Q-Cells vs Ulica Solar - solar panel manufacturer comparison
Q-Cells has the broader catalog (89 vs 76 models). Ulica Solar leads on peak efficiency at 23.88%. Ulica Solar leans bifacial (58% 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
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
Ulica Solar skews to higher efficiency: 14% of lineup is 23%+
Ulica Solar offers more 600W+ panels (43% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (43%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>TOPCon</strong> (95%)
The flagships
Written summary
Q-Cells is a South Korean-owned solar brand with German engineering roots, originally founded in Germany in 1999 and acquired by Hanwha Group of South Korea in 2012. Headquartered in Seoul with major manufacturing in Jincheon, South Korea, and a flagship US factory in Dalton, Georgia - the largest solar module plant in the Western Hemisphere - Hanwha Q-Cells holds Bloomberg NEF Tier 1 bankable status and operates a combined global module capacity reported at over 11 GW per year. Ulica Solar, formally Ningbo Ulica Solar Co., Ltd., is a Chinese manufacturer established in 2005 and based in Ningbo, Zhejiang. It also carries Bloomberg NEF Tier 1 status and exports to over 100 countries, but it operates at a notably smaller institutional scale than Hanwha Q-Cells and carries less brand recognition in Western retail channels. On institutional footprint and market visibility, Q-Cells holds a clear advantage.
Q-Cells built its reputation on Q.ANTUM, a proprietary PERC-based cell architecture, and has been expanding into TOPCon production lines alongside long-term perovskite-tandem research. Its panels are well suited to premium residential rooftop installations and mid-size commercial projects, particularly in the US and Europe where its local manufacturing matters for trade policy compliance. Ulica Solar's portfolio spans residential, commercial, and utility-scale segments, with its more recent lines using N-type TOPCon cell technology and bifacial formats that make it competitive in cost-sensitive commercial and ground-mount applications. Ulica is better represented in markets like Australia, parts of Europe, and Southeast Asia than in North America.
For a typical buyer in 2025, Q-Cells is the lower-risk default choice - its US manufacturing, deep warranty infrastructure under Hanwha, and top-three industry rankings give it stronger long-term support credentials. Ulica Solar is a legitimate Tier 1 option for buyers where price sensitivity or regional distributor relationships are primary drivers, but it requires more due diligence on local installer familiarity and after-sales support.
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-06-22
Other brand comparisons
Shop prices: See 25 Q-Cells offers · See 8 Ulica Solar 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.