Q-Cells vs Tongwei - solar panel manufacturer comparison
Tongwei has the broader catalog (122 vs 89 models). Tongwei leads on peak efficiency at 24.20%. Tongwei leans bifacial (69% of lineup).
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
- Founded
- 2013
- Headquarters
- Chengdu, China
- Listed
- SSE: 600438
- 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
Tongwei skews to higher efficiency: 41% of lineup is 23%+
Tongwei offers more 600W+ panels (53% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (43%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>TOPCon</strong> (47%)
The flagships
Written summary
Q-Cells, operating under South Korea's Hanwha Group, was founded in 1999 and is listed on NASDAQ, with a rated production capacity of 11.2 GW. Tongwei, headquartered in China and founded in 2013, trades on the Shanghai Stock Exchange and has scaled to approximately 85 GW of module capacity as of early 2025, placing it among the world's five largest producers. Both carry BloombergNEF Tier 1 bankability, confirming lender confidence for project finance. Q-Cells holds a stronger institutional footprint in Western markets - particularly North America, where it operates the largest solar manufacturing facility in that region - while Tongwei's production scale and aggressive capacity expansion give it commanding reach in global utility procurement.
Q-Cells' 91-model catalog is anchored in PERC cell technology, averaging 462 Wp per panel and peaking at 635 Wp, with average module efficiency of 21.3% and a maximum of 23.2%. About 42% of its lineup is bifacial, and average warranty coverage reaches 27.1 years. That profile suits premium residential and mid-scale commercial rooftops where brand familiarity and supply-chain stability matter. Tongwei's broader 132-model portfolio tilts heavily toward N-type cells, delivering a higher average efficiency of 22.6% - peaking at 24.2% - and an average output of 588 Wp that tops out at 750 Wp. Its bifacial share reaches 71%, and its temperature coefficient of -0.284%/°C outperforms Q-Cells' -0.323%/°C, meaning less power loss in warm climates. An average warranty of 29.6 years further raises the bar. This combination points squarely at utility-scale ground mounts and large commercial arrays.
For most buyers in 2025, the technical data clearly favors Tongwei in efficiency, power density, bifacial coverage, thermal behavior, and warranty depth. Q-Cells is the stronger choice for residential installations and North American commercial developers who benefit from its regional manufacturing presence, established installer network, and a track record stretching back more than two decades. Both are genuinely bankable options, and for mid-scale projects caught between the two use cases, either brand is a defensible and well-supported selection.
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-05-11
Other brand comparisons
Shop prices: See 25 Q-Cells offers · See 70 Tongwei 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.