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

# JA Solar vs Thornova

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


## The two companies


| Attribute | JA Solar | Thornova |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | China | China |
| Headquarters | Beijing | Wuxi |
| Founded | 2005 | 2016 |
| Employees | 37,289 |  |
| 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 Sunova Solar) is a Chinese photovoltaic manufacturer headquartered in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, specializing in high-efficiency TOPCon and PERC bifacial solar modules. The company operates manufacturing facilities in China and Indonesia with a combined module capacity of 6.5 GW and cell capacity...


## Catalog & Power


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


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | JA Solar | Thornova | 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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<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 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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 is a Chinese manufacturer founded in 2005 and headquartered in Beijing, with global operations that have grown it into one of the largest module producers in the world. The company shipped approximately 79.4 GW of modules in 2024 and holds over 100 GW of total manufacturing capacity. It appears consistently on BloombergNEF's Tier 1 list and was recognized as a Tier 1 supplier by S&P Global Commodity Insights in 2025. Thornova Solar, by contrast, was founded in 2022 and is registered in Fremont, California, operating as an independent subsidiary of the Chinese firm Sunova Solar Technology. Its module production capacity stands at around 6.5 GW, with cell capacity reaching 11.5 GW across facilities in China and Indonesia. Thornova achieved BNEF Tier 1 status beginning in Q3 2023 and has maintained that standing since. JA Solar holds a significantly larger institutional footprint, measured by shipment volume, market reach, and years of bankability track record.

JA Solar's current catalog is built primarily around n-type TOPCon technology, anchored by the Deep Blue 4.0 Pro series. These modules target the full range of applications - premium residential rooftops, commercial arrays, and large utility-scale ground mounts - at competitive price points. Thornova structures its lineup around two main families: the Zosma series, which uses PERC cell technology and is positioned as a cost-accessible option, and the Tangra series, which uses n-type cell technology and targets buyers seeking higher efficiency in residential, commercial and industrial, and utility applications. The Tangra M PRO earned recognition as an "Overall Highest Achiever" in the RETC PV Module Index, and Thornova received a Kiwa PVEL 2025 Top Performer award.

For a typical buyer in 2025, JA Solar is the lower-risk default - its scale, multi-decade warranty track record, and depth of third-party certifications reduce long-term uncertainty. Thornova is a credible and bankable alternative, particularly for North American buyers seeking competitive bifacial pricing, but its shorter operating history means it carries somewhat more counterparty risk.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/ja-solar-panels \| JA Solar Panels 2025 Expert Review \| review

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/press-releases/thornova-solar-ranked-as-bnef-tier-1-module-manufacturer/ \| Thornova Solar ranked as BNEF Tier 1 module manufacturer \| article

\- https://a1solarstore.com/blog/thornova-solar-panels-review-sharp-solutions.html \| Thornova Solar panels review 2026 - A1 SolarStore Magazine \| review

\- https://www.thornovasolar.com/news/corporate-news/88.html \| Sunova/Thornova Solar listed as Tier 1 by BNEF for a full year \| article

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


---

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

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