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

# Q-Cells vs Solarwatt

Q-Cells has the broader catalog (89 vs 44 models). Q-Cells leads on peak efficiency at 23.20%. Solarwatt leans bifacial (50% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | Q-Cells | Solarwatt |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | South Korea | Germany |
| Headquarters | Seoul | Dresden |
| Founded | 1999 | 1993 |
| Employees | 2000+ |  |
| Annual capacity | 11.2 GW/year |  |
| Tier 1 | yes | no |
| Listed | NASDAQ: HQCL |  |
| Website | [https://www.qcells.com](https://www.qcells.com) | [https://www.solarwatt.com](https://www.solarwatt.com) |

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...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | Q-Cells | Solarwatt | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 89 | 44 | +45 |
| Max Power | 675 W | 460 W | +215 W |
| Avg Power | 468 W | 385 W | +83 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | Q-Cells | Solarwatt | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 23.20% | 23.00% | +0.20 pp |
| Avg Efficiency | 21.21% | 20.56% | +0.65 pp |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | Q-Cells | Solarwatt | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.325%/°C | -0.330%/°C | +0.006 |
| Bifacial Share | 35 (39%) | 22 (50%) | +11 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 27.0 yrs | 29.0 yrs | +2.0 yr |


## Efficiency distribution

Solarwatt skews to higher efficiency: 2% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | Q-Cells | Solarwatt |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 7 (7.9%) | 13 (29.5%) |
| 20-21% | 29 (32.6%) | 19 (43.2%) |
| 21-22% | 30 (33.7%) | 2 (4.5%) |
| 22-23% | 21 (23.6%) | 9 (20.5%) |
| 23%+ | 2 (2.2%) | 1 (2.3%) |


## Power distribution

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


| Power band | Q-Cells | Solarwatt |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<400W | 20 (22.5%) | 20 (45.5%) |
| 400-499W | 41 (46.1%) | 24 (54.5%) |
| 500-599W | 11 (12.4%) | 0 |
| 600-699W | 17 (19.1%) | 0 |


## Cell technology

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

Dominant cell tech: **PERC** (77%)


| Technology | Q-Cells | Solarwatt |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PERC | 38 (42.7%) | 34 (77.3%) |
| N-type | 23 (25.8%) | 0 |
| Unknown | 20 (22.5%) | 0 |
| TOPCon | 8 (9.0%) | 10 (22.7%) |


## 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, Solarwatt


| # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | [SOLARWATT Panel vision M 5.0 460 Wp](https://comparepv.com/panel/solarwatt-solarwatt-panel-vision-m-5-0-460-wp) | 460 | 23.0 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 2 | [SOLARWATT Panel vision M 5.0 455 Wp](https://comparepv.com/panel/solarwatt-solarwatt-panel-vision-m-5-0-455-wp) | 455 | 22.8 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 3 | [SOLARWATT Panel vision M 5.0 450 Wp](https://comparepv.com/panel/solarwatt-solarwatt-panel-vision-m-5-0-450-wp) | 450 | 22.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 4 | [SOLARWATT Panel vision M 5.0 450Wp](https://comparepv.com/panel/solarwatt-solarwatt-panel-vision-m-5-0-450wp) | 450 | 22.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 5 | [vision M 5.0 450 Wp](https://comparepv.com/panel/solarwatt-vision-m-5-0-450-wp) | 450 | 22.5 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 6 | [SOLARWATT Panel vision M 5.0 445 Wp](https://comparepv.com/panel/solarwatt-solarwatt-panel-vision-m-5-0-445-wp) | 445 | 22.3 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 7 | [SOLARWATT Panel vision M 5.0 445Wp](https://comparepv.com/panel/solarwatt-solarwatt-panel-vision-m-5-0-445wp) | 445 | 22.3 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 8 | [vision M 5.0 445 Wp](https://comparepv.com/panel/solarwatt-vision-m-5-0-445-wp) | 445 | 22.3 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 9 | [SOLARWATT Panel vision M 5.0 440Wp](https://comparepv.com/panel/solarwatt-solarwatt-panel-vision-m-5-0-440wp) | 440 | 22.0 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |
| 10 | [vision M 5.0 440 Wp](https://comparepv.com/panel/solarwatt-vision-m-5-0-440-wp) | 440 | 22.0 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline |


