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

# JA Solar vs Thornova Solar

JA Solar has the broader catalog (504 vs 0 models). JA Solar leans bifacial (47% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | JA Solar | Thornova Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | China | China |
| Headquarters | Beijing | Wuxi |
| Founded | 2005 | 2016 |
| Employees | 37,289 | 500-1000 |
| Annual capacity | 100+ GW/year | 5-10 GW/year |
| Tier 1 | yes | yes |
| Listed | SZSE: 002459 |  |
| Website | [https://www.jasolar.com](https://www.jasolar.com) | [https://www.thornova-solar.com](https://www.thornova-solar.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...

Thornova Solar, formerly known as Sunova Solar Technology Co., Ltd., is a Chinese manufacturer of high-efficiency photovoltaic modules and solar cells with production facilities in China and Indonesia. The company specializes in advanced solar panel technology and holds BNEF Tier 1 bankable module manufacturer status...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | JA Solar | Thornova Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 504 | 0 | +504 |
| Max Power | 740 W | 0 W | +740 W |
| Avg Power | 456 W | 0 W | +456 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | JA Solar | Thornova Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 24.80% | - |  |
| Avg Efficiency | 21.13% | - |  |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | JA Solar | Thornova Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.322%/°C | - |  |
| Bifacial Share | 238 (47%) | 0 (0%) | +47 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 27.9 yrs | - |  |


## Efficiency distribution

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


| Efficiency band | JA Solar | Thornova Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 112 (22.2%) | 0 |
| 20-21% | 99 (19.6%) | 0 |
| 21-22% | 112 (22.2%) | 0 |
| 22-23% | 107 (21.2%) | 0 |
| 23%+ | 74 (14.7%) | 0 |


## Power distribution

JA Solar offers more 600W+ panels (14% of lineup)


| Power band | JA Solar | Thornova Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 142 (28.2%) | 0 |
| 400-499W | 173 (34.3%) | 0 |
| 500-599W | 120 (23.8%) | 0 |
| 600-699W | 60 (11.9%) | 0 |
| 700W+ | 9 (1.8%) | 0 |


## Cell technology

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


| Technology | JA Solar | Thornova Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PERC | 247 (49.0%) | 0 |
| TOPCon | 146 (29.0%) | 0 |
| N-type | 90 (17.9%) | 0 |
| Unknown | 16 (3.2%) | 0 |
| HJT | 5 (1.0%) | 0 |


## 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 |


## Summary

JA Solar and Thornova Solar are both Chinese solar panel manufacturers holding Tier 1 bankable status according to BloombergNEF, but they occupy very different positions in the global PV market. JA Solar was founded in 2005 and has grown into one of the world's largest module producers, with a manufacturing capacity exceeding 100 GW, a workforce of over 37,000 employees, and a listing on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE). Its scale enables consistent supply across large-volume projects worldwide and underpins a broad, multi-technology product catalog. Thornova Solar, founded in 2016, operates at a considerably smaller scale with an estimated production capacity of 5-10 GW and a workforce of 500-1,000 employees. Despite its younger profile, Thornova achieved BloombergNEF Tier 1 status in 2023 and maintains a European headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany, strengthening its accessibility to European buyers.

JA Solar's portfolio spans over 524 panel models, with a maximum output of 740 Wp and a peak panel efficiency of 24.4%. The dominant cell technology in its lineup remains PERC (approximately 52% of the portfolio), with a growing share of TOPCon modules in the Deep Blue 4.0 series. JA Solar earned PVEL Top Performer status for the tenth consecutive time in the 2025 Scorecard, reflecting strong long-term reliability. The breadth of its range makes it well suited for residential rooftop installations, commercial and industrial (C&I) projects, and large-scale utility ground-mount developments. Thornova Solar focuses primarily on N-Type TOPCon technology, with panel efficiencies reaching up to 23.2% and strong mechanical load ratings. Its modules received a Kiwa PVEL 2025 Top Performer award, and the company also operates production facilities in Indonesia and Vietnam to serve international markets. Thornova is a practical choice for mid-scale commercial projects and installers seeking high-efficiency TOPCon modules from a bankable but less mainstream brand.

For international buyers choosing between the two, JA Solar offers a lower-risk procurement profile backed by two decades of manufacturing experience, a vast product range, and deep distribution networks across Europe and beyond. Thornova Solar presents a credible alternative for buyers prioritizing cutting-edge N-Type TOPCon technology and willing to work with a smaller, agile supplier - provided local warranty service and spare-parts support can be confirmed in the target market.

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 Thornova Solar](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-thornova-solar)
- [JA Solar vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/ja-solar-vs-aeet)
- [AIKO vs Thornova Solar](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-thornova-solar)
- [JA Solar vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/ja-solar-vs-akcome)
- [ARTsolar vs Thornova Solar](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-thornova-solar)


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

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