Lumina Solar Review (Costs, Services & More in 2024)
By Aniket Bhor /
In this EcoWatch guide on the best solar panels for homes, you’ll learn:
Note: In July 2024, SunPower notified dealers it would be halting all new shipments and project installations. The company also noted it would “no longer be supporting new Leases and PPA sales nor new project installations of these financing options.”
Most solar panel manufacturers produce photovoltaic (PV) panels for residential use, but the options aren’t all created equal. Each brand has a different efficiency level, rate of degradation, durability and more, so choosing the best option for your solar project can be quite confusing. To make matters worse, opting for the wrong brand could cut into your energy savings over time.
In this article, we’ll be discussing the top five best solar panels for homes, and we’ll explain why each is a great option for your rooftop solar system. We’ll also explain what to look for in a high-performance panel to help you pick the best one for your needs. You can also refer to our review of the top solar panel installers if you’re searching for the best provider for your home.
The five solar panel companies below are the manufacturers we’ve identified as the best in the industry for home PV panels:
We’ll explain why we feel these panels are the best in the solar industry for home renewable energy systems below. Each panel includes a drop-down menu with additional information.
Of all of the panel models from the manufacturers mentioned above, there are two that stand out for providing outstanding performance and overall value. These include the Maxeon 6 panels from SunPower and the Q.PEAK DUO BLK ML-G10+ from Q Cells. These both provide above-average production and savings without compromising on overall quality.
The table below includes a quick look at these two panel options and how they stack up against one another.
Efficiency Rating | Power Output | Temperature Coefficient (per degree C over 25) | Power Tolerance | First-year Degradation | Subsequent-year Degradation | Efficiency After 25 Years | Total Warranty Term | |
Maxeon 6 | 22.8% | 410W–440W | -0.27% | 0/+5% | 2% | 0.25% | 92% | 40 years |
Q Cells BLK ML-G10+ | 20.9% | 385W–410W | -0.34% | 0/+5% | 2% | 0.5% | 85.5% | 25 years |
Trina Solar Vertex S | 21.1% | 405W | -0.34% | 0/+5% | 2% | 0.55% | 84.8% | 25 years |
REC Alpha Pure-R | 22.3% | 430W | -0.24% | -3%/+3% | 2% | 0.25% | 92% | 25 years |
Panasonic EverVolt | 22.2% | 400W–410W | -0.26% | 0/+10% | 2% | 0.25% | 92% | 25 years |
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Q Cells, which is a brand manufactured by Hanwha, is the best solar company for value, in our opinion. Despite being more affordable than most other tier-one solar panel brands at around $3.00 per watt, its panels still have above-average efficiency ratings and performance specs. They’re not quite as impressive in their durability as some other options, but they’re still an outstanding choice for many solar customers.
We recommend Q Cells for solar customers who want the best performance per dollar.
Q Cells panels get a lot of things right, including an average efficiency that’s around the industry average. That means your panels should generate plenty of electricity to offset your utility bills and reduce your carbon footprint.
It matches SunPower in terms of first-year solar panel degradation as well, so the efficiency over time is going to be better than you’ll see from many competitors. Ultimately, that means your panels will continue serving you and providing savings for many years to come.
Q Cells offers robust warranty coverage for performance and manufacturer defects that’s in line with the industry average of 25 years each. This will prevent you from having to carry out expensive repairs and should help avoid your production dipping below your consumption within the first two decades of operation.
Its panels also come rated to withstand 4,000 pascal units on the rear of the panel, which means it’s better than most for areas that see strong winds and will help prevent mishaps and costly replacements.
Finally, and most importantly, Q Cells panels average around $3.00 per watt, as compared to comparable brands that average around $3.30 per watt. On a 10kW system, that’s an average potential savings of $3,000 on your entire system, which is substantial and can significantly lower your all-in cost of going solar.
While Q Cells matches SunPower in terms of first-year efficiency degradation, the efficiency loss per year after that is a bit higher. That means Q Cells panels won’t perform as well as SunPower’s over time, so your production will be significantly lower by the end of your panel’s life.
