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

# Hounen Solar vs Trina Solar

Trina Solar has the broader catalog (340 vs 44 models). Trina Solar leads on peak efficiency at 24.80%. Hounen Solar leans bifacial (86% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | Hounen Solar | Trina Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | China | China |
| Headquarters | Haining | Changzhou |
| Founded | 2010 | 1997 |
| Employees | 200-500 |  |
| Annual capacity | 1-2 GW/year |  |
| Tier 1 |  | yes |
| Listed |  |  |
| Website | [https://www.hounensolar.com](https://www.hounensolar.com) | [https://www.trinasolar.com](https://www.trinasolar.com) |

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...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | Hounen Solar | Trina Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 44 | 340 | +296 |
| Max Power | 725 W | 760 W | +35 W |
| Avg Power | 569 W | 520 W | +48 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | Hounen Solar | Trina Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 23.34% | 24.80% | +1.46 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 21.75% | 21.71% | +0.03 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | Hounen Solar | Trina Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.325%/°C | -0.302%/°C | +0.023 |
| Bifacial Share | 38 (86%) | 145 (43%) | +44 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 28.6 yrs | 28.2 yrs | +0.4 yr |


## Efficiency distribution

Trina Solar skews to higher efficiency: 22% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | Hounen Solar | Trina Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 20-21% | 7 (15.9%) | 57 (16.8%) |
| 21-22% | 20 (45.5%) | 83 (24.4%) |
| 22-23% | 14 (31.8%) | 102 (30.0%) |
| 23%+ | 3 (6.8%) | 76 (22.4%) |
| \<20% | 0 | 22 (6.5%) |


## Power distribution

Hounen Solar offers more 600W+ panels (43% of lineup)


| Power band | Hounen Solar | Trina Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 1 (2.3%) | 28 (8.2%) |
| 400-499W | 10 (22.7%) | 142 (41.8%) |
| 500-599W | 14 (31.8%) | 54 (15.9%) |
| 600-699W | 13 (29.5%) | 72 (21.2%) |
| 700W+ | 6 (13.6%) | 44 (12.9%) |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **N-type** (48%)

Dominant cell tech: **TOPCon** (73%)


| Technology | Hounen Solar | Trina Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unknown | 23 (52.3%) | 11 (3.2%) |
| N-type | 21 (47.7%) | 6 (1.8%) |
| TOPCon | 0 | 248 (72.9%) |
| PERC | 0 | 75 (22.1%) |


## Top panels, Hounen Solar


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [HNM8-GPLDD132-725/N](https://comparepv.com/panel/hounen-solar-hnm8-gpldd132-725-n) | 725 | 23.3 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [HNM8-GPLDD132-720/N](https://comparepv.com/panel/hounen-solar-hnm8-gpldd132-720-n) | 720 | 23.2 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [HNM8-GPLDD132-715/N](https://comparepv.com/panel/hounen-solar-hnm8-gpldd132-715-n) | 715 | 23.0 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [HNM8-GPLDD132-710/N](https://comparepv.com/panel/hounen-solar-hnm8-gpldd132-710-n) | 710 | 22.9 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [HNM8-GPLDD132-705/N](https://comparepv.com/panel/hounen-solar-hnm8-gpldd132-705-n) | 705 | 22.7 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [HNM8-GPLDD132-700/N](https://comparepv.com/panel/hounen-solar-hnm8-gpldd132-700-n) | 700 | 22.5 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [HNM8-TPLDD132-670/M](https://comparepv.com/panel/hounen-solar-hnm8-tpldd132-670-m) | 670 | 21.6 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [HNM8-TPLDD132-665/M](https://comparepv.com/panel/hounen-solar-hnm8-tpldd132-665-m) | 665 | 21.4 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [HNM8-TPLDD132-660/M](https://comparepv.com/panel/hounen-solar-hnm8-tpldd132-660-m) | 660 | 21.2 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [HNM8-TPLDD132-655/M](https://comparepv.com/panel/hounen-solar-hnm8-tpldd132-655-m) | 655 | 21.1 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |


