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

# Q-Cells vs Thornova Solar

Q-Cells has the broader catalog (89 vs 0 models). Q-Cells leans bifacial (39% of lineup).


## The two companies


| Attribute | Q-Cells | Thornova Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Country | South Korea | China |
| Headquarters | Seoul | Wuxi |
| Founded | 1999 | 2016 |
| Employees | 2000+ | 500-1000 |
| Annual capacity | 11.2 GW/year | 5-10 GW/year |
| Tier 1 | yes | yes |
| Listed | NASDAQ: HQCL |  |
| Website | [https://www.qcells.com](https://www.qcells.com) | [https://www.thornova-solar.com](https://www.thornova-solar.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...

Thornova Solar, formerly known as Sunova Solar Technology Co., Ltd., is a Chinese manufacturer of high-efficiency photovoltaic modules and solar cells with production facilities in China and Indonesia. The company specializes in advanced solar panel technology and holds BNEF Tier 1 bankable module manufacturer status...


## Catalog & Power


| Measure | Q-Cells | Thornova Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Panel Models | 89 | 0 | +89 |
| Max Power | 675 W | 0 W | +675 W |
| Avg Power | 468 W | 0 W | +468 W |


## Efficiency


| Measure | Q-Cells | Thornova Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Max Efficiency | 23.20% | - |  |
| Avg Efficiency | 21.21% | - |  |


## Reliability & Warranty


| Measure | Q-Cells | Thornova Solar | Margin |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Avg Temp Coefficient | -0.325%/°C | - |  |
| Bifacial Share | 35 (39%) | 0 (0%) | +39 pp |
| Avg Warranty | 27.0 yrs | - |  |


## Efficiency distribution

Q-Cells skews to higher efficiency: 2% of lineup is 23%+


| Efficiency band | Q-Cells | Thornova Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| \<20% | 7 (7.9%) | 0 |
| 20-21% | 29 (32.6%) | 0 |
| 21-22% | 30 (33.7%) | 0 |
| 22-23% | 21 (23.6%) | 0 |
| 23%+ | 2 (2.2%) | 0 |


## Power distribution

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


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


## Cell technology

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


| Technology | Q-Cells | Thornova Solar |
| --- | --- | --- |
| PERC | 38 (42.7%) | 0 |
| N-type | 23 (25.8%) | 0 |
| Unknown | 20 (22.5%) | 0 |
| TOPCon | 8 (9.0%) | 0 |


## 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 |


## Summary

Q-Cells, operating under its parent company Hanwha Solutions of South Korea, is one of the solar industry's most established names. Originally founded in Germany in 1999, it was acquired by Hanwha Group in 2012 and now maintains a strong dual presence in Asia and the United States, where it operates what it describes as the largest solar manufacturing facility in the Western Hemisphere in Dalton, Georgia, with a capacity of around 8.4 GW. Q-Cells holds a long-standing Bloomberg NEF Tier 1 ranking and regularly places near the top of independent evaluations such as the SolarReviews annual list. Thornova Solar, formerly known as Sunova Solar, is a Chinese manufacturer headquartered in Wuxi, Jiangsu, founded in 2016 and later rebranded under the Thornova name. It has achieved BNEF Tier 1 status since 2023 and holds a B-rating in the PV Tech ModuleTech Bankability Report, which cites low cash-flow and debt risk. With a module production capacity of around 6.5 GW and cumulative shipments of 7.8 GW through end-2024, Thornova ranked 14th in Wood Mackenzie's H2 2024 manufacturing assessment. Q-Cells carries a significantly deeper institutional footprint, backed by Hanwha's scale and a longer track record in regulated Western markets.

Q-Cells targets primarily the residential rooftop segment, particularly in the United States and Europe, with premium product lines such as the Q.PEAK DUO for PERC-based installations and the newer Q.TRON G2 series, which uses Q.ANTUM NEO TOPCon cell technology and reaches efficiency above 22.5%. The company has also demonstrated early tandem-cell development, securing IEC and UL certifications for a perovskite-silicon module showing 28.6% efficiency. Thornova Solar positions itself across residential, commercial-and-industrial, and utility-scale ground-mount applications, with a power output range spanning roughly 400 W to 720 W and efficiency figures between about 20.5% and 23.2% depending on model. The company has emphasized non-Chinese shipment routes through operations in Indonesia, which may ease trade-barrier concerns in certain markets.

For a typical buyer in 2025, Q-Cells is the lower-risk choice in markets such as the United States and Western Europe, where its established installer network, domestic manufacturing footprint, and long warranty track record reduce project risk. Thornova Solar is a credible alternative for buyers in markets where Chinese or Indonesian supply chains are commercially advantageous, and its BNEF Tier 1 and PV Tech B-ratings confirm it is bankable for project finance. The two brands are not interchangeable in terms of brand recognition or supply-chain geography, but both are technically sound options for buyers with aligned regional and regulatory requirements.

\---LINKS---

\- https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review \| Q-Cells solar panels expert review - SolarReviews 2025 \| review

\- https://solartechonline.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-review-2025/ \| Hanwha Q CELLS Solar Panels Review 2025 - SolarTechOnline \| review

\- https://www.pv-magazine.com/press-releases/thornova-solar-ranked-as-bnef-tier-1-module-manufacturer/ \| Thornova Solar ranked as BNEF Tier 1 module manufacturer - PV Magazine \| article

\- https://a1solarstore.com/blog/thornova-solar-panels-review-sharp-solutions.html \| Thornova Solar panels review 2026 - A1 SolarStore \| review

Sources:

\- \[Expert Review Of Qcells Solar Panels For 2025\](https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/hanwha-q-cells-solar-panels-complete-review)

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

\- \[Thornova Solar ranked as BNEF Tier 1 module manufacturer - PV Magazine\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/press-releases/thornova-solar-ranked-as-bnef-tier-1-module-manufacturer/)

\- \[Thornova Solar panels review 2026 - A1 SolarStore\](https://a1solarstore.com/blog/thornova-solar-panels-review-sharp-solutions.html)

Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above.


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

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