Ultimately, that could mean you’d need to replace your system sooner to ensure production keeps up with consumption. Additionally, the maximum efficiency currently available from the company is 20.9%. While this is above the industry standard, we’d love to see an efficiency rating topping 21%, like most of Q Cells’s direct competitors.
Q Cells also only has two solar panels for homes in production at this time. We’d ideally like to see more variety to give solar customers the opportunity to bring down solar panel installation costs or push up performance.
As mentioned above, Q Cells has two solar panel options for home solar energy systems. We’ll list these below and include a brief description of each to help you decide which might be right for your home.
Q Cells provides a 25-year warranty for all of its products, which covers manufacturer defects. This is in line with what most competitors provide, and it means you’re unlikely to have to pay for panel maintenance or major repairs unless inclement weather becomes an issue.
However, Q Cells has a special solar cell testing process that eliminates most issues related to potential-induced degradation (PID). Since PID can cause dips in panel efficiency over time, this helps Q Cells panels maintain their peak power generation capabilities.
Q Cells also covers efficiency for 25 years. This is also typical, but the degradation rate is below average. The first-year dip is set at a maximum of 2%, as opposed to the industry average of 2.5%, and the subsequent-year dip is 0.45%, which is just below the average of 0.5%. Overall, the slower degradation rate means your panels will continue producing more power than most other brands over the warranty term.
Q Cells doesn’t have a certification program for installers like SunPower does, so any solar provider that has a relationship with the company can purchase and install its panels. You should have no issues finding an installer near you that carries Q Cells equipment, although that does mean you’ll have to be careful when screening Q Cells installers to make sure yours is reputable.
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In our opinion, Trina Solar is right up there with Q Cells when it comes to high-quality equipment for the money. Trina panels are a bit more expensive at an average of $3.55 per watt, and they deliver similar efficiency ratings, temperature coefficients and other performance specs. Ultimately, they should save you a decent amount of money over time, and the upfront cost isn’t outlandish.
Trina outclasses Q Cells when it comes to durability, with an industry-leading 1% efficiency loss in the first year and a superior 0.4% annual degradation after that. That means your panels will continue to generate maximum energy for many years to come, which could translate to a longer time between installing your panels and having to replace them to maintain sufficient production. This could end up saving you thousands in the long run.
We recommend these panels to solar customers who want outstanding value for their money and don’t have access to Q Cells panels or want to ensure their energy savings last as long as possible.
All panels lose efficiency over time, but Trina provides some of the lowest degradation rates for the money. The panels are just slightly above-average in terms of cost per watt, but they outperform just about every other panel in its price range when it comes to durability.
Trina panels start out with above-average efficiency ratings as well, topping out at 20.4% and averaging around 20%, which is far better than the average of 15%. This means that Trina panels will generate more power per square foot they take up on your roof than most brands, which, ultimately, means a better chance of offsetting or even eliminating your electric bills.
Trina has great warranty coverage for its solar equipment, but one of the most appealing aspects about the protection is that, unlike companies like SunPower, there’s no specific training required to maintain the warranty coverage.
That means Trina remains widely available to customers across the country via a huge network of providers, and no matter who installs your Trina panels, you get coverage that will keep your panels totally protected.
Trina’s average efficiency might be above the industry average, but it is lower than several other top-tier panels, like SunPower. We still feel the value provided is excellent, but there are more efficient solar options that can provide greater energy savings over time if you’re willing to invest a little more. Opting for a higher-efficiency panel could yield more savings in the long run, so Trina may not be the most cost-effective solar panel option in the long run.
Trina panels also come with a lower maximum wind load than many competitors, at just 2,400 pascal units. That means they might not be ideal for homes in areas that could experience high winds from extreme weather like hurricanes, tropical storms, tornadoes and other natural disasters. If you do install them in those areas, you could be on the hook for repairs sooner than you would if you opted for more weather-resistant panels.
Trina Solar has two product lines available for residential customers: the aptly named Residential line and the Vertex line. There are five products total between the two product lines.
