Hounen Solar vs AIKO - solar panel manufacturer comparison
AIKO has the broader catalog (144 vs 44 models). AIKO leads on peak efficiency at 25.20%. Hounen Solar leans bifacial (86% of lineup).
Both catalogues are read from the manufacturers' own datasheets. A brand is not scored against the market here, only against the other brand on this page.
The two companies
Hounen Solar (Zhejiang Haoneng Optoelectronics) is a Chinese solar PV module manufacturer with its U.S. operations branded as Hounen Solar America. The company produces solar panels for residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications, and in 2023 established a 1 GW module assembly facility in Orangeburg, South...
- Founded
- 2010
- Headquarters
- Haining, China
- Annual capacity
- 1-2 GW/year
- Employees
- 200-500
- Founded
- 2009
- Headquarters
- Shanghai, China
- Listed
- SZSE: 600732
- Tier 1 bankable
- Yes
Catalogue against catalogue
An average over a catalogue describes the range a manufacturer publishes, not the module you would buy. A brand with two flagship panels and eighty older ones averages worse than one that has retired its back catalogue.
What each of them builds
AIKO skews to higher efficiency: 85% of lineup is 23%+
AIKO offers more 600W+ panels (60% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>N-type</strong> (48%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>Back Contact</strong> (83%)
The flagships
Written summary
Hounen Solar is the US arm of a Chinese parent group, with its primary manufacturing presence established in Orangeburg, South Carolina in 2022. The company built a facility targeting 1 GW of annual module assembly capacity and has positioned itself as one of the few solar manufacturers with meaningful US-based production. As of the time of research, Hounen Solar does not appear on published BloombergNEF Tier 1 lists, which limits its bankability in project-financed utility deals. AIKO, by contrast, is a Chinese manufacturer that achieved BloombergNEF Tier 1 status in Q3 2024 and has since reported a production capacity trajectory that reached approximately 20 GW per year in early 2025 - placing it firmly among the larger-scale global players. On institutional footprint and bankability, AIKO carries the stronger standing.
Hounen Solar's current catalog is built around monocrystalline PERC modules spanning a wide power range, covering residential rooftops through utility-scale ground mounts, with the US assembly angle giving it a clear advantage for buyers seeking IRA-compliant domestic content. AIKO's defining technology is its ABC (All Back Contact) cell design, which moves all electrical contacts to the rear of the cell to maximize active surface area. This has enabled confirmed mass-production efficiency records that place its panels well above what most competing TOPCon or PERC manufacturers achieve. AIKO took first place in the 2025 SolarQuotes Installers' Choice Awards in Australia, and independent tests note above-average shade tolerance and a low annual degradation rate, making it a strong candidate for premium residential and commercial rooftops.
For a typical buyer in 2025 who prioritizes peak performance and long-term yield, AIKO is the clearer choice - its ABC technology and Tier 1 bankability are difficult to match. Hounen Solar is a more niche proposition worth considering when US-manufactured content is a procurement or incentive requirement, though buyers should factor in its less-established market track record.
- Hounen Solar America to set up 1GW module assembly plant in South Carolina
- Hounen Solar Panels Review 2026 - US-Assembled Panels from 400W to 720W
- Aiko Solar Panels Review - SolarQuotes
- Debunking the AIKO Solar Panel Hype - A Real-World Performance Test
- Tier 1 List of Solar Panel Manufacturers Q2 2026
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-06-08
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Comparisons are computed from manufacturer datasheets held in the ComparePV database and may not reflect a brand's complete current lineup. Nothing on this page is paid placement.