Meyer Burger vs Q-Cells - solar panel manufacturer comparison
Q-Cells has the broader catalog (89 vs 24 models). Q-Cells leads on peak efficiency at 23.20%. Meyer Burger leans bifacial (58% 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
- Founded
- 1953
- Headquarters
- Thun, Switzerland
- Listed
- SIX: MBTN
- Tier 1 bankable
- Yes
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...
- Founded
- 1999
- Headquarters
- Seoul, South Korea
- Annual capacity
- 11.2 GW/year
- Employees
- 2000+
- Listed
- NASDAQ: HQCL
- Tier 1 bankable
- Yes
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
Q-Cells skews to higher efficiency: 2% of lineup is 23%+
Q-Cells offers more 600W+ panels (19% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>HJT</strong> (100%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (43%)
The flagships
Written summary
Meyer Burger is a Swiss company founded in 1953 as a precision-tool manufacturer that pivoted into solar-panel production, operating factories in Germany and Arizona. In May and June 2025, however, its German subsidiaries and U.S. entity filed for insolvency proceedings, the Arizona plant was shuttered, and substantially all manufacturing assets were sold to Waaree Solar Americas for roughly $18.5 million. As of mid-2026, the Swiss parent remains under a court-supervised debt-restructuring moratorium and is no longer an active panel producer. Q-Cells traces its origins to Q-Cells AG, founded in Germany in 1999 and acquired by South Korean conglomerate Hanwha in 2012, and now operates as Hanwha Qcells with integrated manufacturing across South Korea, Malaysia, and a growing U.S. presence in Georgia. The company holds BloombergNEF Top Tier bankability status, was named an S&P Global 2025 Tier 1 Cleantech Company, and operates at an annual module production capacity in the range of 11 to 12 GW, making it one of the largest solar manufacturers in the world. Q-Cells carries by far the stronger institutional footprint.
Meyer Burger built its reputation around heterojunction (HJT) cell technology paired with its proprietary SmartWire connection system, targeting the premium residential rooftop segment and achieving Top Performer recognition in KIWA PVEL reliability testing. Q-Cells offers a broader product portfolio: its legacy Q.ANTUM line is based on PERC technology and has served both residential and commercial rooftop markets for years, while the newer Q.ANTUM NEO series - branded Q.TRON - uses N-type TOPCon cells and reaches module efficiencies reported up to roughly 22 to 23 percent. Q-Cells also addresses utility-scale ground-mount applications. All current Q-Cells residential models carry 25-year product and performance warranties, and the company received a $1.45 billion U.S. Department of Energy loan guarantee in 2024, reinforcing its long-term serviceability.
For any buyer evaluating panels in 2025 or 2026, Meyer Burger cannot be recommended in good conscience: the company has ceased production, warranty support is uncertain, and replacement parts or service are not guaranteed. Q-Cells is the clear default choice - it delivers competitive efficiency and durability at a mid-to-premium price point, backed by a financially stable global manufacturer with documented bankability and an expanding domestic U.S. supply chain.
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-06-18
Other brand comparisons
Shop prices: See 15 Meyer Burger offers · See 25 Q-Cells offers
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.