## Summary

Q-Cells, operating today as Hanwha Qcells, was founded in Germany in 1999 and acquired by South Korean conglomerate Hanwha Group in 2012, with its global headquarters now split between Seoul and Thalheim, Germany. The brand holds Bloomberg NEF Tier 1 status - confirming that multiple commercial banks have financed non-recourse projects using its modules - and operates at considerable scale, with global module production capacity exceeding 11 GW annually and a US manufacturing footprint in Georgia that represents the largest silicon solar module output in the Western Hemisphere. Solarwatt, by contrast, is a smaller, premium-focused German brand founded in Dresden in 1993 and majority-owned by BMW shareholder Stefan Quandt; it does not appear on the Bloomberg Tier 1 list, though its private ownership structure is considered financially stable. In April 2024 Solarwatt closed its 300 MW Dresden manufacturing plant, shifting module production to Asian contract partners, which meaningfully reduces any "made in Europe" positioning it once held. On institutional footprint, Qcells holds a clear advantage.

For product strategy, Qcells offers a broad portfolio spanning residential rooftops, commercial flat roofs, and utility-scale ground mounts. Its current flagship technology is Q.ANTUM NEO, a TOPCon-based cell architecture, with the company also investing in perovskite-silicon tandem research for future generations. Solarwatt has long differentiated itself through glass-glass module construction - encasing cells between two glass panes rather than a glass-foil laminate - which improves durability and supports an unusually long performance warranty of around 30 years. Its panels are positioned firmly at the premium residential and prosumer segment rather than large commercial or utility projects.

For a typical residential or small commercial buyer in 2025, Qcells offers broader installer availability, bankable warranties backed by a global manufacturing giant, and well-documented TOPCon performance. Solarwatt is the more compelling choice for buyers who specifically want glass-glass durability and a very long warranty horizon, accepting a smaller, less-liquid supplier network in return.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/04/29/solarwatt-to-close-german-solar-module-factory-in-august/ \| Solarwatt to close German solar module factory in August \| article

\- https://www.pv-tech.org/german-module-manufacturer-solarwatt-to-close-300mw-production-plant-in-august/ \| Solarwatt closes 300MW production plant in August 2024 \| article

\- https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review \| Expert Review of Qcells Solar Panels 2025 - SolarReviews \| review

\- https://www.energysage.com/supplier/22555/solarwatt/ \| Solarwatt profile and reviews - EnergySage 2025 \| review

\- https://taiyangnews.info/business/qcells-to-expand-solar-production-capacity/ \| Qcells to expand solar production capacity - TaiyangNews \| article

Sources:

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

\- \[Solarwatt to close German solar module factory in August - pv magazine\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/04/29/solarwatt-to-close-german-solar-module-factory-in-august/)

\- \[Solarwatt closes 300MW production plant - pv-tech.org\](https://www.pv-tech.org/german-module-manufacturer-solarwatt-to-close-300mw-production-plant-in-august/)

\- \[Solarwatt profile and reviews - EnergySage\](https://www.energysage.com/supplier/22555/solarwatt/)

\- \[Qcells to expand solar production capacity - TaiyangNews\](https://taiyangnews.info/business/qcells-to-expand-solar-production-capacity/)

\- \[Hanwha Qcells Cartersville 3.3 GW factory announcement\](https://www.hanwha.com/newsroom/news/press-releases/hanwha-qcells-new-cartersville-factory-set-for-33-gw-of-solar-module-production-per-year.do)

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


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Source: https://comparepv.com/q-cells-vs-solarwatt

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