Buying solar panels
Solar panels from JA Solar, Jinko, LONGi, Canadian Solar, Aiko, REC and Viridian, each listed with its datasheet, rated output, module efficiency, frame dimensions and warranty terms, priced per panel and per watt so ranges can be compared like for like. Prices are shown excluding VAT.
Choosing the right panel technology
Most panels listed here use N-type TOPCon or HPBC cell technology, which has largely replaced older P-type PERC modules at the quality end of the market. N-type cells degrade more slowly, perform better in high temperatures and typically carry stronger performance warranties, which matters over a 25-plus-year service life. Bifacial double-glass modules generate additional yield from light reflected onto the rear face, making them worth considering for ground mounts, flat commercial roofs and carports where rear-side light is available. All-black monofacial panels remain the popular choice for residential pitched roofs where appearance matters to the homeowner.
Wattage, size and system design
Panel output in this range typically spans 430W to 515W-plus in the standard residential 54-cell format, with larger 60, 66 and 72-cell formats used on commercial roofs and ground mounts. Higher wattage is not automatically better value — compare the pence-per-watt figure shown on every product card, then check the physical dimensions against your roof layout. A slightly lower-wattage panel that lets you fit an extra module per string often beats a premium high-output panel on total array yield. If you are unsure how many panels, which inverter and what battery capacity a job needs, our System Builder matches compatible inverters and batteries and produces a full bill of materials in about a minute.
Traceability and certification
Panels used on an MCS-certified installation must themselves be MCS-approved, and the certificates for each module sit in the Documents tab on its product page alongside the datasheet. Several ranges — including JA Solar's traceable series — carry module-level traceability documentation, which is increasingly requested on commercial and new-build projects.
What to check before you order
Size the string against the inverter rather than the roof alone: the panel's open-circuit voltage at the coldest expected temperature decides how many modules fit in a string, and its maximum-power current has to sit inside the inverter's tracker limit. Check the connector type as well, because they are not all intermateable — MC4, Stäubli MC4-EVO2 and Jinko's JK03M appear across these ranges, and the fitting on the panel is listed in its specifications. Finally, check frame dimensions and weight against the mounting system, since rail spacing and clamp sizes are set by the frame, not the wattage.
Frequently asked questions
Are these solar panels MCS approved?
Panels used on an MCS-certified installation have to be MCS-approved. The certificate for each module is in the Documents tab on its product page, with the datasheet.
What does the pence-per-watt figure mean?
It is the panel price divided by its rated output, shown on every product card. It is the quickest way to compare value between panels of different wattages and brands.
Should I choose bifacial or all-black panels?
Bifacial double-glass panels add yield where light can reach the rear face — ground mounts, flat roofs, carports. All-black monofacial panels are the usual pick for residential pitched roofs where appearance matters.
How do I work out how many panels I need?
Use the System Builder: it matches panels, inverters and batteries into a compatible system and produces a full bill of materials, so the string design and inverter sizing are done for you.
Which connector do these panels use?
It varies by range and is listed in each panel specification. MC4, Stäubli MC4-EVO2 and Jinko JK03M all appear here, and they are not all intermateable, so check before ordering leads or extensions.
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