Hyundai vs REC - solar panel manufacturer comparison
Hyundai has the broader catalog (65 vs 58 models). Hyundai leads on peak efficiency at 23.40%.
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
HD Hyundai Energy Solutions is a global provider of solar cells and modules, offering solutions for residential, commercial, and utility-scale projects. They provide monofacial, bifacial, and shingled PV modules, along with inverters and various PV solutions. The company is committed to developing next-generation...
- Founded
- 2004
- Headquarters
- Seongnam-si, South Korea
- Annual capacity
- 1.35 GW/year
- Employees
- 206
- 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
Hyundai skews to higher efficiency: 6% of lineup is 23%+
REC offers more 600W+ panels (17% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>HJT</strong> (38%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>HJT</strong> (59%)
The flagships
Written summary
Hyundai Energy Solutions - operating under the HD Hyundai group - is a South Korean manufacturer that launched its solar business in 2004 and was spun off as an independent entity in 2016. Headquartered in Seongnam-si, South Korea, it holds BloombergNEF Tier 1 bankable status and operates roughly 1.4 GW of annual module production capacity, with manufacturing concentrated in South Korea. REC Group was founded in Norway in 1996 and maintains operational headquarters in Singapore; it was acquired by Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries in 2021 for approximately $771 million. REC has historically held Tier 1 status, though analysts have flagged a notable decline in module shipment volumes in recent years alongside questions about financial stability under its new ownership structure. In terms of institutional footprint and production scale, Hyundai's tighter integration within a large Korean industrial conglomerate currently gives it a more stable financial footing.
On the product side, Hyundai has moved decisively into n-type TOPCon technology, having begun mass production of TOPCon cells at its Korean facilities and showcasing this lineup at RE+ 2025. Its portfolio spans residential rooftop modules through to commercial and light industrial applications. REC's brand identity, by contrast, is tightly bound to heterojunction (HJT) technology: its Alpha series - including the Alpha Pure, Alpha Pure 2, Alpha Pure-R, and the newer Alpha Pro M aimed at commercial and industrial rooftops - has been its flagship line for years. REC's HJT modules carry a notably low temperature coefficient and strong long-term degradation figures, making them attractive for space-constrained rooftops where squeezing maximum output per square meter justifies a premium cost.
For most residential and small commercial buyers in 2025, Hyundai represents the safer institutional choice given its clearer production scale and corporate backing. REC remains the better pick for buyers willing to pay a premium for HJT performance characteristics, provided they are comfortable with REC's current ownership transition and market position uncertainties.
- HD Hyundai Energy Solutions begins mass production of N-Type TOPCon cells
- Hyundai builds 1.37 GW solar cell factory in South Korea
- Complete Review of Hyundai Solar Panels 2025 - SolarReviews
- 2025 Expert Review of REC Solar Panels - SolarReviews
- REC Group launches module series using HJT cells - PV Tech
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-05-15
Other brand comparisons
Shop prices: See 42 Hyundai offers · See 7 REC offers
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.