Q-Cells vs Silfab - solar panel manufacturer comparison
Q-Cells has the broader catalog (89 vs 47 models). Q-Cells leads on peak efficiency at 23.20%.
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
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
Silfab Solar is a North American leader in the design, development, and manufacture of high-efficiency, premium-quality solar cells and modules. Leveraging over 40 years of solar experience, they operate fully automated facilities in Washington, South Carolina, and Ontario, Canada. Their products are designed and...
- Founded
- 2010
- Headquarters
- Mississauga, Canada
- Annual capacity
- 1.6 GW/year
- Employees
- 800+
- 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>PERC</strong> (43%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (45%)
The flagships
Written summary
Q-Cells, operating under the Hanwha Solutions umbrella since the South Korean conglomerate acquired the original German Q-Cells brand, is one of the largest solar manufacturers in the world and holds BloombergNEF Tier 1 status. Its US footprint is unusually large for the industry: facilities in Dalton and Cartersville, Georgia give it a planned domestic module production capacity of up to 8.4 GW annually, making it the only company assembling a nearly complete solar supply chain - from ingots and wafers through cells and modules - on US soil. Silfab Solar is a smaller but firmly bankable manufacturer headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, tracing its history to 1981 and building out North American facilities over decades. It maintains Tier 1 status recognized by third-party testing labs including Kiwa-PVEL and RETC, and operates module and cell plants in Washington State and South Carolina, with combined module capacity in the low single-digit GW range. By sheer institutional scale and financial backing, Q-Cells carries the stronger footprint.
On the product side, Q-Cells targets the premium residential and light commercial rooftop segment with its Q.ANTUM NEO line, which uses N-type cell architecture and delivers efficiency ratings around 22.5%, along with a notably low temperature coefficient that independent reviewers highlight as an advantage in hot climates. Silfab's Prime NTC series also uses N-type TOPCon cells, and the brand differentiates itself with a 30-year product and performance warranty - longer than the 25-year coverage Q-Cells offers - while keeping its focus squarely on the North American residential and commercial rooftop market.
For a typical US homeowner in 2025, Q-Cells is the easier default: wider installer availability, deeper supply, and a proven track record at scale. Silfab is a credible alternative for buyers who prioritize fully domestic or North American manufacturing and value the longer warranty, but it is less universally stocked. The two brands are genuinely close in technology and quality; the practical decision often comes down to which installer has preferred pricing.
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-06-11
Other brand comparisons
Shop prices: See 25 Q-Cells offers · See 2 Silfab 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.