Trina’s warranty coverage is similar to what you’ll find from most other companies on this list. The coverage for the equipment and the labor is 25 years, so you’ll remain largely insulated from panel defects for the life of your system. Ultimately, that means less of a chance of having to pay for repairs.
The degradation in the first year and the following 24 years of the warranty term are both below average, and the company has the lowest first-year efficiency loss we’ve seen. This means your panels are virtually guaranteed to outperform most other panel brands in the long run, which translates to greater electricity savings for you in the long run.
Trina’s warranty doesn’t require any paperwork or installer training, so you don’t have to worry about not being covered because a non-certified company installed your panels. The warranty can be transferred as well, although you will need to file transfer documents if you sell your home.
As we mentioned above, Trina lets any solar contractor install its panels without voiding the manufacturer’s warranty or the performance warranty. That not only means that any panels installed by a professional will be covered but also that this panel brand is accessible to most U.S. residents.
Click here to find the Trina solar panel dealers nearest you.
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REC panels are some of the most popular in America, in large part because they provide efficiency ratings that are well above average—topping out at 22.3%—but also have lower prices than options from other high-efficiency solar companies like SunPower and Panasonic. We’d recommend these panels to homeowners who don’t necessarily need the most impressive efficiency ratings possible but who still want above-average power output at a slightly lower cost.
REC panels get a lot of things right, including efficiency. The average panel efficiency from the company is around 20.7% for residential models, which is well above average, and the max efficiency is 22.2%, making them one of the highest-rated panels available. Only a few other companies offer panels above the 22% mark.
These high efficiency ratings mean your panels will generate more power per square foot of roof space they take up, which means they should provide lower electricity bills for you over time. The high efficiency also means they’re a good option for homeowners with small roofs who need to pack in as much power as possible into a smaller area.
REC panels are known to be highly durable and adaptable to a wide range of climates and weather conditions. It has a below-average temperature coefficient of -0.32%, which means they lose less efficiency than the average panel per degree the temperature rises above 77 degrees (F). This means REC panels are a great option for delivering high performance in hot climates. It also has above-average wind and snow loads, so it’s a durable panel brand no matter where you live.
REC panels come at prices that are quite a bit above average, at $3.75 per watt compared to the average of around $3.30. You do get better efficiency ratings for the price, so we still think it’s worth it, but the brand will push up your installation costs. The panel degradation is in line with the average for the top-tier brands, but at this price point, we’d love to see lower efficiency loss rates, which would mean better performance and greater savings for you over time.
Additionally, some of the REC panel models come with below-average equipment coverage, like the REC Twinpeak 4, which has just 20 years of protection. That could mean that you’ll have to pay for panel repairs or replacement sooner than you would with other options. It also suggests that the panels don’t go through the same rigorous testing that other brands do.
Read our full review of REC for more information.
REC has three product lines for homes, which include five total panel options:
REC is one of the few solar manufacturers that bases its warranty coverage on the panel model you have installed. Most of the panels come with a 25-year manufacturer’s warranty for the equipment and a 25-year performance guarantee, but some only include 20-year equipment coverage.
Warranty coverage is an important thing to consider when it comes to solar panels, as a shorter warranty could mean you’ll need to pay for solar system replacement sooner. That might drive up your long-term costs of converting to clean energy.
Additionally, some of the REC panels guarantee 92% efficiency after 25 years, which is some of the lowest efficiency losses in the industry, while others have a more aggressive decline in efficiency. This means that REC panels should deliver better performance and more savings on electric bills while they’re functioning, so this could offset the risk of higher long-term costs due to shorter warranty periods.
Overall, we’d expect REC panels to last for between 25 and 30 years, on average.
REC has a certification program for installers across the country. If you get your panels installed by a certified contractor following the designation installation process, you’ll usually get a superior warranty package. However, just about any solar panel installer can carry and offer REC panels, which means the brand remains widely available throughout the country.
