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

# JA Solar vs REC

JA Solar has the broader catalog (504 vs 58 models). JA Solar leads on peak efficiency at 24.80%. REC leans bifacial (59% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | JA Solar | REC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | China | Norway |
| Headquarters | Beijing | Sandvika |
| Founded | 2005 | 1996 |
| Employees | 37,289 |  |
| Annual capacity | 100+ GW/year |  |
| Tier 1 | yes | yes |
| Listed | SZSE: 002459 |  |
| Website | [https://www.jasolar.com](https://www.jasolar.com) | [https://www.recgroup.com](https://www.recgroup.com) |

JA Solar is a global leader in the manufacturing of high-performance photovoltaic products. Founded in 2005, the company designs, develops, manufactures, and sells solar cells and modules. JA Solar's products are used in ground-mounted power plants, commercial & industrial rooftop PV systems, and residential rooftop...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | JA Solar | REC | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 504 | 58 | +446 |
| Max Power | 740 W | 640 W | +100 W |
| Avg Power | 456 W | 385 W | +71 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | JA Solar | REC | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 24.80% | 22.80% | +2.00 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 21.13% | 18.92% | +2.21 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | JA Solar | REC | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.322%/°C | -0.300%/°C | +0.022 |
| Bifacial Share | 238 (47%) | 34 (59%) | +11 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 27.9 yrs | 25.5 yrs | +2.4 yr |


## Efficiency distribution

JA Solar skews to higher efficiency: 15% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | JA Solar | REC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 112 (22.2%) | 20 (34.5%) |
| 20-21% | 99 (19.6%) | 8 (13.8%) |
| 21-22% | 112 (22.2%) | 15 (25.9%) |
| 22-23% | 107 (21.2%) | 15 (25.9%) |
| 23%+ | 74 (14.7%) | 0 |


## Power distribution

REC offers more 600W+ panels (17% of lineup)


| Power band | JA Solar | REC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 142 (28.2%) | 21 (36.2%) |
| 400-499W | 173 (34.3%) | 26 (44.8%) |
| 500-599W | 120 (23.8%) | 1 (1.7%) |
| 600-699W | 60 (11.9%) | 10 (17.2%) |
| 700W+ | 9 (1.8%) | 0 |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (49%)

Dominant cell tech: **HJT** (59%)


| Technology | JA Solar | REC |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PERC | 247 (49.0%) | 0 |
| TOPCon | 146 (29.0%) | 0 |
| N-type | 90 (17.9%) | 2 (3.4%) |
| Unknown | 16 (3.2%) | 22 (37.9%) |
| HJT | 5 (1.0%) | 34 (58.6%) |


## Top panels, JA Solar


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [JAM66D46-740/LB](https://comparepv.com/panel/ja-solar-jam66d46-740-lb) | 740 | 23.8 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [JAM66D46-735/LB](https://comparepv.com/panel/ja-solar-jam66d46-735-lb) | 735 | 23.7 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [JAM66D46-730/LB](https://comparepv.com/panel/ja-solar-jam66d46-730-lb) | 730 | 23.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [JAM66D46-725/LB](https://comparepv.com/panel/ja-solar-jam66d46-725-lb) | 725 | 23.3 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [JAM66D46-720/LB](https://comparepv.com/panel/ja-solar-jam66d46-720-lb) | 720 | 23.2 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [JAM66D46-715/LB](https://comparepv.com/panel/ja-solar-jam66d46-715-lb) | 715 | 23.0 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [JAM66D46-710/LB](https://comparepv.com/panel/ja-solar-jam66d46-710-lb) | 710 | 22.9 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [JAM66D46-705/LB](https://comparepv.com/panel/ja-solar-jam66d46-705-lb) | 705 | 22.7 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [JAM66D46-700/LB](https://comparepv.com/panel/ja-solar-jam66d46-700-lb) | 700 | 22.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [JAM66D46-695/LB](https://comparepv.com/panel/ja-solar-jam66d46-695-lb) | 695 | 22.4 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |


## Top panels, REC


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [REC640AA PRO M](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec640aa-pro-m) | 640 | 22.5 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [REC640AA Pro MG](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec640aa-pro-mg) | 640 | 22.5 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [REC630AA PRO M](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec630aa-pro-m) | 630 | 22.2 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [REC630AA Pro MG](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec630aa-pro-mg) | 630 | 22.2 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [REC620AA PRO M](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec620aa-pro-m) | 620 | 21.8 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [REC620AA Pro MG](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec620aa-pro-mg) | 620 | 21.8 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [REC610AA PRO M](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec610aa-pro-m) | 610 | 21.5 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [REC610AA Pro MG](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec610aa-pro-mg) | 610 | 21.5 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [REC600AA PRO M](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec600aa-pro-m) | 600 | 21.1 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [REC600AA Pro MG](https://comparepv.com/panel/rec-rec600aa-pro-mg) | 600 | 21.1 | -0.240 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

JA Solar, founded in China in 2005 and listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, has grown into one of the world's largest solar panel manufacturers with a production capacity exceeding 100 GW and a workforce of over 37,000 employees. The company consistently ranks among the top two global suppliers by shipment volume and holds Tier 1 bankable status, demonstrating the financial stability and reliability required by project finance lenders worldwide. REC Group, by contrast, was founded in Norway in 1996 and has built its reputation as a premium European-heritage brand - smaller in scale but widely respected for advanced cell technology and long-term product quality. REC also holds Tier 1 bankable status, giving it credibility across international project markets despite its more focused product range.

JA Solar's broad portfolio of 524 panel models is led by PERC cell technology (52.1% of the lineup), with an average output of 441.7 Wp and maximum efficiency reaching 24.4%. The sheer range of its offerings - from standard residential modules to high-power bifacial panels up to 740 Wp - makes it well suited for residential rooftop installs, commercial C&I projects, and large utility-scale ground-mount deployments where competitive pricing and supply reliability are priorities. REC's more concentrated portfolio of 55 models is dominated by HJT cell technology (56.4% of the lineup), delivering a maximum efficiency of 22.6% and a better average temperature coefficient of -0.306%/°C compared to JA Solar's -0.323%/°C. REC also carries a higher share of bifacial panels (56.4% vs. 44.3%), and its lower annual degradation rates make it a strong fit for space-constrained residential rooftops and premium C&I installations where long-term yield optimization justifies a higher upfront cost.

For buyers prioritizing volume, portfolio breadth, and competitive pricing - particularly across utility-scale and large C&I segments - JA Solar is a compelling Tier 1 choice backed by unmatched manufacturing scale and consistent reliability scores in independent testing. REC appeals to buyers in the premium residential and select commercial segments who value European brand positioning, advanced HJT technology, and comprehensive warranty protection including labor coverage under its ProTrust program. The right choice ultimately depends on project scale, budget constraints, and how much value a client places on incremental efficiency gains and brand premium.

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


## Other comparisons

- [JA Solar vs A.B. Energy](https://comparepv.com/ja-solar-vs-a-b-energy)
- [AE Solar vs REC](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-rec)
- [JA Solar vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/ja-solar-vs-aeet)
- [AIKO vs REC](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-rec)
- [JA Solar vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/ja-solar-vs-akcome)
- [ARTsolar vs REC](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-rec)


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Source: https://comparepv.com/ja-solar-vs-rec

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