## Top panels, Trina Solar


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [TSM-NEG21C.20Q-760](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-760) | 760 | 24.5 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [TSM-NEG21C.20Q-755](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-755) | 755 | 24.3 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [TSM-NEG21C.20Q-750](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-750) | 750 | 24.1 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [TSM-NEG21C.20Q-745](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-745) | 745 | 24.0 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [TSM-NEG21C.20-740](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-co-ltd-tsm-neg21c-20-740) | 740 | 23.8 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [TSM-NEG21C.20 740](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20-740) | 740 | 23.8 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [TSM-NEG21C.20Q-740](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-740) | 740 | 23.8 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [TSM-NEG21C.20-735](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-co-ltd-tsm-neg21c-20-735) | 735 | 23.7 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [TSM-NEG21C.20 735](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20-735) | 735 | 23.7 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [TSM-NEG21C.20Q-735](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-735) | 735 | 23.7 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

Hounen Solar is a Chinese-origin manufacturer - its parent company is Zhejiang Hounen Photoelectric Co. Ltd. - that established a U.S.-based assembly operation in Orangeburg, South Carolina, in 2022. The facility represents a roughly $33 million investment with approximately 1 GW of nameplate production capacity. Hounen Solar America was formally incorporated in late 2022, making it a relatively young entrant to the North American market. No BNEF Tier 1 or bankability listing was found for the brand at the time of writing. Trina Solar, by contrast, was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Changzhou, China. It has achieved BloombergNEF Tier 1 bankability recognition eight times as of 2025 - including a 100% unanimous bankability score - and has accumulated over 292 GW of cumulative module shipments worldwide as of mid-2025. On institutional footprint alone, Trina Solar holds a commanding advantage.

Hounen Solar's U.S. lineup spans bifacial panels in the roughly 400 W to 720 W range and is primarily positioned for residential and commercial rooftop buyers who value domestically assembled product - particularly relevant given U.S. tariff dynamics. The company's catalog has been associated with PERC cell technology. Trina Solar's portfolio centers on its Vertex product families: the Vertex S+ targets commercial and space-constrained rooftop applications up to around 485 W, while the Vertex N line employs n-type TOPCon cells and extends to 760 W modules with efficiencies reaching 24.5%, aimed squarely at utility-scale ground-mount projects. Trina also carries 30-year performance warranties on flagship models, which is above the industry norm.

For most buyers in 2025, Trina Solar is the lower-risk default: its long track record, bankability with lenders, broad installer network, and proven TOPCon technology make it easier to finance and insure on larger projects. Hounen Solar is a reasonable alternative specifically for U.S. buyers who need tariff-exempt, domestically assembled panels and are working within a budget - but it should be evaluated with the understanding that it is a newer brand without the same institutional validation.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2023/03/17/hounen-to-build-1-gw-solar-module-factory-in-us/ \| Hounen to build 1 GW solar module factory in US \| article

\- https://a1solarstore.com/blog/hounen-solar-panels-review-assembled-in-north-america.html \| Hounen Solar Panels Review 2026 - US-Assembled Panels from 400W to 720W \| review

\- https://www.trinasolar.com/us/resources/newsroom/Trinasolar-Tops-BNEF-Bankability-Rating-for-the-Eighth-Time/ \| Trinasolar Tops BNEF Bankability Rating for the Eighth Time \| article

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/12/06/trina-solar-launches-760-w-topcon-module-with-24-5-efficiency/ \| Trina Solar launches 760 W TOPCon module with 24.5% efficiency \| article

\- https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/are-trina-solar-panels-your-best-option \| 2025 Expert Trina Solar Panels Review - SolarReviews \| review

Sources:

\- \[Hounen to build 1 GW solar module factory in US - pv magazine\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2023/03/17/hounen-to-build-1-gw-solar-module-factory-in-us/)

\- \[Hounen Solar Panels Review 2026 - A1 SolarStore\](https://a1solarstore.com/blog/hounen-solar-panels-review-assembled-in-north-america.html)

\- \[Trinasolar Tops BNEF Bankability Rating for the Eighth Time\](https://www.trinasolar.com/us/resources/newsroom/Trinasolar-Tops-BNEF-Bankability-Rating-for-the-Eighth-Time/)

\- \[Trina Solar launches 760 W TOPCon module with 24.5% efficiency - pv magazine\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/12/06/trina-solar-launches-760-w-topcon-module-with-24-5-efficiency/)

\- \[2025 Expert Trina Solar Panels Review - SolarReviews\](https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/are-trina-solar-panels-your-best-option)

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


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Source: https://comparepv.com/hounen-solar-vs-trina-solar

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