| Unknown | 0 | 20 (22.5%) |


## Top panels, Heliene


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [132HC-710 G12 HJT Bifacial Module](https://comparepv.com/panel/heliene-132hc-710-g12-hjt-bifacial-module) | 710 | 22.9 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [132HC-705 G12 HJT Bifacial Module](https://comparepv.com/panel/heliene-132hc-705-g12-hjt-bifacial-module) | 705 | 22.7 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [132HC-700 G12 HJT Bifacial Module](https://comparepv.com/panel/heliene-132hc-700-g12-hjt-bifacial-module) | 700 | 22.5 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [132HC-695 G12 HJT Bifacial Module](https://comparepv.com/panel/heliene-132hc-695-g12-hjt-bifacial-module) | 695 | 22.4 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [132HC-690 G12 HJT Bifacial Module](https://comparepv.com/panel/heliene-132hc-690-g12-hjt-bifacial-module) | 690 | 22.2 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [156HC-645 M10 NTYP SL](https://comparepv.com/panel/heliene-156hc-645-m10-ntyp-sl) | 645 | 23.1 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [156HC-640 M10 NTYP SL](https://comparepv.com/panel/heliene-156hc-640-m10-ntyp-sl) | 640 | 22.9 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [156HC-635 M10 NTYP SL BIFACIAL MODULE](https://comparepv.com/panel/heliene-156hc-635-m10-ntyp-sl-bifacial-module) | 635 | 22.7 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [156HC-635 M10 NTYP SL](https://comparepv.com/panel/heliene-156hc-635-m10-ntyp-sl) | 635 | 22.7 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [156HC-630 M10 NTYP SL BIFACIAL MODULE](https://comparepv.com/panel/heliene-156hc-630-m10-ntyp-sl-bifacial-module) | 630 | 22.6 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |


## Top panels, Q-Cells


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 675](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-675) | 675 | 21.7 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 670](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-670) | 670 | 21.6 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 665](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-665) | 665 | 21.4 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 660](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-660) | 660 | 21.2 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 655](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-655) | 655 | 21.1 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 650](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-650) | 650 | 20.9 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 645](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-645) | 645 | 23.1 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 640](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-640) | 640 | 22.9 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 635](https://comparepv.com/panel/hanwha-q-cells-america-inc-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-635) | 635 | 22.7 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 630](https://comparepv.com/panel/hanwha-q-cells-america-inc-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-630) | 630 | 22.6 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

Heliene is a Canadian solar module manufacturer, headquartered in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, that has expanded aggressively into US manufacturing in recent years, notably adding a new 500 MW line in Rogers, Minnesota that brings its US-based capacity to roughly 1.3-1.5 GW per year, supplementing existing Minnesota lines. It is recognized as a Tier 1 bankable manufacturer. Q-Cells, part of the Hanwha Group and originally founded in Germany before its manufacturing base shifted largely to South Korea and the United States, operates at a substantially larger scale, with global module production capacity in the 11-12 GW range and the largest solar panel factory in the Western Hemisphere located in Dalton, Georgia. Q-Cells has also earned a "Top Tier" bankability score from BloombergNEF and a 2025 S&P Global Tier 1 Cleantech designation, giving it a stronger overall institutional footprint and longer track record than Heliene, which is a smaller but fast-growing regional player.

Product-wise, Heliene's portfolio spans PERC, TOPCon, and N-type cells, with panels roughly in the 380-710W range and about half of its lineup being bifacial, positioning it for both residential rooftops and utility-scale or commercial ground-mount projects, particularly in North American markets seeking domestically produced content. Q-Cells centers its lineup around two families: the value-oriented Q.PEAK DUO series using mature PERC technology for standard residential installations, and the flagship Q.TRON series built on N-type TOPCon cells, which delivers higher efficiency, better temperature performance, and stronger 25-to-30-year degradation warranties, aimed at premium residential and commercial buyers. Both brands report peak module efficiencies in a similar range, around 22.5 to 23 percent for their top TOPCon products.

For a typical buyer in 2025, Q-Cells offers a broader, more mature product catalog, deeper financial backing, and a longer bankability track record, making it a safer default for large commercial or utility projects and for installers wanting proven long-term warranty support. Heliene is a compelling alternative for buyers prioritizing North American-made content and is rapidly closing the gap in capacity and technology, but its shorter track record and smaller scale mean it currently functions more as a strong regional challenger than a like-for-like substitute for Q-Cells' global footprint.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2025/06/04/heliene-expands-solar-module-capacity-with-new-500-mw-minnesota-plant/ \| Heliene expands solar module capacity with new 500 MW Minnesota plant \| article

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/press-releases/q-cells-achieves-top-tier-class-bankability-score-in-latest-bloombergnef-report/ \| Q Cells achieves top tier bankability score in latest BloombergNEF report \| article

\- https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review \| Expert Review Of Qcells Solar Panels For 2025 \| review

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

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/10/09/heliene-secures-54-million-investment-to-expand-us-manufacturing/ \| Heliene secures 54 million investment to expand US manufacturing \| article

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


## Other comparisons

- [Heliene vs A.B. Energy](https://comparepv.com/heliene-vs-a-b-energy)
- [AE Solar vs Q-Cells](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-q-cells)
- [Heliene vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/heliene-vs-aeet)
- [AIKO vs Q-Cells](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-q-cells)
- [Heliene vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/heliene-vs-akcome)
- [ARTsolar vs Q-Cells](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-q-cells)


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Source: https://comparepv.com/heliene-vs-q-cells

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