Middle of its segment, weak in heat
The Rarlon PV Tech RL400HM-420HM-144 series consists of monocrystalline modules with a 144-cell design, specifically engineered for high power density and stable operation in typical rooftop and larger installations. The use of half-cut architecture and PERC technology results in better tolerance to partial shading and lower internal losses - which effectively helps maintain energy production even when chimneys, skylights, trees, or dirt accumulate. The series also features a positive power tolerance, which allows installers and investors to minimize the risk of underestimating energy yields from the outset. The modules support high system voltage, making it easier to design longer strings and optimize cabling in PV farms. Finally, the universal 144-cell format is popular in commercial projects, along with a proven front design made of tempered glass, which improves resistance to environmental loads. This series is ideal for EPC companies, installers, and conscious consumers who want predictable energy yields without paying extra for marketing "innovations".
Ranking
Signals from the data
Residential, commercial and shaded-installations.
Hot climates, roofs where every square metre has to count and tight roof space.
Bottom 1% of the PERC 400-450 W segment, against a median of -0.350. Ranked 13,579th in the whole database.
Bottom 10% of the PERC 400-450 W segment, against a median of 206.2.
Bottom 13% of the PERC 400-450 W segment, against a median of 20.60%.
Splitting cells into halves reduces internal resistive losses and hot-spot effects, giving better partial-shading tolerance from chimneys, dormers, or soiling than full-cell modules of the same generation.
Modules are guaranteed to deliver rated power or above, reducing the risk of underestimated energy yield at the design stage for EPCs and investors.
The 144-cell format enables longer string design, reducing DC cabling and optimizer count in larger commercial installations and utility-scale PV farms.
Proven front-glass build improves resistance to environmental loads (hail, snow, wind) in typical rooftop and ground-mount conditions.
A standard widely adopted in commercial projects, ensuring compatibility with existing mounting structures and string optimizers on the market.
The 20.0-20.9% range trails comparable 144-cell PERC series: GCL-M10/54H (21.5%), RedSolar P series (21.52%), and Jinko JS-PERC (21.7%) at the same 420 Wp max power. This means a larger installed area for the same installed capacity.
Rarlon PV Tech (Ningbo Rarlon Photovoltaic Technology) does not appear on public BNEF Tier 1 lists, which can complicate bank financing and is often a bidding requirement in commercial tenders where competitors like Jinko Solar typically hold this status.
The series is monofacial only (is_bifacial: false), while some competitors in the 144-cell PERC segment offer bifacial variants that boost yield by several percent in ground-mount installations with reflective ground cover.
- Module efficiency of 20.0% is 0.6pp below average for PERC 400-450W panels (median: 20.6%)
- 198.8 W/m² power density is 7.4 W/m² below PERC 400-450W median (206.2 W/m²) - requires larger installation area
- Temperature coefficient of -0.39%/°C is 0.04pp worse than PERC 400-450W median (-0.35%/°C) - higher losses in summer heat
- In the top 87% for efficiency among all PERC panels
Specifications
Simulations
Degradation from this panel's own datasheet figures. No inverter, soiling or shading losses.
Alternatives
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