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Panasonic panels are well-known for their outstanding efficiency rating, topping out at 22.2%. However, they’re also some of the best for solar customers in extreme climates, as they have the lowest temperature coefficient of any panel option we’ve reviewed. The high efficiency and low temperature coefficient mean they’re a great solar panel option for providing maximum power in hot climates.
Panasonic panels are on the expensive side, but we feel they’re worth it due to their outstanding performance.
Panasonic has a maximum efficiency rating of 22.2%, which is well above the industry average and higher than most of the company’s direct competition. A higher efficiency rating means more energy production, which should translate to greater savings for you on electric bills month after month.
The panels also have below-average degradation rates, so those above-average efficiency ratings will continue to save you more money on your energy bills for longer. Lower degradation rates also mean your panels should keep up with your electricity demands and consumption for longer, which could mean you won’t have to think about replacing your system quite as soon as you would with other brands.
Panasonic has great snow load capabilities and an industry-leading temperature coefficient of just -0.25%, so they’re an outstanding option in areas that experience extreme cold and extreme heat. This means they’ll produce more power for your home to offset a larger portion of your monthly electric bills even as the temperature rises, so they’re a good option for boosting savings if you live in a warmer climate.
Panasonic panels are above-average in price, coming in at over $4.00 per watt. It’s one of the most expensive options, although we feel the value you get is worth the investment. Especially since the panels have higher production rates than most other brands, these should pay for themselves, especially if you have above-average rates of electricity consumption.
Panasonic is also the only option on our list that has a potentially negative power rating, so the performance can vary more than most of the competition at this tier. That means production could dip, depending on the weather and sun exposure.
Panasonic has two lines of solar panels available for residential customers:
Panasonic’s warranty coverage is slightly better than the industry average but is in line with the direct competition. It includes a 25-year product warranty and 25 years of coverage for the efficiency rating. The equipment warranty includes the cost of labor to replace any panels that experience failure.
The efficiency warranty is one of the best in the industry, guaranteeing only a 2% loss in year one and a degradation of 0.26% annually thereafter. That means your panels will retain 91.76% of their efficiency after 25 years.
Overall, we expect Panasonic panels to last the average of 25 to 30 years in most cases.
Panasonic partners with a large network of solar installers across the country, so you should have no problem finding a solar contractor that is certified to install its products. Many of those companies are also qualified to install Panasonic’s solar batteries and inverters/microinverters.
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Since there are so many panel options available from a massive selection of manufacturers, it’s important to focus on the aspects of the panels that will affect you the most. Prioritizing the below features, which we believe are most important for panels for your home, will likely provide you with the best experience and energy savings possible. Unfortunately, not choosing the right panels can lead to a solar energy system that doesn’t save you as much over time.
For most homeowners, we believe panels from SunPower and Q Cells should meet and exceed expectations. Both solar companies provide panels with excellent performance specifications that can perform well in virtually all climates and weather conditions. We’ll compare the panel options from these companies overall in the table below to help you decide which might be right for your solar project.
Efficiency Score (Out of 25) | Durability Score (Out of 20) | Warranty Score (Out of 20) | Price Point Score (Out of 20) | Temperature Coefficient (Out of 10) | Sustainability Score (Out of 2.5) | Appearance Score (Out of 2.5) | Our Overall Rating (Out of 100) | |
SunPower | 25.0 | 19.0 | 20.0 | 6.0 | 10.0 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 84.1 |
Q Cells | 23.0 | 17.0 | 16.0 | 16.0 | 7.0 | 1.9 | 2.5 | 83.4 |
Trina Solar | 23.0 | 15.5 | 16.0 | 14.0 | 7.0 | 1.9 | 1.5 | 78.9 |
REC | 25.0 | 13.0 | 16.0 | 10.0 | 7.0 | 1.9 | 1.8 | 74.6 |
Panasonic | 17.5 | 16.5 | 16.0 | 8.0 | 10.0 | 2.5 | 2.0 | 72.5 |
Some other considerations for solar equipment, in addition to the five we’ve reviewed above, include Canadian Solar, Tesla and Silfab.
