Best solar panels in
Australia 2026

So, how do you compare and select the best one for your roof? And, what are the best solar panels in Australia?

Selecting a good quality panel for your system is important. The best solar panels have many benefits:

• They last longer
• They produce more solar electricity
• They perform better in poor conditions
• They’re less likely to fail

Just as important as selecting a good panel, is selecting a good inverter and a reputable installer company. A good inverter is as important, if not more so, than the quality of the panel. Likewise, if you feel you may skimp on a quality installation to save a few dollars, then paying extra for top-shelf solar panels is probably not worth it.

If you’re interested in longevity and want to buy the best solar panels, then pair them with a quality inverter from a good installer.

The best solar systems do cost a little bit more. Essentially you are paying for performance, longevity and peace of mind. In our experience, and that of all the installers in our network, it is money well spent.

Top 8 solar panel brands

The table below features the best solar panels in Australia:

Korean manufacturer QCells has ceased supplying the Australian market with its solar panels. The high-quality modules are no longer available in Australia.

Australian solar panels

All of the panel brands on our list are available in Australia, but all of them are manufactured overseas. There is only one manufacturer in making panels in Australia - Tindo Solar.

With a performance ratio of 87.4% after 25 years, Tindo panels are not far off featuring on our list of the top 8 brands.

How we review and compare the best panels in Australia

We rank the best panels based on:

• Product warranties
• Performance
• Efficiency
• Performance in Australian conditions
• Value

Product warranty

The solar panel product warranty is the length of time the manufacturer guarantees that your panel will work as it should. Product warranties range from 10 years to the 40 years offered by SunPower’s Maxeon 7 panel. If a company is prepared to provide a longer product warranty, it’s normally an indication that they are producing a higher quality panel that will last longer.

Tip: Do not confuse the product warranty with the performance warranty, or performance ratio. Most solar panels come with a 25-year performance warranty.

Performance ratio

The performance ratio is another indicator of quality. It represents the level of degradation of the panel after 25 years. The higher the performance ratio the better. For example, REC panels have a performance ratio of 92%, meaning that they will operate at 92% of their original nominal output after 25 years.

It is now commonplace for the top solar panel brands to provide a 30-year performance warranty.

Performance ratios vary from 80% up to 93%. Our analysis of degradation rates show that for an 8kW system, a difference of 12% in solar production can lead to an extra $100 - $140 in savings each year.

Efficiency

High solar panel efficiency is another characteristic the best panels boast. Efficiency isn’t everything, but the more efficient a panel the less panels you will need to make up your desired system size. There is typically a strong correlation between high efficiency, high performance and longevity.

Performance in Australian conditions

Australia’s weather can be pretty extreme. Extreme heat, high humidity and storms, are all conditions experienced in Australia. While salt corrosion can also be a factor in coastal conditions.

Solar panels are subject to temperature and humidity tests in laboratory conditions. The results of these tests are published in the product sheet of the panel. When compared to inferior modules, the best panels perform better in Australia’s harsh climate.

Cost / Value

The best solar panels in Australia do cost more than entry-level and mid-range models. There is even a fair price difference between models on our best panel list. As this article focuses on the best panels, we have not included the cost of the solar panel in our ranking criteria.

The best solar panel technology

Solar panel technology and the process of making solar panels is improving and evolving all the time. In recent years, different types of solar cells have separated premium solar panel brands.

Mono vs poly panels

Monocrystalline and polycrystalline are the two most popular types of panels in Australia. Both of these panel types have their virtues and choosing one of the other is not as important as selecting a better-quality panel with a long product warranty.

Monocrystalline panels are proving to be more efficient and are growing in popularity. Efficiency is one of the major differences between monocrystalline and polycrystalline panels.

N-Type cell technology

Most of the best solar panels in Australia and around the world are producing N-Type solar cells. N-Type cells have proved to be more efficient and provide a lower level of degradation in comparison to P-Type cells.

There are three high-performing types of N_Type cells:

• TOPCon
• Back contact (BC)
• Heterojunction (HJT)

Interdigitated back contact (IBC) cell technology

Two of the most efficient solar panel brands available in Australia, SunPower Maxeon and Aiko Solar, both use Interdigitated back contact (IBC) cell technology.

Solar panel buying tips

Before you select a solar panel for your rooftop, consider the following:

Clean Energy Council approved panels

You need to ensure that the solar panels and inverter you buy are approved by the Clean Energy Council. If they are not, you will not be able to receive your solar rebate, but also it means you are buying a module that has not passed the safety and quality tests that the CEC applies to each module. It is far more important to buy CEC approved solar panels than tier 1 panels.

All of the modules in our list of the best solar panels are approved by the Clean Energy Council. You can view the full CEC list here to check on other panels.

Tier 1 panels aren’t necessarily the best

We explain Tier 1 panels in great detail here, but we’ll summarise the findings as the term often comes up in discussions of the best solar panels. The Tier 1 criteria considers the use of the modules in large scale projects over the recent two-year period; it does not measure performance.

However, there is typically a strong correlation between tier 1 panels and what we consider to be the best solar panels.

Match quality with quality

Simply selecting high-quality panels isn’t enough. If you do want the best panels, then match their quality with a top-of-the-line inverter. And, have them installed by a reputable solar company.

Panel maintenance

Dirt and grime on your solar panels can lead to small efficiency losses, so it’s important to inspect your solar panels as part of a regular maintenance program. The more direct sunlight can easily reach the cells within each module, the better. Fortunately, rainfall does a pretty good job of cleaning panels, but it may pay to check them every so often, especially if they are installed at angle of less than 10°C.

Choose what's best for your household

At the end of the day, you have to select the best solar panel for your budget and needs. It may be that you weigh up a premium system with a mid-range one and decide to save a bit of money – that’s fine. It’s still worth going solar. But, if you’re leaning towards a cheap system in favour of something better, then we recommend you reconsider.

The best solar panel systems pay off in the long run - they last longer and perform better.