Jinko Solar vs SolarWorld - solar panel manufacturer comparison
Jinko Solar has the broader catalog (637 vs 0 models). Jinko Solar leans bifacial (36% 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
JinkoSolar is a global leader in the solar industry, manufacturing and distributing solar products and solutions to a diversified international customer base. They have a vertically integrated solar product value chain. The company is committed to providing clean, efficient, and sustainable energy solutions worldwide.
- Founded
- 2006
- Headquarters
- Shanghai, China
- Annual capacity
- 130.0 GW/year
- Employees
- 33,830
- Listed
- NYSE: JKS
- Tier 1 bankable
- Yes
SolarWorld AG was a German photovoltaic manufacturer and one of the largest solar panel producers in the Western world, covering the full value chain from polysilicon feedstock to finished modules. The company operated major manufacturing plants in Freiberg, Germany and Hillsboro, Oregon, USA, and was once a leading...
- Founded
- 1998
- Headquarters
- Bonn, Germany
- Annual capacity
- 1-2 GW/year
- Employees
- 3000-5000
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
Jinko Solar skews to higher efficiency: 29% of lineup is 23%+
Jinko Solar offers more 600W+ panels (26% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>TOPCon</strong> (41%)
The flagships
Written summary
Jinko Solar and SolarWorld represent two fundamentally different positions in the solar PV industry. Jinko Solar, founded in 2006 and headquartered in China with shares listed on the NYSE, has grown into one of the world's largest solar module manufacturers, with a production capacity of 130 GW, a workforce of over 33,800 employees, and confirmed Tier 1 bankable status. The company has surpassed 300 GW of cumulative global installations and holds 11 consecutive PVEL Top Performer recognitions, underlining strong manufacturing consistency. SolarWorld, founded in 1998 in Bonn, Germany, was once a respected European manufacturer known for high-quality silicon wafer and cell production. However, the company filed for insolvency in May 2017, citing sustained price pressure from Chinese competitors. A short-lived revival as SolarWorld Industries GmbH - backed by founder Frank Asbeck and the Qatar Foundation - ended with a second insolvency filing in March 2018. The company no longer manufactures solar panels, and its current panel count and available production capacity stand at zero.
Jinko Solar's active portfolio spans 545 modules with a maximum power output of 735 Wp and a leading module efficiency of 24.8%, anchored by n-type TOPCon technology accounting for approximately 39.5% of its lineup. Bifacial models represent about 31.9% of the range, and average product warranties exceed 28 years. The company serves all major market segments: residential rooftop installs, commercial and industrial (C&I) projects, and large-scale utility ground-mount deployments across Europe, Asia, and the Americas. SolarWorld, by contrast, has no active product portfolio - any units still in circulation are legacy stock from before 2018, and warranty obligations became uncertain following the insolvency proceedings, leaving existing system owners without manufacturer-backed support.
For international buyers or installers evaluating these two brands, the comparison is not a balanced one. Jinko Solar is an active, Tier 1 bankable manufacturer with full commercial availability, a broad technology range from standard modules to high-efficiency TOPCon bifacial panels, and a well-documented performance track record. SolarWorld exists today only as a legacy brand - specifying it for a new installation would mean sourcing old stock without manufacturer warranty backing. Any procurement decision for new projects should consider Jinko Solar as the commercially viable option of the two.
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-05-12
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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.