--- title: "TCL vs Trina Solar - Brand Comparison | ComparePV" description: "Compare TCL vs Trina Solar solar panels: full portfolio, efficiency, cell technology breakdown, warranty terms and company background." source: "https://comparepv.com/tcl-vs-trina-solar" --- # TCL vs Trina Solar Trina Solar has the broader catalog (340 vs 0 models). Trina Solar leans bifacial (43% of lineup). ## The two companies | Attribute | TCL | Trina Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | Country | China | China | | Headquarters | Huizhou | Changzhou | | Founded | 1981 | 1997 | | Employees | | | | Annual capacity | | | | Tier 1 | no | yes | | Listed | | | | Website | [https://www.tcl.com](https://www.tcl.com) | [https://www.trinasolar.com](https://www.trinasolar.com) | ## Catalog & Power | Measure | TCL | Trina Solar | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Panel Models | 0 | 340 | +340 | | Max Power | 0 W | 760 W | +760 W | | Avg Power | 0 W | 520 W | +520 W | ## Efficiency | Measure | TCL | Trina Solar | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Max Efficiency | - | 24.80% | | | Avg Efficiency | - | 21.71% | | ## Reliability & Warranty | Measure | TCL | Trina Solar | Margin | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Avg Temp Coefficient | - | -0.302%/°C | | | Bifacial Share | 0 (0%) | 145 (43%) | +43 pp | | Avg Warranty | - | 28.2 yrs | | ## Efficiency distribution Trina Solar skews to higher efficiency: 22% of lineup is 23%+ | Efficiency band | TCL | Trina Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | \<20% | 0 | 22 (6.5%) | | 20-21% | 0 | 57 (16.8%) | | 21-22% | 0 | 83 (24.4%) | | 22-23% | 0 | 102 (30.0%) | | 23%+ | 0 | 76 (22.4%) | ## Power distribution Trina Solar offers more 600W+ panels (34% of lineup) | Power band | TCL | Trina Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | \<400W | 0 | 28 (8.2%) | | 400-499W | 0 | 142 (41.8%) | | 500-599W | 0 | 54 (15.9%) | | 600-699W | 0 | 72 (21.2%) | | 700W+ | 0 | 44 (12.9%) | ## Cell technology Dominant cell tech: **TOPCon** (73%) | Technology | TCL | Trina Solar | | --- | --- | --- | | TOPCon | 0 | 248 (72.9%) | | PERC | 0 | 75 (22.1%) | | Unknown | 0 | 11 (3.2%) | | N-type | 0 | 6 (1.8%) | ## Top panels, Trina Solar | # | Model | Power | Efficiency | Temp. coefficient | Technology | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | [TSM-NEG21C.20Q-760](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-760) | 760 | 24.5 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline | | 2 | [TSM-NEG21C.20Q-755](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-755) | 755 | 24.3 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline | | 3 | [TSM-NEG21C.20Q-750](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-750) | 750 | 24.1 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline | | 4 | [TSM-NEG21C.20Q-745](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-745) | 745 | 24.0 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline | | 5 | [TSM-NEG21C.20-740](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-co-ltd-tsm-neg21c-20-740) | 740 | 23.8 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline | | 6 | [TSM-NEG21C.20 740](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20-740) | 740 | 23.8 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline | | 7 | [TSM-NEG21C.20Q-740](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-740) | 740 | 23.8 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline | | 8 | [TSM-NEG21C.20-735](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-co-ltd-tsm-neg21c-20-735) | 735 | 23.7 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline | | 9 | [TSM-NEG21C.20 735](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20-735) | 735 | 23.7 | -0.290 | Monocrystalline | | 10 | [TSM-NEG21C.20Q-735](https://comparepv.com/panel/trina-solar-tsm-neg21c-20q-735) | 735 | 23.7 | -0.260 | Monocrystalline | ## Summary TCL is a Chinese conglomerate headquartered in Huizhou, Guangdong, whose solar division operates primarily through two arms: TCL Zhonghuan, one of the world's largest silicon wafer and cell manufacturers, and TCL SunPower, which handles branded module output. TCL Solar entered the BNEF Tier 1 list in Q4 2024 and has retained