--- title: "AE Solar Panels Review 2026: Pros, Cons & Specs | ComparePV" description: "In-depth AE Solar solar panel review 2026. 646 models analyzed: efficiency, cell technology, warranty, top picks. Compare AE Solar panels on ComparePV." source: "https://comparepv.com/reviews/ae-solar" --- # AE Solar panels, *read off the datasheets* AE Solar is a German Tier 1 manufacturer of high-efficiency photovoltaic (PV) modules. The company specializes in producing durable and innovative solar panels with German engineering standards, offering solutions for residential, commercial, and utility-scale applications. AE Solar operates in over 100 countries... Everything below is computed from those 646 datasheets: no score out of ten, no ranking of brands against each other, and nothing a manufacturer can pay to change. Where AE Solar does not publish a figure, it is left out of the average rather than assumed. ## The company - **Founded:** 2003 - **Headquarters:** Gersthofen, Germany - **Annual capacity:** 2+ GW - **Employees:** 501-1000 - **Tier 1 bankable:** Yes (good) Company facts, not datasheet figures. Tier 1 is a financier's bankability list, and says nothing about how a panel performs. ## Key figures | Measure | Value | Note | | --- | --- | --- | | Panels | 646 | models in the database | | Average efficiency | 21.1 % | across the catalogue | | Best efficiency | 24.4 % (good) | their strongest module | | Power range | 170-730 Wp | smallest to largest | | Bifacial share | 63 % | 405 dual-sided models | | Average warranty | 30 years | guaranteed output term | ## 01. The top of the range The leaders of AE Solar's own catalogue on the two figures a specification sheet leads with. Neither is a verdict: the most efficient module in a range is rarely the one that suits a given roof. ### Most efficient module efficiency | # | Panel | power | efficiency | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [ICME-132BDS-660](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-icme-132bds-660) | 660 Wp | 24.4% (good) | | 2 | [AE ICME-132BDS-660](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-ae-icme-132bds-660) | 660 Wp | 24.4% (good) | | 3 | [ICME-132BDS-655](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-icme-132bds-655) | 655 Wp | 24.2% (good) | | 4 | [AE ICME-132BDS-655](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-ae-icme-132bds-655) | 655 Wp | 24.2% (good) | | 5 | [ICME-132BDS-650](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-icme-132bds-650) | 650 Wp | 24.1% (good) | - ICME-132BDS-660 - Monocrystalline bifacial - AE ICME-132BDS-660 - Monocrystalline bifacial - ICME-132BDS-655 - Monocrystalline bifacial - AE ICME-132BDS-655 - Monocrystalline bifacial - ICME-132BDS-650 - Monocrystalline bifacial [Sort the whole catalogue by efficiency](https://comparepv.com/panels/ae-solar?sort_by=efficiency&sort_order=desc) ### Highest power nameplate output | # | Panel | efficiency | power | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [CME-132BDS-730](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-cme-132bds-730) | 23.5% (good) | 730 Wp | | 2 | [CME-132BDS-730W](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-cme-132bds-730w) | 23.5% (good) | 730 Wp | | 3 | [CME-132BDS-725](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-cme-132bds-725) | 23.4% (good) | 725 Wp | | 4 | [CME-132-725W](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-cme-132-725w) | 23.4% (good) | 725 Wp | | 5 | [CME-132BDS-725W](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-cme-132bds-725w) | 23.4% (good) | 725 Wp | - CME-132BDS-730 - Monocrystalline bifacial - CME-132BDS-730W - Monocrystalline bifacial - CME-132BDS-725 - Monocrystalline bifacial - CME-132-725W - Monocrystalline - CME-132BDS-725W - Monocrystalline bifacial [Sort the whole catalogue by power](https://comparepv.com/panels/ae-solar?sort_by=power&sort_order=desc) ## 02. By what the array is for Three cuts of the same catalogue, each ordered by efficiency inside its band. An empty column means the brand does not build for that case. ### For a house roof 380-460 Wp | # | Panel | power | efficiency | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [CMER-96BDS-I-460](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-cmer-96bds-i-460) | 460 Wp | 23.0% (good) | | 2 | [CMER-96BDS-460](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-cmer-96bds-460) | 460 Wp | 23.0% (good) | | 3 | [AE CMER-96BDS 460](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-ae-cmer-96bds-460) | 460 Wp | 23.0% (good) | | 4 | [AE CMER-96BDS-I 460](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-ae-cmer-96bds-i-460) | 460 Wp | 23.0% (good) | | 5 | [CMER-96BDS-I-455](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-cmer-96bds-i-455) | 455 Wp | 22.8% (good) | - CMER-96BDS-I-460 - Monocrystalline bifacial - CMER-96BDS-460 - Monocrystalline bifacial - AE CMER-96BDS 460 - Monocrystalline bifacial - AE CMER-96BDS-I 460 - Monocrystalline bifacial - CMER-96BDS-I-455 - Monocrystalline bifacial ### For a commercial array 500 Wp and up | # | Panel | power | efficiency | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [CME-132BDS-730](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-cme-132bds-730) | 730 Wp | 23.5% (good) | | 2 | [CME-132BDS-730W](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-cme-132bds-730w) | 730 Wp | 23.5% (good) | | 3 | [CME-132BDS-725](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-cme-132bds-725) | 725 Wp | 23.4% (good) | | 4 | [CME-132-725W](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-cme-132-725w) | 725 Wp | 23.4% (good) | | 5 | [CME-132BDS-725W](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-cme-132bds-725w) | 725 Wp | 23.4% (good) | - CME-132BDS-730 - Monocrystalline bifacial - CME-132BDS-730W - Monocrystalline bifacial - CME-132BDS-725 - Monocrystalline bifacial - CME-132-725W - Monocrystalline - CME-132BDS-725W - Monocrystalline bifacial ### For a ground mount dual-sided | # | Panel | power | efficiency | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [ICME-132BDS-660](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-icme-132bds-660) | 660 Wp | 24.4% (good) | | 2 | [AE ICME-132BDS-660](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-ae-icme-132bds-660) | 660 Wp | 24.4% (good) | | 3 | [ICME-132BDS-655](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-icme-132bds-655) | 655 Wp | 24.2% (good) | | 4 | [AE ICME-132BDS-655](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-ae-icme-132bds-655) | 655 Wp | 24.2% (good) | | 5 | [ICME-132BDS-650](https://comparepv.com/panel/ae-solar-icme-132bds-650) | 650 Wp | 24.1% (good) | - ICME-132BDS-660 - Monocrystalline bifacial - AE ICME-132BDS-660 - Monocrystalline bifacial - ICME-132BDS-655 - Monocrystalline bifacial - AE ICME-132BDS-655 - Monocrystalline bifacial - ICME-132BDS-650 - Monocrystalline bifacial ## 03. What the catalogue is made of Shares are of the 646 modules in the database, counted once each. A power ladder of one module counts as its rungs, which is why a large catalogue is not the same as a wide one. [Cell technology across the market](https://comparepv.com/stats/cell-technology) ### Cell technology share of the catalogue | # | Panel | share | panels | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | TOPCon | 54.0% | 349 | | | PERC | 37.9% | 245 | | | Back Contact | 3.3% | 21 | | | N-type | 2.6% | 17 | | | BIPV | 1.4% | 9 | | | HJT | 0.8% | 5 | TOPCon accounts for 54.0% of the catalogue - 349 of 646 modules. ### Efficiency spread share of the catalogue | # | Panel | share | panels | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | \<20% | 11.5% | 74 | | | 20-21% | 26.5% | 171 | | | 21-22% | 22.0% | 142 | | | 22-23% | 30.8% | 199 | | | 23%+ | 9.3% | 60 | ## 04. Strengths and gaps Both lists are derived from the figures above rather than written about the brand. A gap here is a gap in what is published, which is not always a gap in what is built. ### What this catalogue is good at - **Strength:** Extensive portfolio of 646 panels across multiple series - **Strength:** Tier 1 bankable manufacturer - recognized by major financial institutions - **Strength:** High-efficiency panels available (up to 24.4%) - **Strength:** Strong bifacial lineup - 63% of portfolio supports dual-sided generation - **Strength:** Strong warranty coverage averaging 30 years - **Strength:** High-power panels available (up to 730W) for commercial applications - **Strength:** Established manufacturer with 23+ years of experience - **Strength:** Large-scale production capacity of 2+ GW ## 05. In short > **AE Solar:** AE Solar is an industry leader in efficiency, offering 646 panels suitable for both residential and commercial buyers. With an average efficiency of 21.1% and top models reaching 24.4%, their panels deliver competitive performance. As a Tier 1 bankable manufacturer, they offer strong financial backing and long-term reliability. ### Common questions #### Is AE Solar a good solar panel manufacturer? AE Solar offers 646 solar panel models with an average efficiency of 21.1%. They are a Tier 1 bankable manufacturer, recognized by major financial institutions for reliability. Check their full panel lineup on ComparePV to find the best model for your needs. #### What types of solar panels does AE Solar make? AE Solar manufactures panels ranging from 170W to 730W, covering both residential and commercial applications. Their portfolio includes TOPCon (54%), PERC (38%), Back Contact (3%) cell technologies. #### How efficient are AE Solar solar panels? AE Solar panels have an average efficiency of 21.1%, with their most efficient model reaching 24.4%. This puts them among the industry leaders in the current market. #### Does AE Solar make bifacial solar panels? Yes, AE Solar offers 405 bifacial panels, representing 63% of their portfolio. Bifacial panels can generate additional energy from the rear side, making them ideal for ground-mounted systems. #### What warranty does AE Solar offer on their solar panels? AE Solar panels come with an average performance warranty of 30 years. This warranty guarantees that the panels will maintain a specified level of power output over time, protecting your investment against degradation beyond normal levels. #### Are AE Solar panels good for residential use? AE Solar offers panels in the residential-friendly 380-460W range. For home installations, look for models with high efficiency and compact dimensions to maximize power from limited roof space. Browse their full lineup on ComparePV to filter by power range and specifications. #### Does AE Solar use TOPCon technology? Yes, AE Solar has adopted TOPCon (Tunnel Oxide Passivated Contact) cell technology in part of their portfolio. TOPCon cells offer higher efficiency and better temperature performance compared to older PERC technology, making them a strong choice for maximizing energy production. ## 06. Compared with A brand comparison weighs the two catalogues against each other - what each builds, at what efficiency, and how deep the range goes. [Build your own](https://comparepv.com/comparisons) - [AE Solar vs Jinko Solar](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-jinko-solar) - [AE Solar vs JA Solar](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-ja-solar) - [AE Solar vs Trina Solar](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-trina-solar) - [AE Solar vs LONGi](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-longi) - [AE Solar vs Canadian Solar](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-canadian-solar) - [AE Solar vs Q-Cells](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-q-cells) - [AE Solar vs AIKO](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-aiko) - [AE Solar vs Hyundai](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-hyundai) ## Elsewhere - [All AE Solar panels 646](https://comparepv.com/panels/ae-solar) - [All manufacturers](https://comparepv.com/reviews) - [Panel database](https://comparepv.com/panels) - [Market statistics](https://comparepv.com/stats) --- Source: https://comparepv.com/reviews/ae-solar