Q-Cells vs Vikram Solar - solar panel manufacturer comparison
Vikram Solar has the broader catalog (202 vs 89 models). Vikram Solar leads on peak efficiency at 23.69%. Vikram Solar leans bifacial (74% 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
Vikram Solar Limited is a leading Indian solar photovoltaic (PV) module manufacturer and solar solutions provider. They offer engineering, procurement, construction (EPC), and operations & maintenance (O&M) services for solar plants. The company manufactures high-efficiency solar PV modules and has a pan-India...
- Founded
- 2005
- Headquarters
- Kolkata, India
- Annual capacity
- 9.5 GW/year
- Employees
- 1,895
- Listed
- NSE, BSE: VIKRAMSOLR
- 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
Vikram Solar skews to higher efficiency: 8% of lineup is 23%+
Vikram Solar offers more 600W+ panels (42% of lineup)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (43%)
Dominant cell tech: <strong>PERC</strong> (75%)
The flagships
Written summary
Q-Cells, operating under the Hanwha Q CELLS brand, is a South Korean-owned manufacturer whose roots trace to a German cell pioneer acquired by Hanwha Group in 2012. It holds BloombergNEF Tier 1 bankability status and has built a formidable North American manufacturing presence, with module capacity in Dalton and Cartersville, Georgia amounting to roughly 8.4 GW per year - making it the largest crystalline silicon solar module producer in North America. Its South Korean facilities add several further gigawatts of cell and module capacity. Vikram Solar is an Indian manufacturer founded in 2006 and headquartered in Kolkata. It re-entered the BloombergNEF Tier 1 list in Q1 2024 and has been expanding aggressively, commissioning a new 5 GW automated module plant in Tamil Nadu in late 2025 to bring its stated total nameplate capacity to roughly 9.5 GW. In terms of institutional footprint and brand recognition in Western markets, Q-Cells holds the stronger position.
Both companies have moved beyond legacy PERC technology. Q-Cells built its reputation on its proprietary Q.ANTUM PERC cell design and is transitioning its premium lines toward TOPCon. Vikram Solar similarly offers both Mono PERC and N-type TOPCon bifacial modules under its Paradea and Hypersol series respectively, with its newer facilities also engineered for eventual HJT production. Q-Cells targets the full spectrum from premium residential rooftops to utility-scale ground mounts, with particularly strong uptake among US residential installers. Vikram Solar serves residential, commercial, and utility customers across more than 30 countries, with a heavier concentration in the Indian subcontinent and select European and Asian markets.
For a buyer in the US or Western Europe, Q-Cells is generally the lower-risk default - its domestic US manufacturing offers IRA compliance advantages and its installer network is well established. Vikram Solar is a credible alternative for utility-scale or commercial projects in markets where it has a distribution presence, especially where its competitive pricing on TOPCon bifacial modules is a priority.
Generated by Claude Sonnet · 2026-05-21
Other brand comparisons
Shop prices: See 25 Q-Cells 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.