--- title: "PVolution PVN490-RL10TCBB 490W Solar Panel - Specs & Review | ComparePV" description: "PVolution PVN490-RL10TCBB 490W solar panel. Specs: 24.00% efficiency, Monocrystalline cells, dimensions, warranty and temperature coefficient." source: "https://comparepv.com/panel/pvolution-pvn490-rl10tcbb" updated: 2026-09-16 --- # PVolution PVN490-RL10TCBB Efficiency leader, no clear weak spot 159 panels in the segment Back Contact 450-500 W ## Identity - **Manufacturer:** PVolution - **Model:** PVN490-RL10TCBB - **Series:** ONYX - **Rated power:** 490 W - **Cell technology:** Back Contact - **Bifacial:** yes ## How it compares Compared against segment Back Contact 450-500 W (159 panels). | Measure | This panel | Segment median | Standing | Rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Power (Wp) | 490 W | 475 W | Strong - top 9% | | | Module efficiency | 24.00% | 23.50% | Strong - top 22% | 303 | | Power density | 240.1 | 235.2 | Strong - top 23% | 313 | | Temperature coefficient | -0.260 | -0.260 | Typical | 511 | | Weight (kg) | 24.5 kg | 23.5 kg | Typical | | | Performance warranty | 30 yrs | 30 yrs | Typical | 21 | ### Full peer table | Measure | This panel | Segment median | Standing | Rank | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Module efficiency | 24.00% | 23.50% | Strong - top 22% | 303 | | Power density | 240.1 | 235.2 | Strong - top 23% | 313 | | Temperature coefficient | -0.260 | -0.260 | Typical | 511 | | Weight per kWp | 50.0 | 48.0 | Typical | 3,308 | | Performance warranty | 30 yrs | 30 yrs | Typical | 21 | ### Strengths - **24.00% module efficiency** - Top 22% of the Back Contact 450-500 W segment, against a median of 23.50%. - **240.1 watts per square metre** - Top 23% of the Back Contact 450-500 W segment, against a median of 235.2. - **Best for:** Residential, commercial, shaded-installations and BIPV. ## Specification ### Electrical - **Rated power (Pmax):** 490 W - **Efficiency:** 24.00 % - **Voltage at Pmax (Vmp):** 34.04 V - **Current at Pmax (Imp):** 14.40 A - **Open-circuit voltage (Voc):** 41.02 V - **Short-circuit current (Isc):** 15.10 A - **Max system voltage:** 1500 V ### Temperature - **Temperature coefficient of Pmax:** -0.260 %/degC - **Temperature coefficient of Voc:** -0.220 %/degC - **Temperature coefficient of Isc:** 0.050 %/degC - **NOCT:** 45 degC ### Cell and construction - **Cell type:** Monocrystalline - **Cell technology:** Back Contact - **Cell count:** 108 - **Bifacial:** yes - **Bifacial gain:** 9.50 ### Physical - **Length:** 1800 mm - **Width:** 1134 mm - **Thickness:** 30 mm - **Weight:** 24.5 kg - **Area:** 2.04 m2 - **Power density:** 240.1 Wp/m2 ### Warranty and degradation - **Product warranty:** 25 years - **Performance warranty:** 30 years - **Output guaranteed at end of warranty:** 88.8 % - **First-year degradation:** 1.00 % - **Annual degradation:** 0.35 % - **Output after 30 years:** 435 W ## Rank in the whole catalogue | Measure | Position | | --- | --- | | Efficiency | 303 of 14013 | | Power density | 313 of 14013 | | Temperature coefficient | 511 of 14013 | | Weight | 3308 of 14013 | | Warranty | 21 of 14013 | ## Pros - **Higher efficiency than comparable series** - Efficiency of 23.3-24.3% exceeds direct competitors in the 495 Wp segment: Solarspace SS8-60HD (22.87%), Hanersun Hitouch 5N (23%), and Resun RS8K-M-FB (22.94%). This translates into higher energy yield from the same roof area. - **Sleek back-contact design** - IBC technology eliminates visible busbars and grid lines on the front surface, producing a uniform, deep-black panel appearance. This is a meaningful advantage for premium projects where roof or facade aesthetics factor into investment decisions. - **Bifacial dual-side energy capture** - The bifacial design enables additional energy generation from the rear side of the module without increasing the installation footprint, improving ROI especially on light-colored ground or in ground-mounted configurations. - **30-year linear power warranty** - A 30-year power warranty combined with a 25-year product warranty extends the certainty horizon beyond the market-standard 25/25-year terms, directly benefiting the project's LCOE model. - **BNEF Tier 1 status with German-engineered design** - Inclusion on the Bloomberg NEF Tier 1 list simplifies bank financing for commercial-scale projects, and German design oversight adds a further quality argument for institutional investors. ## Cons - **Efficiency below absolute top-tier IBC** - Despite outperforming the listed peer comparables, the 23.3-24.3% efficiency range trails the latest top-tier back-contact modules on the market, which now reach 24.8-25.4%. For investors maximizing yield on limited roof space, this gap may matter when choosing among premium series. ## About this series The ONYX series is a range of photovoltaic modules built on **back-contact (IBC) technology**, where all electrical contacts are hidden on the rear side of the cell - leaving the front surface uniform, free of visible grid lines and connectors, and