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

# Hiwatt Solar vs Q-Cells

Hiwatt Solar has the broader catalog (109 vs 89 models). Hiwatt Solar leads on peak efficiency at 23.50%. Q-Cells leans bifacial (39% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | Hiwatt Solar | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country |  | South Korea |
| Headquarters |  | Seoul |
| Founded |  | 1999 |
| Employees |  | 2000+ |
| Annual capacity |  | 11.2 GW/year |
| Tier 1 | no | yes |
| Listed |  | NASDAQ: HQCL |
| Website |  | [https://www.qcells.com](https://www.qcells.com) |

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 | Hiwatt Solar | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 109 | 89 | +20 |
| Max Power | 730 W | 675 W | +55 W |
| Avg Power | 476 W | 468 W | +8 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | Hiwatt Solar | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 23.50% | 23.20% | +0.30 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 20.60% | 21.21% | +0.62 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | Hiwatt Solar | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.340%/°C | -0.325%/°C | +0.015 |
| Bifacial Share | 14 (13%) | 35 (39%) | +26 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 25.0 yrs | 27.0 yrs | +2.0 yr |


## Efficiency distribution

Hiwatt Solar skews to higher efficiency: 8% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | Hiwatt Solar | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 27 (24.8%) | 7 (7.9%) |
| 20-21% | 32 (29.4%) | 29 (32.6%) |
| 21-22% | 27 (24.8%) | 30 (33.7%) |
| 22-23% | 14 (12.8%) | 21 (23.6%) |
| 23%+ | 9 (8.3%) | 2 (2.2%) |


## Power distribution

Q-Cells offers more 600W+ panels (19% of lineup)


| Power band | Hiwatt Solar | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 33 (30.3%) | 20 (22.5%) |
| 400-499W | 30 (27.5%) | 41 (46.1%) |
| 500-599W | 26 (23.9%) | 11 (12.4%) |
| 600-699W | 15 (13.8%) | 17 (19.1%) |
| 700W+ | 5 (4.6%) | 0 |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (46%)

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


| Technology | Hiwatt Solar | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PERC | 50 (45.9%) | 38 (42.7%) |
| TOPCon | 33 (30.3%) | 8 (9.0%) |
| Unknown | 21 (19.3%) | 20 (22.5%) |
| N-type | 5 (4.6%) | 23 (25.8%) |


## Top panels, Hiwatt Solar


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [HW-M12/132G-730](https://comparepv.com/panel/hiwatt-solar-hw-m12-132g-730) | 730 | 23.5 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [HW-M12/132G-725](https://comparepv.com/panel/hiwatt-solar-hw-m12-132g-725) | 725 | 23.3 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [HW-M12/132G-720](https://comparepv.com/panel/hiwatt-solar-hw-m12-132g-720) | 720 | 23.2 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [HW-M12/132G-715](https://comparepv.com/panel/hiwatt-solar-hw-m12-132g-715) | 715 | 23.0 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [HW-M12/132G-710](https://comparepv.com/panel/hiwatt-solar-hw-m12-132g-710) | 710 | 22.9 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [HW-M12/132H-670](https://comparepv.com/panel/hiwatt-solar-hw-m12-132h-670) | 670 | 21.6 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [HW-M12/132H-665](https://comparepv.com/panel/hiwatt-solar-hw-m12-132h-665) | 665 | 21.4 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [HW-M12/132H-660](https://comparepv.com/panel/hiwatt-solar-hw-m12-132h-660) | 660 | 21.2 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [HW-M12/132H-655](https://comparepv.com/panel/hiwatt-solar-hw-m12-132h-655) | 655 | 21.1 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [HW-M12/132H-650](https://comparepv.com/panel/hiwatt-solar-hw-m12-132h-650) | 650 | 20.9 | -0.340 | 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

Hiwatt Solar is a Chinese photovoltaic manufacturer specializing in the research, development, and production of solar modules. The company self-reports a production capacity of approximately 2.2 GW and offers modules certified to IEC 61215 and IEC 61730, but no confirmed BloombergNEF Tier 1 or equivalent bankability listing was found in current industry sources. Q-Cells, operating under the Hanwha Q CELLS brand, traces its roots to Germany and is now majority-owned by South Korea's Hanwha Group, with manufacturing plants in South Korea, Malaysia, and the United States. Hanwha Q CELLS holds a confirmed BloombergNEF "Top Tier" bankability score, received a $1.45 billion U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantee in late 2024, and projects module shipments exceeding 9 GW in 2025, giving it a substantially stronger institutional and financial footprint.

In terms of product range, Hiwatt Solar focuses on large-format modules using 210 mm wafer cells with output ratings above 600 W, including both single-glass and double-glass bifacial options based on TOPCon cell technology, aimed primarily at commercial rooftop and utility-scale ground-mount installations. Hanwha Q CELLS addresses a broader market: its Q.PEAK DUO series uses PERC cell technology and targets mainstream residential and light commercial rooftops, while the newer Q.TRON series uses TOPCon cells and reaches efficiencies confirmed at up to 23.7%, competing at the premium residential end of the market. Q-Cells panels are widely stocked by U.S. installers and carry 25-year product and performance warranties backed by a balance-sheet-strong parent company.

For most buyers in 2025, Hanwha Q CELLS is the safer default: its bankability credentials, domestic U.S. manufacturing eligibility under the Inflation Reduction Act, and well-documented warranty support reduce long-term project risk. Hiwatt Solar may suit cost-driven utility procurement where large-format high-wattage modules are the priority and the buyer can independently vet supplier quality, but it lacks the third-party financial endorsement that lenders and project developers typically require.

\---LINKS---

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

\- https://www.energysage.com/solar/best-solar-panels-complete-ranking/q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review/ \| Q CELLS Solar Panels Complete Review - EnergySage \| review

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

\- https://www.enfsolar.com/hiwatt-solar \| Hiwatt Solar Limited - ENF Solar industry directory profile \| article

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


## Other comparisons

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


---

Source: https://comparepv.com/hiwatt-solar-vs-q-cells

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