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

# Q-Cells vs Solar-Fabrik

Q-Cells has the broader catalog (89 vs 43 models). Solar-Fabrik leads on peak efficiency at 24.27%. Solar-Fabrik leans bifacial (100% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | Q-Cells | Solar-Fabrik |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | South Korea | Germany |
| Headquarters | Seoul | Laufach |
| Founded | 1999 | 1996 |
| Employees | 2000+ | 50-200 |
| Annual capacity | 11.2 GW/year | \<1 GW/year |
| Tier 1 | yes |  |
| Listed | NASDAQ: HQCL |  |
| Website | [https://www.qcells.com](https://www.qcells.com) | [https://solar-fabrik.de](https://solar-fabrik.de) |

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...

Solar Fabrik is a German family-owned manufacturer of photovoltaic modules, specializing in high-quality glass-glass panels with N-TYPE/TOPCon technology and a 30-year product and performance warranty. Originally founded in Freiburg in 1996 as Solar-Fabrik AG, the brand was revived in 2016 after insolvency and...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | Q-Cells | Solar-Fabrik | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 89 | 43 | +46 |
| Max Power | 675 W | 625 W | +50 W |
| Avg Power | 468 W | 450 W | +19 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | Q-Cells | Solar-Fabrik | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 23.20% | 24.27% | +1.07 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 21.21% | 21.96% | +0.75 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | Q-Cells | Solar-Fabrik | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.325%/°C | -0.285%/°C | +0.039 |
| Bifacial Share | 35 (39%) | 43 (100%) | +61 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 27.0 yrs | 29.8 yrs | +2.8 yr |


## Efficiency distribution

Solar-Fabrik skews to higher efficiency: 49% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | Q-Cells | Solar-Fabrik |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 7 (7.9%) | 5 (11.6%) |
| 20-21% | 29 (32.6%) | 3 (7.0%) |
| 21-22% | 30 (33.7%) | 3 (7.0%) |
| 22-23% | 21 (23.6%) | 11 (25.6%) |
| 23%+ | 2 (2.2%) | 21 (48.8%) |


## Power distribution

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


| Power band | Q-Cells | Solar-Fabrik |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 20 (22.5%) | 6 (14.0%) |
| 400-499W | 41 (46.1%) | 35 (81.4%) |
| 500-599W | 11 (12.4%) | 0 |
| 600-699W | 17 (19.1%) | 2 (4.7%) |


## Cell technology

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

Dominant cell tech: **TOPCon** (63%)


| Technology | Q-Cells | Solar-Fabrik |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PERC | 38 (42.7%) | 1 (2.3%) |
| N-type | 23 (25.8%) | 2 (4.7%) |
| Unknown | 20 (22.5%) | 0 |
| TOPCon | 8 (9.0%) | 27 (62.8%) |
| Back Contact | 0 | 13 (30.2%) |


## 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 |


## Top panels, Solar-Fabrik


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [S4-DG625-132TMax](https://comparepv.com/panel/solar-fabrik-s4-dg625-132tmax) | 625 | 23.1 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [S4-DG620-132TMax](https://comparepv.com/panel/solar-fabrik-s4-dg620-132tmax) | 620 | 22.9 | -0.300 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [Mono S4 Halfcut BC White 490](https://comparepv.com/panel/solar-fabrik-mono-s4-halfcut-bc-white-490) | 490 | 24.0 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [Mono S4 Halfcut BC Series White 490W](https://comparepv.com/panel/solar-fabrik-mono-s4-halfcut-bc-series-white-490w) | 490 | 24.0 | - | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [Mono S4 Halfcut BC White 485](https://comparepv.com/panel/solar-fabrik-mono-s4-halfcut-bc-white-485) | 485 | 23.8 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [Mono S4 Quartercut Premium DE Series 485W](https://comparepv.com/panel/solar-fabrik-mono-s4-quartercut-premium-de-series-485w) | 485 | 24.3 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [Mono S4 Halfcut BC White 480-490W](https://comparepv.com/panel/solar-fabrik-mono-s4-halfcut-bc-white-480-490w) | 485 | 23.8 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [Mono S4 Halfcut BC Series White 485W](https://comparepv.com/panel/solar-fabrik-mono-s4-halfcut-bc-series-white-485w) | 485 | 23.8 | - | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [Mono S4 Halfcut BC Full Black 480W](https://comparepv.com/panel/solar-fabrik-mono-s4-halfcut-bc-full-black-480w) | 480 | 23.5 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [Mono S4 Halfcut BC White 480](https://comparepv.com/panel/solar-fabrik-mono-s4-halfcut-bc-white-480) | 480 | 23.5 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

