--- title: "GCL Solar Panels Review 2026: Pros, Cons & Specs | ComparePV" description: "In-depth GCL solar panel review 2026. 232 models analyzed: efficiency, cell technology, warranty, top picks. Compare GCL panels on ComparePV." source: "https://comparepv.com/reviews/gcl" --- # GCL panels, *read off the datasheets* GCL is a global company focusing on green energy and high-efficiency photovoltaic materials. They are known for their innovation in polysilicon and wafer technologies, with a focus on low-carbon solutions. GCL is committed to building a low-carbon PV value chain and advancing... Everything below is computed from those 232 datasheets: no score out of ten, no ranking of brands against each other, and nothing a manufacturer can pay to change. Where GCL does not publish a figure, it is left out of the average rather than assumed. ## The company - **Founded:** 1990 - **Headquarters:** Suzhou/Hong Kong, China - **Annual capacity:** 30+ GW - **Employees:** 6000+ - **Listed:** Hong Kong Stock Exchange/Shenzhen Stock Exchange: 03800.HK/002506.SZ - **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 | 232 | models in the database | | Average efficiency | 22.0 % | across the catalogue | | Best efficiency | 24.5 % (good) | their strongest module | | Power range | 385-740 Wp | smallest to largest | | Bifacial share | 65 % | 151 dual-sided models | | Average warranty | 28 years | guaranteed output term | ## 01. The top of the range The leaders of GCL'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 | [GCL-NR10R/54BGDF](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nr10r-54bgdf) | 500 Wp | 24.5% (good) | | 2 | [NT12R/66GDF-650W](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12r-66gdf-650w) | 650 Wp | 24.1% (good) | | 3 | [GCL-NT12R/66GDF](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12r-66gdf) | 650 Wp | 24.1% (good) | | 4 | [GCL-NT12R/66GDF-650](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12r-66gdf-650) | 650 Wp | 24.1% (good) | | 5 | [NT12R/66GDF-645W](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12r-66gdf-645w) | 645 Wp | 23.9% (good) | - GCL-NR10R/54BGDF - Monocrystalline bifacial - NT12R/66GDF-650W - Monocrystalline bifacial - GCL-NT12R/66GDF - Monocrystalline bifacial - GCL-NT12R/66GDF-650 - Monocrystalline bifacial - NT12R/66GDF-645W - Monocrystalline bifacial [Sort the whole catalogue by efficiency](https://comparepv.com/panels/gcl?sort_by=efficiency&sort_order=desc) ### Highest power nameplate output | # | Panel | efficiency | power | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-740](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-740) | 23.8% (good) | 740 Wp | | 2 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-735](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-735) | 23.7% (good) | 735 Wp | | 3 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-730](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-730) | 23.5% (good) | 730 Wp | | 4 | [NT12/66GDF-730](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12-66gdf-730) | 23.5% (good) | 730 Wp | | 5 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-725](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-725) | 23.3% (good) | 725 Wp | - GCL-NT12/66GDF-740 - Monocrystalline bifacial - GCL-NT12/66GDF-735 - Monocrystalline bifacial - GCL-NT12/66GDF-730 - Monocrystalline bifacial - NT12/66GDF-730 - Monocrystalline bifacial - GCL-NT12/66GDF-725 - Monocrystalline bifacial [Sort the whole catalogue by power](https://comparepv.com/panels/gcl?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 | [NT12R/48GDF-460W](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12r-48gdf-460w) | 460 Wp | 23.0% (good) | | 2 | [NT12R/48GDF-455W](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12r-48gdf-455w) | 455 Wp | 22.8% (good) | | 3 | [NT12R/48GDF-450W](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12r-48gdf-450w) | 450 Wp | 22.5% (good) | | 4 | [GCL-NT12R/48BGDF-450](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12r-48bgdf-450) | 450 Wp | 22.5% (good) | | 5 | [NT12R/48GDF-445W](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12r-48gdf-445w) | 445 Wp | 22.3% (good) | - NT12R/48GDF-460W - Monocrystalline bifacial - NT12R/48GDF-455W - Monocrystalline bifacial - NT12R/48GDF-450W - Monocrystalline bifacial - GCL-NT12R/48BGDF-450 - Monocrystalline bifacial - NT12R/48GDF-445W - Monocrystalline bifacial ### For a commercial array 500 Wp and up | # | Panel | power | efficiency | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-740](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-740) | 740 Wp | 23.8% (good) | | 2 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-735](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-735) | 735 Wp | 23.7% (good) | | 3 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-730](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-730) | 