See Also: EcoWatch Solar Calculator – Calculate Your Home Solar Energy Savings
When shopping for solar panels, it’s also helpful to know the panel types that are available. The three basic solar panel categories are monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film. Each type of solar panel comes with its own list of pros and cons:
Monocrystalline panels are made from a single, pure crystal of silicon. This allows them to have higher efficiency levels, which means they’ll generate more power and offset more of your electricity bills over time. They also tend to be more expensive due to a more costly manufacturing process.
Note: If you have less space on your roof and can only fit a small number of panels, monocrystalline solar panels may be the only viable option that saves you money in the long run.
Polycrystalline solar panels are also made of silicon, but they are assembled from smaller fragments rather than a single crystal. This means polycrystalline solar panels are often a little less efficient than monocrystalline, which means they will, on average, save less on your electric bills over time.
They are also a more affordable option, so they’re usually preferred by homeowners looking to keep upfront conversion costs down.
Finally, thin-film solar panels can be made from a variety of ultra-thin materials. They are recommended when you need something that’s lightweight, flexible and portable; they may work better for RVs and camping than for homes. Thin-film panels can be relatively low in efficiency when compared to the other two options.
These are not recommended for home use, as they efficiency often isn’t high enough to offset the electricity consumption of an entire home.
When weighing the pros and cons of going solar before making an investment, one of the most common questions that homeowners have is whether their solar panels will require maintenance.
For the most part, all the hard work comes on the front end. Installing a home solar panel system requires in-depth knowledge of electronics as well as solar power, and in most cases, the installation process will take a few days. We recommend outsourcing this to trained solar professionals.
Once your system is in place, however, the level of upkeep required is fairly minimal. Besides routine cleaning, you shouldn’t have any issues that require maintenance with your solar panels for 20 to 30 years. And if you do run into an issue, your warranty will hopefully cover it.
Solar warranties usually cover performance, manufacturer defects, the installation labor, or all three. Our recommendations for solar panels for homes include robust warranty coverage that should keep you insulated from repairs and expensive maintenance for decades.
Watch Below: If you are just beginning to explore the solar industry, you may want to spend a few minutes familiarizing yourself on how solar cells even work. In the below video, the TED team describes just that.
Solar panels can vary quite a bit in their overall performance and productivity. There are a number of specific factors that can impact how your solar system performs, including:
Our top recommendations for residential solar customers are the panels from SunPower/Maxeon. This manufacturer has a long history in the solar industry and is known for its innovations and solar technologies that push the envelope in terms of efficiency, performance, durability and overall quality. SunPower panels are expensive, but we feel they’re well worth the investment if you can afford them.
Regardless of which panel brand you choose, we recommend getting multiple quotes from a few different solar installation companies in your area. Even if you opt for the same panel brand from multiple installers, your total solar panel system price can be wildly different due to individual pricing for labor and any discounts offered on the equipment. You can use the solar quote tool below to get multiple quotes customized for your home.
In our solar panel review process, we first narrowed our research to the panels that are intended for and available for residential applications. To ensure you understand how we ranked the panels we’ve reviewed above, we’ll include a breakdown of how we scored these panels below.
Below are a few questions EcoWatch readers regularly send in about the leading solar panels for home use. If you have anymore, do not hesitate to contact us at contact@ecowatch.com!
The best solar panels for your home will depend on your needs. If you have limited space on your roof, you should probably opt for the most efficient solar panels. If you live in a hot climate, temperature coefficient may be of more importance. Think about what you’d value most in your panels in order to decide which are best.
As with so many answers in solar, the number of panels needed to run a house depends on the situation — primarily the amount of energy that your home and habits require. Contact a local installer to get a free, no-obligation estimate for your home’s system.
As of 2022, SunPower’s M and A-Series panels take the top spot for most efficient solar panels. Both panels have efficiency ratings of at least 22.7%, the highest we’ve found.
The two biggest disadvantages of solar energy are the upfront cost and the fact that solar is so location dependent. Both public and private sectors are continuing to address these challenges, however, as more companies are adopting flexible payment methods and governments are pushing for more solar-friendly policies.
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