ET Solar Panels Review
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ET Solar, a respected Chinese manufacturer of solar panels that set up shop in Australia in 2005, is known for its high-end production quality. They provide a 12-year product and 25-year performance warranty on their solar panels.
ET Solar has over 3,000 employees and is vertically integrated to ensure high-quality solar modules. The company produces durable and reliable solar panels that are excellent for commercial and residential installations and is recognised as one of the best solar manufacturers in the industry.
ET solar panels boast a high module efficiency of 20.90%, in other words, they produce more energy using fewer panels. With such high efficiency, ET Solar can be ranked among top brands1 like LG, Sun Power, REC Group, and CSUN.
ET solar panels come with a 12-year product warranty and a 25-30-year linear performance warranty. Besides, ET Solar is a Tier 1 company that has been around for over 15 years. This gives customers security and assurance that the company will remain in business through the panels’ lifetime.
ET Solar is Vertically Integrated
The company is vertically integrated, producing silicon ingots to make solar cells. This reduces supply disruptions that may affect the quality of the products and makes them less vulnerable to supply disruptions. Â
ET Solar Panels and Elements Resistance
ET Solar panels are excellent for Australian conditions as they work perfectly throughout the year. The panels are salt, fire, and mist-resistant, which makes them highly durable and reliable.
On the other hand, by looking at their datasheets2, I have concluded that none of their models meets the IEC 61701 standard for corrosion resistance, or at least not listed. Corrosion resistance is crucial if you live close to the sea.
ET Solar Panels Have A Cell-String Optimised Panel
A very common problem with solar panels that work on the same electrical cable, known as a string, is a single poorly performing panel can bring down the performance of others.
To get around this problem, instead of using microinverters3, ET Solar produce smart panels with electronics that optimise their performance and ensure the good performance of other panels when one panel doesn’t perform well.
Clean Energy Council Approval
The good news for you, if you would like to install ET Solar products, is that all of their solar modules have been approved4 by the CEC since 26.08.2021 and are currently on the list of approved solar products.
This is very important because CEC approval is one of the main criteria for eligibility for Australia’s Government solar rebate.
ET Solar Products
According to their official website5 at the moment they produce only the modules that are listed in the table below.
| M660BH | M660BH | M672BH | M672BH | |
| Cells Number | 120 cells | 120 cells | 144 cells | 144 cells |
| Cell Type | Mono-Crystalline | Mono-Crystalline | Mono-Crystalline | Mono-Crystalline |
| Power Output | 360W~380W | 360W~380W | 425W~445W | 435W~455W |
| Solar Panel Efficiency | 19.80%-20.90% | 19.80%-20.90% | 19.60%-20.50% | 20.00%-20.90% |
| Annual Power Degradation | 0.55% | 0.45% | 0.55% | 0.45% |
| Dimensions | 1755×1038×35 mm | 1755×1038×35 mm | 2094×1038×35 mm | 2094×1038×35 mm |
| Weight | 20 kg | 20 kg | 24 kg | 24 kg |
| Product Warranty | 12 years | 12 years | 12 years | 12 years |
| Performance Warranty | 25 years | 30 years | 25 years | 30 years |
| Operational Temperature Range | -40~+85º C | -40~+85º C | -40~+85º C | -40~+85º C |
| Made in | China, Vietnam, Cambodia | China, Vietnam, Cambodia | China, Vietnam, Cambodia | China, Vietnam, Cambodia |
Cell technology
ET Solar produces bifacial solar panels with monocrystalline cell technology and PERC monocrystalline.
Monocrystalline solar cells
Monocrystalline solar panels are highly efficient and have an appealing look. They are usually considered a premium product due to their high efficiencies compared to poly cells.
Typically, mono cells are designed using a single crystal of silicon which makes them purer. This provides electrons with more space to move freely, thus producing more electric current.
PERC cells
PERC stands for Passivated Emitter and Rear Contact. This is a new cell technology that improves traditional mono and poly cells for high power output. PERC adds an extra dielectric passivation layer at the cells’ rear side to increase conversion efficiency.
The additional dielectric passivation layer lowers electron recombination, which tends to block the free movement of electrons within the cell. This allows electrons to move freely and consistently, producing more electric current.
PERC cell technology also increases the solar cell’s ability to capture sunlight, producing additional energy. PERC cells also reflect specific wavelengths that may accumulate in the cell to produce unwanted heat. This maintains the solar cell’s temperature and increases its efficiency.
Bifacial cell technology
Bifacial solar cells are designed to produce energy from their rear and front surfaces, unlike monofacial solar panels, which only produce solar energy from one side. Bifacial or double-sided solar panels are mostly monocrystalline, but polycrystalline cells can also be used.
Most bifacial solar panels are slim, resembling thin-film modules. They are also mostly frameless for optimal power production. Installing these panels is, however, complicated and costlier than regular solar panels.
Australian office?
ET Solar has offices worldwide to improve customer service to their customers. In Australia, their office is located in Sydney. However, ET Solar no longer lists the Australian office on their contacts page, and the number seems to be disconnected.
In situations like this, whoever imports the solar panels in Australia is responsible for their warranties.
Why an Australian office is important
Any global manufacturer of PV solar modules should have offices worldwide. Having an Australian office is essential as it helps customers reach the manufacturers fast in case of issues with warranties. It also becomes easier for manufacturers to repair the solar panels if they develop issues.
It is not uncommon for local solar providers to ditch their customers once they install the solar modules. Some installers even go out of business before the warranty period of the panels ends. With an Australian office, customers will not have to rely on local installers who are highly unreliable.
FAQ's
Are ET solar panels Tier 1?
Yes, ET solar panels are Tier 1, which makes them a reliable investment for homeowners. ET Solar has been around for over 15 years, and they produce one of the most efficient panels in the industry. They offer a 15-year product warranty and a 25-year performance warranty that gives customers peace of mind knowing their investment is safe.
Who makes ET solar panels?
ET Solar is a Chinese company that makes ET solar panels. This company was founded in 2005, and it has been manufacturing solar panels ever since. ET Solar is a leading global photovoltaic module provider that has delivered over 7.2 gigawatts of solar modules worldwide.
Where are ET solar panels manufactured?
ET solar panels are manufactured in Nanjing, China. This company also established ET Solar Power Hong Kong as their global headquarters in 2018.
How long do ET solar panels last?
ET solar panels last for 25-30 years with proper care and maintenance. The panels maintain a high power output of over 80% after 25 years, which means they can still produce electricity for several years after reaching their lifetime. However, you will need to replace the panels once their efficiency goes below 80%.
- Ben Mclnerney, (2023) What are the best solar panels on the market?<https://gosolarquotes.com.au/best-solar-panels-on-the-market/> Accesed: 11-02-2024
- ET Solar, (2024) Our Models <https://www.etsolar.com/academics#:~:text=us%20for%20more-,Our%20Models,-M660BH> Accesed: 11-02-2024
- Ben Mclnerney, (2024) How do micro-inverters work? <https://gosolarquotes.com.au/solar-inverter/how-do-micro-inverters-work/> Accesed: 11-02-2024
- Clean Energy Council, (2024) Approved modules <https://www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au/industry/products/modules/approved-modules#:~:text=ET%20Solar%20New%20Energy%20Co%20Ltd> Accesed: 11-02-2024
- ET Solar, (2024) Official datasheets <https://www.etsolar.com/academics#:~:text=us%20for%20more-,Our%20Models,-M660BH> Accesed: 11-02-2024