Q-Cells, operating today as Hanwha Q CELLS, is a South Korean-owned solar manufacturer whose roots trace back to the Q-Cells AG founded in Germany in 1999. Acquired by South Korea's Hanwha Group in 2012, it has grown into one of the largest solar producers in the world, with annual module shipments expected to exceed 9 GW globally in 2025 and a US manufacturing footprint of 8.4 GW across two facilities in Georgia. The company holds Bloomberg Tier 1 status, confirming its bankability for project finance. Solar-Fabrik is a much smaller German brand founded in Freiburg im Breisgau in 1996; its original corporate entity filed for insolvency in 2015, and the brand was revived in 2016 under new ownership as Solar Fabrik GmbH. Since 2018 its panels have been manufactured by contract producers in China, and in May 2025 the company broke ground on a new 300 MW domestic factory in Hosbach, Bavaria. No current Bloomberg Tier 1 or equivalent bankability designation has been confirmed for Solar-Fabrik. On the basis of verified institutional scale and finance-community recognition, Q-Cells carries the significantly stronger footprint.

In terms of product families, Q-Cells addresses the full spectrum - residential rooftop systems, commercial installations, and utility-scale ground mounts. Its panels are built around Q.ANTUM and Q.ANTUM DUO PERC cell technology, with newer lines extending into TOPCon. Efficiency ratings across its residential and commercial lines have been reported between roughly 20% and 23.7% for premium models. Solar-Fabrik targets the European residential and small commercial segment; its planned new factory is designed around N-type TOPCon and heterojunction technology, though series production at that facility was not yet underway as of mid-2025.

For a typical buyer in 2025, Q-Cells is the clearer default choice. It offers confirmed bankability, deep warranty support, and a broad, well-tested product portfolio spanning every market segment. Solar-Fabrik's renewed commitment to German domestic manufacturing is a genuine positive development, but until the new factory reaches full production and the company establishes a track record under its revived brand, it remains a niche option rather than a mainstream recommendation.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.sunhub.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-review-2025/ \| Hanwha Q CELLS Solar Panels Review 2025 - Pros and Cons \| review

\- https://www.energysage.com/solar/best-solar-panels-complete-ranking/q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review/ \| Q CELLS Solar Panels - Complete Review by EnergySage \| review

\- https://www.cleanenergyreviews.info/blog/q-cells-solar-panels-review \| Q Cells Solar Panels Review - Clean Energy Reviews \| review

\- https://www.enfsolar.com/solar-fabrik \| Solar Fabrik GmbH company profile - ENF Solar industry directory \| article

\- https://www.blackridgeresearch.com/blog/latest-list-of-top-solar-panel-manufacturers-in-germany-deutschland \| Top Solar Panel Manufacturers in Germany 2026 - includes Solar-Fabrik \| article

Sources:

\- \[Hanwha Q CELLS Solar Panels Review 2025\](https://www.sunhub.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-review-2025/)

\- \[Q CELLS Complete Review - EnergySage\](https://www.energysage.com/solar/best-solar-panels-complete-ranking/q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review/)

\- \[Q Cells Solar Review - Clean Energy Reviews\](https://www.cleanenergyreviews.info/blog/q-cells-solar-panels-review)

\- \[Solar Fabrik GmbH - ENF Solar\](https://www.enfsolar.com/solar-fabrik)

\- \[Top Solar Panel Manufacturers in Germany - Blackridge Research\](https://www.blackridgeresearch.com/blog/latest-list-of-top-solar-panel-manufacturers-in-germany-deutschland)

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


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- [Q-Cells vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/q-cells-vs-akcome)
- [ARTsolar vs Solar-Fabrik](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-solar-fabrik)


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

Not in this file, on the page: the distributions above drawn as charts.