that status through Q1 2026, signaling growing institutional acceptance for a relatively recent arrival to the finished-module market. Trina Solar, by contrast, was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Changzhou, Jiangsu. It shipped roughly 77 GW in 2024, placing it third globally by volume, has been recognized on the BNEF Tier 1 list across many consecutive quarters, and has topped BNEF's bankability rating eight times while earning PVEL Top Performer designation for eleven straight years. On pure institutional footprint - track record, shipment scale, and lender confidence - Trina Solar holds a clear advantage. Both manufacturers have standardized on N-type TOPCon as their primary cell technology in current lineups. TCL SunPower targets the premium residential rooftop segment with its back-contact and shingled-TOPCon module lines, which are positioned around high aesthetics and shade tolerance for households. Its commercial range reaches into the 580-600 W class for high-density rooftop applications. Trina Solar's Vertex S+ series addresses residential and light-commercial buyers, while its larger-format Vertex modules are heavily deployed in utility-scale ground-mount projects worldwide - a segment where Trina's supply-chain depth and installer familiarity carry real weight. For most buyers in 2025, Trina Solar is the safer default: its long bankability record, global installer network, and proven warranty support reduce project risk, particularly for systems expected to operate for 25-30 years. TCL Solar is a credible alternative, especially for buyers who want back-contact aesthetics or who are working with an installer already familiar with the brand, but its shorter track record as a module supplier means lenders and EPCs may require additional due diligence on larger installations. \---LINKS--- \- https://www.pv-magazine.com/press-releases/tcl-solar-rated-as-bnef-tier-1-module-manufacturer-global-competitiveness-gains-authoritative-recognition/ \| TCL Solar rated as BNEF Tier 1 module manufacturer \| article \- https://www.solarbeglobal.com/tcl-solar-retains-spot-on-bnefs-tier-1-list-of-global-pv-module-manufacturers-for-q1-2026/ \| TCL Solar retains BNEF Tier 1 spot for Q1 2026 \| article \- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/05/10/trina-solar-records-65-21-gw-of-solar-panel-shipments-for-2023/ \| Trina Solar records 65.21 GW of solar panel shipments for 2023 \| article \- https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/are-trina-solar-panels-your-best-option \| 2025 Expert Trina Solar Panels Review - SolarReviews \| review \- https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/03/04/tcl-sunpower-presents-shingle-topcon-solar-panels-for-rooftop-pv/ \| TCL SunPower presents shingle TOPCon solar panels for rooftop PV \| article Sources: \- \[TCL Solar rated as BNEF Tier 1 module manufacturer\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/press-releases/tcl-solar-rated-as-bnef-tier-1-module-manufacturer-global-competitiveness-gains-authoritative-recognition/) \- \[TCL Solar retains BNEF Tier 1 spot for Q1 2026\](https://www.solarbeglobal.com/tcl-solar-retains-spot-on-bnefs-tier-1-list-of-global-pv-module-manufacturers-for-q1-2026/) \- \[Trina Solar records 65.21 GW of solar panel shipments for 2023\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2024/05/10/trina-solar-records-65-21-gw-of-solar-panel-shipments-for-2023/) \- \[2025 Expert Trina Solar Panels Review - SolarReviews\](https://www.solarreviews.com/blog/are-trina-solar-panels-your-best-option) \- \[TCL SunPower presents shingle TOPCon solar panels for rooftop PV\](https://www.pv-magazine.com/2026/03/04/tcl-sunpower-presents-shingle-topcon-solar-panels-for-rooftop-pv/) Written by claude-sonnet from the figures above. ## Other comparisons - [TCL vs A.B. Energy](https://comparepv.com/tcl-vs-a-b-energy) - [AE Solar vs Trina Solar](https://comparepv.com/ae-solar-vs-trina-solar) - [TCL vs AEET](https://comparepv.com/tcl-vs-aeet) - [AIKO vs Trina Solar](https://comparepv.com/aiko-vs-trina-solar) - [TCL vs AKCOME](https://comparepv.com/tcl-vs-akcome) - [ARTsolar vs Trina Solar](https://comparepv.com/artsolar-vs-trina-solar) --- Source: https://comparepv.com/tcl-vs-trina-solar