resulting in a **deep black, elegant design**. This makes it a strong choice for investors and designers who value aesthetics as much as performance, suitable for both residential rooftops and large-scale commercial installations. The N-type IBC cell architecture reduces losses caused by shading on individual sections of the module, delivering **optimized performance under partial shading** and stable energy yield even in challenging sunlight conditions. The bifacial design captures additional irradiance on the rear side, increasing total energy output without enlarging the installation's footprint. The panels also stand out for their **high resistance to elevated temperatures**, limiting power losses on hot days and extending the system's effective operating time. The series is engineered in Germany, and production is listed under Bloomberg NEF Tier 1, which simplifies bank financing for projects. A long **linear power warranty** combined with a 25-year product warranty gives investors confidence in a stable return on investment over decades of operation. ## Questions ### How does back-contact (IBC) technology in ONYX panels differ from panels with visible busbar grids? ONYX panels move all electrical contacts of the N-Type IBC cells to the rear side of the module. This gives the front surface a uniformly black, elegant look with no visible busbars or connections. Additionally, the absence of a front grid reduces losses from partial shading and helps the module maintain more stable performance under difficult irradiance conditions. ### Do bifacial ONYX panels actually generate more energy than standard monofacial panels? Yes, the bifacial cell design captures additional energy from radiation reflected off the ground that reaches the rear side of the panel. In practice, this results in higher total system yield without increasing the array's footprint, though the actual gain depends on ground albedo, mounting angle, and elevation above the surface. ### What warranty comes with ONYX panels, and is it long enough for bank financing? The ONYX series comes with a 25-year product warranty and a 30-year linear power warranty, giving investors confidence in stable energy yield over decades. Production is Bloomberg NEF Tier 1 listed, which significantly simplifies obtaining bank financing for PV projects built with these modules. ### What is the Wp rating of ONYX panels, and is it a good fit for a residential rooftop installation? The ONYX modules reach a maximum power of 495 Wp, allowing for high system capacity with fewer panels. This makes the series well suited both for limited residential roof space and larger commercial installations, where maximizing output per unit of area is a priority. ### Do ONYX panels perform well on hot days, when most modules typically lose efficiency? Yes, the N-Type IBC cell design offers high resistance to elevated temperatures, limiting the power losses typically seen in P-Type panels during summer heat. In practice, this translates to longer effective operating time in hot months compared to conventional panels. ### Is the ONYX series better suited for residential homes or commercial-scale projects? The ONYX series is designed for both private investors and large commercial projects. The uniform black design without visible grid lines is especially valued for residential rooftops where aesthetics matter, while the high power output and bifacial gain also make it well suited for utility-scale and industrial PV farms. ## Datasheet [Manufacturer datasheet (PDF)](https://comparepv.com/datasheets/ONYX475-495N108RL10-1-24ee71935656.pdf) ## Alternatives | Panel | Power | How it differs | | --- | --- | --- | | [Longi Solar LR7-54HJD-510M](https://comparepv.com/panel/longi-lr7-54hjd-510m) | 510 W | +20 W, cooler, +1.0 pp | | [AIKO AIKO-A495-MCE54Mw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a495-mce54mw) | 495 W | Lighter, +0.8 pp | | [Longi Solar LR7-54HJD-505M](https://comparepv.com/panel/longi-lr7-54hjd-505m) | 505 W | +15 W, cooler, +0.7 pp | | [AIKO AIKO-A490-MCE54Mw](https://comparepv.com/panel/aiko-aiko-a490-mce54mw) | 490 W | Lighter, +0.5 pp | | [Longi Solar LR7-54HJD-500M](https://comparepv.com/panel/longi-lr7-54hjd-500m) | 500 W | +10 W, cooler, +0.5 pp | | [Talesun CIPRO-TN9C54M-500W](https://comparepv.com/panel/talesun-cipro-tn9c54m-500w) | 500 W | +10 W, lighter, +0.5 pp | | [PVolution PVN475-RL10TCBB](https://comparepv.com/panel/pvolution-pvn475-rl10tcbb) | 475 W | -15 W, -0.7 pp | | [PVolution PVN480-RL10TCBB](https://comparepv.com/panel/pvolution-pvn480-rl10tcbb) | 480 W | -10 W, -0.5 pp | | [PVolution PVN485-RL10TCBB](https://comparepv.com/panel/pvolution-pvn485-rl10tcbb) | 485 W | Very close match | | [PVolution PVN495-RL10TCBB](https://comparepv.com/panel/pvolution-pvn495-rl10tcbb) | 495 W | +0.3 pp | --- Source: https://comparepv.com/panel/pvolution-pvn490-rl10tcbb Not in this file, on the page: a thirty-year output simulator, a bifacial gain calculator and alternatives filtered by how closely they match these dimensions.