Hyundai vs Trina Solar - solar panel manufacturer comparison
Trina Solar has the broader catalog (340 vs 65 models). Trina Solar leads on peak efficiency at 24.80%. Hyundai leans bifacial (66% 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
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
- Founded
- 1997
- Headquarters
- Changzhou, China
- 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
Trina Solar skews to higher efficiency: 22% of lineup is 23%+
Trina Solar offers more 600W+ panels (34% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>HJT</strong> (38%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>TOPCon</strong> (73%)
The flagships
Written summary
Hyundai Energy Solutions is a South Korean solar manufacturer headquartered in Seongnam, established in 2004 as a subsidiary of HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, one of Korea's largest industrial conglomerates. The company operates with an annual production capacity of approximately 1.4 GW and holds Tier 1 bankable status, giving it credibility with project finance institutions. Trina Solar, by contrast, is a Chinese photovoltaics powerhouse founded in 1997 and publicly listed on the Shanghai stock exchange, headquartered in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province. By mid-2025 the company had shipped over 292 GW of modules cumulatively, and BloombergNEF awarded it a 100% bankability rating for the eighth time, including in Q2 2025. On institutional scale and global recognition, Trina Solar is significantly ahead.
Hyundai's product range is oriented primarily toward residential rooftop and small-to-medium commercial installations. The company has developed N-type TOPCon modules reaching efficiency levels in the 22-23% range, backed by product and linear performance warranties of 25-30 years. It is a competent choice for homeowners and smaller EPCs seeking a non-Chinese supply chain. Trina Solar addresses the full market spectrum - residential, commercial and industrial, and utility-scale ground-mount - through several distinct product families. Its flagship Vertex N series incorporates the proprietary i-TOPCon Ultra technology, which added 30-40 W per module in late 2024, cementing Trina's claim to be leading the TOPCon 2.0 generation. The company's 210 mm large-format modules have been widely adopted in utility projects globally, and Kiwa PVEL awarded Trina Solar the TOP Performer distinction for the eleventh consecutive year in 2025.
For a standard buyer - whether a homeowner in Europe or a developer procuring for a commercial rooftop - both brands are bankable and well-warranted options. Hyundai suits buyers who prioritize a Korean manufacturing pedigree and a focused, straightforward product line. Trina Solar is the stronger default for larger projects, offering broader module choice, consistently top independent test results, and a proven global supply chain at scale.
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-05-20
Other brand comparisons
Shop prices: See 42 Hyundai offers · See 248 Trina Solar 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.