---
title: "LM8 Solar vs Q-Cells - Brand Comparison | ComparePV"
description: "Compare LM8 Solar vs Q-Cells solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background."
source: "https://comparepv.com/lm8-solar-vs-q-cells"
---

# LM8 Solar vs Q-Cells

Q-Cells has the broader catalog (89 vs 0 models). Q-Cells leans bifacial (39% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | LM8 Solar | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | Spain | South Korea |
| Headquarters | Vigo | Seoul |
| Founded | 2016 | 1999 |
| Employees | 10-20 | 2000+ |
| Annual capacity |  | 11.2 GW/year |
| Tier 1 |  | yes |
| Listed |  | NASDAQ: HQCL |
| Website | [https://lm8solar.com](https://lm8solar.com) | [https://www.qcells.com](https://www.qcells.com) |

LM8 Solar is a Spanish wholesale distributor of photovoltaic materials, founded in 2016 and headquartered in Vigo, Galicia. The company supplies solar panels, inverters, batteries, and mounting structures from leading brands such as Canadian Solar, Jinko Solar, and Aiko to businesses across Europe. It operates...

Qcells is a renowned global provider of complete energy solutions, specializing in solar cells and modules, energy storage solutions, downstream project business, and energy retail. The company has a strong heritage dating back to its foundation in Germany and has become a leader in technology innovations. As an...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | LM8 Solar | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 0 | 89 | +89 |
| Max Power | 0 W | 675 W | +675 W |
| Avg Power | 0 W | 468 W | +468 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | LM8 Solar | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | - | 23.20% |  |
| Avg Efficiency | - | 21.21% |  |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | LM8 Solar | Q-Cells | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | - | -0.325%/°C |  |
| Bifacial Share | 0 (0%) | 35 (39%) | +39 pp |
| Avg Warranty | - | 27.0 yrs |  |


## Efficiency distribution

Q-Cells skews to higher efficiency: 2% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | LM8 Solar | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 0 | 7 (7.9%) |
| 20-21% | 0 | 29 (32.6%) |
| 21-22% | 0 | 30 (33.7%) |
| 22-23% | 0 | 21 (23.6%) |
| 23%+ | 0 | 2 (2.2%) |


## Power distribution

Q-Cells offers more 600W+ panels (19% of lineup)


| Power band | LM8 Solar | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 0 | 20 (22.5%) |
| 400-499W | 0 | 41 (46.1%) |
| 500-599W | 0 | 11 (12.4%) |
| 600-699W | 0 | 17 (19.1%) |


## Cell technology

Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (43%)


| Technology | LM8 Solar | Q-Cells |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PERC | 0 | 38 (42.7%) |
| N-type | 0 | 23 (25.8%) |
| Unknown | 0 | 20 (22.5%) |
| TOPCon | 0 | 8 (9.0%) |


## Top panels, Q-Cells


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 675](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-675) | 675 | 21.7 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 670](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-670) | 670 | 21.6 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 665](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-665) | 665 | 21.4 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 660](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-660) | 660 | 21.2 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 655](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-655) | 655 | 21.1 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [Q.PEAK DUO ML-G12S.3 / BFG 650](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-peak-duo-ml-g12s-3-bfg-650) | 650 | 20.9 | -0.340 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 645](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-645) | 645 | 23.1 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 640](https://comparepv.com/panel/q-cells-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-640) | 640 | 22.9 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 635](https://comparepv.com/panel/hanwha-q-cells-america-inc-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-635) | 635 | 22.7 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [Q.TRON XL-G2.3 / BFG 630](https://comparepv.com/panel/hanwha-q-cells-america-inc-q-tron-xl-g2-3-bfg-630) | 630 | 22.6 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

LM8 Solar is a Spanish wholesale distributor of photovoltaic materials, not a panel manufacturer. Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Vigo, it sources modules from brands including Canadian Solar, Jinko Solar, AIKO Energy, and TCL Solar, reselling them to installers across Europe. As a distributor, it does not qualify for the BloombergNEF Tier 1 or bankability rankings that apply to module manufacturers. Q-Cells, trading as Hanwha Q CELLS after South Korean conglomerate Hanwha acquired the original German company in 2012, is a vertically integrated manufacturer producing approximately 11 to 12 GW of modules per year across factories in South Korea, Malaysia, and the United States. Q-Cells holds a BloombergNEF Top Tier bankability score and was named an S&P Global 2025 Tier 1 Cleantech company, giving it a substantially stronger institutional footprint than LM8 Solar.

Q-Cells manufactures panels for residential rooftops, commercial installations, and utility-scale ground mounts. Its Q.ANTUM NEO line uses TOPCon cell technology, with peak efficiency ratings confirmed by independent reviewers at up to 23.7% for top-tier models. The company's large facilities in Dalton and Cartersville, Georgia form the largest integrated solar manufacturing presence in the Western Hemisphere. LM8 Solar carries no proprietary product line; the cell technology and performance tier in any given order depends on which brand is selected from its catalog.

For most buyers, Q-Cells and LM8 Solar are not interchangeable alternatives. Q-Cells is a bankable manufacturer with documented specifications, a 25-year product warranty on current residential models, and consistent third-party performance data. LM8 Solar is a distribution channel serving European installers, not a module brand in its own right. Buyers who want a single, traceable, Tier 1 module should evaluate Q-Cells directly; buyers in the Iberian market sourcing a mixed catalog from one regional wholesaler may find LM8 Solar a practical supply option.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/tcl-sunpower-global-and-lm8-solar-distribution-agreement-to-deliver-tcl-solar-panels-across-spain-302569686.html \| TCL SunPower Global and LM8 Solar distribution agreement in Spain \| article

\- https://www.enfsolar.com/lm8-solar \| LM8 Solar company profile on ENF Solar industry directory \| review

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/press-releases/q-cells-achieves-top-tier-class-bankability-score-in-latest-bloombergnef-report/ \| Q-Cells achieves Top Tier class bankability score - BloombergNEF \| article

\- https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review \| SolarReviews expert review of Hanwha Q-Cells panels 2025 \| review

\- https://www.energysage.com/solar/best-solar-panels-complete-ranking/q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review/ \| EnergySage complete review of Q-Cells solar panels \| review

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


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Source: https://comparepv.com/lm8-solar-vs-q-cells