730 Wp | 23.5% (good) | | 4 | [NT12/66GDF-730](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12-66gdf-730) | 730 Wp | 23.5% (good) | | 5 | [GCL-NT12/66GDF-725](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12-66gdf-725) | 725 Wp | 23.3% (good) | - GCL-NT12/66GDF-740 - Monocrystalline bifacial - GCL-NT12/66GDF-735 - Monocrystalline bifacial - GCL-NT12/66GDF-730 - Monocrystalline bifacial - NT12/66GDF-730 - Monocrystalline bifacial - GCL-NT12/66GDF-725 - Monocrystalline bifacial ### For a ground mount dual-sided | # | Panel | power | efficiency | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [GCL-NR10R/54BGDF](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nr10r-54bgdf) | 500 Wp | 24.5% (good) | | 2 | [NT12R/66GDF-650W](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12r-66gdf-650w) | 650 Wp | 24.1% (good) | | 3 | [GCL-NT12R/66GDF](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12r-66gdf) | 650 Wp | 24.1% (good) | | 4 | [GCL-NT12R/66GDF-650](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-gcl-nt12r-66gdf-650) | 650 Wp | 24.1% (good) | | 5 | [NT12R/66GDF-645W](https://comparepv.com/panel/gcl-nt12r-66gdf-645w) | 645 Wp | 23.9% (good) | - GCL-NR10R/54BGDF - Monocrystalline bifacial - NT12R/66GDF-650W - Monocrystalline bifacial - GCL-NT12R/66GDF - Monocrystalline bifacial - GCL-NT12R/66GDF-650 - Monocrystalline bifacial - NT12R/66GDF-645W - Monocrystalline bifacial ## 03. What the catalogue is made of Shares are of the 232 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 | 46.6% | 108 | | | PERC | 44.0% | 102 | | | N-type | 4.3% | 10 | | | HJT | 3.0% | 7 | | | BIPV | 2.2% | 5 | TOPCon accounts for 46.6% of the catalogue - 108 of 232 modules. ### Efficiency spread share of the catalogue | # | Panel | share | panels | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | \<20% | 0.9% | 2 | | | 20-21% | 18.5% | 43 | | | 21-22% | 31.5% | 73 | | | 22-23% | 20.7% | 48 | | | 23%+ | 28.4% | 66 | ## 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 232 panels across multiple series - **Strength:** Tier 1 bankable manufacturer - recognized by major financial institutions - **Strength:** High-efficiency panels available (up to 24.5%) - **Strength:** Strong bifacial lineup - 65% of portfolio supports dual-sided generation - **Strength:** Strong warranty coverage averaging 28 years - **Strength:** High-power panels available (up to 740W) for commercial applications - **Strength:** Established manufacturer with 36+ years of experience - **Strength:** Large-scale production capacity of 30+ GW ## 05. In short > **GCL:** GCL is an industry leader in efficiency, offering 232 panels suitable for both residential and commercial buyers. With an average efficiency of 22.0% and top models reaching 24.5%, their panels deliver competitive performance. As a Tier 1 bankable manufacturer, they offer strong financial backing and long-term reliability. ### Common questions #### Is GCL a good solar panel manufacturer? GCL offers 232 solar panel models with an average efficiency of 22.0%. 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 GCL make? GCL manufactures panels ranging from 385W to 740W, covering both residential and commercial applications. Their portfolio includes TOPCon (47%), PERC (44%), N-type (4%) cell technologies. #### How efficient are GCL solar panels? GCL panels have an average efficiency of 22.0%, with their most efficient model reaching 24.5%. This puts them among the industry leaders in the current market. #### Does GCL make bifacial solar panels? Yes, GCL offers 151 bifacial panels, representing 65% of their portfolio. Bifacial panels can generate additional energy from the rear side, making them ideal for ground-mounted systems. #### What warranty does GCL offer on their solar panels? GCL panels come with an average performance warranty of 28 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 GCL panels good for residential use? GCL 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 GCL use TOPCon technology? Yes, GCL 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) - [GCL vs Jinko Solar](https://comparepv.com/gcl-vs-jinko-solar) - [GCL vs JA Solar](https://comparepv.com/gcl-vs-ja-solar) - [GCL vs Trina Solar](https://comparepv.com/gcl-vs-trina-solar) - [GCL vs LONGi](https://comparepv.com/gcl-vs-longi) - [GCL vs Canadian Solar](https://comparepv.com/canadian-solar-vs-gcl) - [GCL vs Q-Cells](https://comparepv.com/gcl-vs-q-cells) - [GCL vs AIKO](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-gcl) - [GCL vs Hyundai](https://comparepv.com/gcl-vs-hyundai) ## Elsewhere - [All GCL panels 232](https://comparepv.com/panels/gcl) - [All manufacturers](https://comparepv.com/reviews) - [Panel database](https://comparepv.com/panels) - [Market statistics](https://comparepv.com/stats) --- Source: https://comparepv.com/reviews/gcl