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

# Hyundai vs SMA Solar

Hyundai has the broader catalog (65 vs 0 models). Hyundai leans bifacial (66% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | Hyundai | SMA Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | South Korea | Germany |
| Headquarters | Seongnam-si | Niestetal |
| Founded | 2004 | 1981 |
| Employees | 206 | 3000-5000 |
| Annual capacity | 1.35 GW/year |  |
| Tier 1 | yes |  |
| Listed | Korea Stock Exchange: 322000 | ETR: S92 |
| Website | [https://www.hd-hyundaies.co.kr](https://www.hd-hyundaies.co.kr) | [https://www.sma.de](https://www.sma.de) |

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...

SMA Solar Technology AG is a leading German manufacturer of solar inverters for photovoltaic systems, serving residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications worldwide. Founded in 1981, the company is the largest solar technology company in Europe by revenue and operates in over 190 countries. SMA focuses...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | Hyundai | SMA Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 65 | 0 | +65 |
| Max Power | 640 W | 0 W | +640 W |
| Avg Power | 442 W | 0 W | +442 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | Hyundai | SMA Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 23.40% | - |  |
| Avg Efficiency | 21.49% | - |  |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | Hyundai | SMA Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.300%/°C | - |  |
| Bifacial Share | 43 (66%) | 0 (0%) | +66 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 27.4 yrs | - |  |


## Efficiency distribution

Hyundai skews to higher efficiency: 6% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | Hyundai | SMA Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 7 (10.8%) | 0 |
| 20-21% | 17 (26.2%) | 0 |
| 21-22% | 12 (18.5%) | 0 |
| 22-23% | 25 (38.5%) | 0 |
| 23%+ | 4 (6.2%) | 0 |


## Power distribution

Hyundai offers more 600W+ panels (5% of lineup)


| Power band | Hyundai | SMA Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 8 (12.3%) | 0 |
| 400-499W | 49 (75.4%) | 0 |
| 500-599W | 5 (7.7%) | 0 |
| 600-699W | 3 (4.6%) | 0 |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **HJT** (38%)


| Technology | Hyundai | SMA Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| HJT | 25 (38.5%) | 0 |
| PERC | 25 (38.5%) | 0 |
| Unknown | 9 (13.8%) | 0 |
| TOPCon | 6 (9.2%) | 0 |


## Top panels, Hyundai


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [HiS-T640NJ](https://comparepv.com/panel/hd-hyundai-energy-solutions-his-t640nj) | 640 | 22.9 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [HiS-T635NJ](https://comparepv.com/panel/hd-hyundai-energy-solutions-his-t635nj) | 635 | 22.7 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [HiS-T630NJ](https://comparepv.com/panel/hd-hyundai-energy-solutions-his-t630nj) | 630 | 22.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [HiT-H520LF-FB(ZB)](https://comparepv.com/panel/hyundai-hit-h520lf-fb-zb) | 520 | 23.4 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [HiT-H515LF-FB(ZB)](https://comparepv.com/panel/hyundai-hit-h515lf-fb-zb) | 515 | 23.2 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [HiT-H510LF-FB(ZB)](https://comparepv.com/panel/hyundai-hit-h510lf-fb-zb) | 510 | 22.9 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [HiT-H505LF-FB(ZB)](https://comparepv.com/panel/hyundai-hit-h505lf-fb-zb) | 505 | 22.7 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [HiT-H500LF-FB(ZB)](https://comparepv.com/panel/hyundai-hit-h500lf-fb-zb) | 500 | 22.5 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [HiT-H460LE-FB(ZB)](https://comparepv.com/panel/hyundai-hit-h460le-fb-zb) | 460 | 23.0 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [HiT-H460CE-BF](https://comparepv.com/panel/hyundai-hit-h460ce-bf) | 460 | 23.0 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

Hyundai (operating as HD Hyundai Energy Solutions) is a South Korean solar panel manufacturer whose solar roots trace back to Hyundai Heavy Industries in 1972. The dedicated solar subsidiary holds Bloomberg NEF Tier 1 bankability status, meaning large financial institutions will readily back projects using its modules. The company reports roughly 1.4 GW of annual panel production capacity, positioning it in the mid-tier of global manufacturers by volume - well behind the Chinese giants but solidly credentialed. SMA Solar Technology, by contrast, is a German inverter specialist, not a panel manufacturer. Founded in 1981 by researchers at the University of Kassel and headquartered in Niestetal, Germany, SMA does not produce solar modules at all - it converts the DC output of panels into usable AC power. SMA ranks among the top three global inverter manufacturers according to Wood Mackenzie and is the highest-placed non-Chinese inverter supplier in that ranking. From an institutional footprint standpoint, SMA's 40-plus years of inverter focus and roughly €1.9 billion in 2023 revenue give it deep engineering credibility, though Hyundai's conglomerate backing brings its own financial weight.

HD Hyundai Energy Solutions has transitioned its product line toward N-type TOPCon cell technology, beginning mass production in April 2025, alongside an established PERC lineup. Its panels are positioned for premium residential rooftops and mid-scale commercial installations, with module-level efficiencies reviewed around 20.5-20.6% and warranties spanning 25 to 30 years. PV Evolution Labs' 2024 report recognized Hyundai panels as top performers across thermal cycling, hail stress, and PID testing categories. SMA's residential Sunny Boy and commercial-scale Sunny Tripower inverter families cover homes through utility-scale ground mounts, with string efficiencies reported above 98%. SMA also offers battery inverters, DC-DC converters, and EV charging solutions, making it a broader energy management platform. Notably, SMA posted losses exceeding US$75 million in 2025 and announced roughly 350 job cuts, reflecting intense price pressure from Asian competitors.

For a typical 2025 buyer, these brands are complementary rather than competing: Hyundai supplies the panels while SMA supplies the inverter. Hyundai is a reasonable mid-market panel choice backed by solid bankability and a modern TOPCon portfolio. SMA remains a strong inverter pick for installers who value European engineering and deep grid-integration experience, though buyers should weigh its current financial turbulence against longer-term service commitments.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/complete-review-hyundai-solar-panels \| Complete Review of Hyundai Solar Panels 2025 - SolarReviews \| review

\- https://pv-magazine-usa.com/press-releases/hd-hyundai-energy-solutions-begins-mass-production-of-n-type-topcon-cells/ \| HD Hyundai Energy Solutions begins mass production of N-Type TOPCon cells \| article

\- https://www.pv-tech.org/sma-solar-losses-exceed-us75-million-2025/ \| SMA Solar losses exceed US$75 million in 2025 - PV Tech \| article

\- https://www.sma-america.com/newsroom/news-details/sma-ranks-among-top-three-global-solar-inverter-manufacturers \| SMA ranks among top three global solar inverter manufacturers \| article

\- https://www.cleanenergyreviews.info/blog/sma-solar-inverter-review \| SMA Inverter Review - Clean Energy Reviews \| review

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


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Source: https://comparepv.com/hyundai-vs-sma-solar

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