Note: Solar Choice is not a solar installer and has no financial or other incentives to promote any product brand over another.
Overview of Canadian Solar – Company History
Canadian Solar was founded in 2001 by Dr. Shawn Xiaohua Qu in Canada. Dr. Qu is still currently the Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Canadian Solar. In 2006 Canadian Solar was listed on the NASDAQ. Although most of their production is based in China, Canadian Solar has two manufacturing facilities in Ontario, Canada.
In March 2020 the Canadian Solar research and development team produced an n-type multi-crystalline silicon solar cell that tested at a world record 23.81% efficiency. Currently, the world’s most efficient residential solar panel is 22.6%.
Canadian Solar have the fifth largest solar panel manufacturing capacity in the world (according to Bloomberg NEF), and have an increasing Australian presence. They have 4 warehouses across Australia and employ 50 local staff to work across solar panel sales and service and their large-scale solar farm projects.
Bloomberg’s infamous tier 1 ranking is NOT a measure of Solar Panel quality in any way. It is simply an indication of the bankability of the manufacturer based on publicly released information on the financial health of the company. This should give you an idea if the company is a large, well-known manufacturer.
Canadian Solar was listed as a tier 1 panel in the latest Bloomberg NEF report.
PV Evolution Labs with support from DNV GL independently test solar panel reliability. The tests are voluntary, with solar panel manufacturers paying to participate in the testing. This testing process is internationally renowned and is an accurate reflection of the solar panel’s performance.
Canadian Solar Panels was listed as a top performer for 5 performance tests(damp heat, mechanical stress sequence, hail stress sequence, PID, LID+LETID, PAN performance) in the latest report. Please note that Canadian Solar had a large number of different solar panel models tested with varying results.
Most solar panel manufacturers entering the Australian market first set up their distribution channels and worry about customer service later. This has led to many unhappy customers who are left trying to contact Chinese head offices to claim on their 10-year product warranty.
Relying on your solar installer is not always an option as we’ve seen many residential solar installers (including the large ones) go out of business well within the lifetime of the systems they are installing.
Canadian Solar’s Australian head office is located in Cremorne, Melbourne and they have warehouses in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth. For warranty claims you can contact their head office on 03 8609 1844.
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How Much do Canadian Solar Panels Cost?
Based on Solar Choice’s database we have provided the below-average costs as an indicative guide. These prices include:
Full turnkey Solar System with Canadian Solar Panels
Installation from a pre-vetted reputable installer from Solar Choice’s network
The STC rebate and GST
System Size
Average Fully Installed Cost
5kW
$4,803
6.6kW
$6,046
10kW
$8,472
15kW
$12,770
Canadian Solar Panels – Points of Difference
There are many solar panels out there, what makes Canadian solar panels stand out?
A wide range of solar panels
Canadian Solar has a wide range of solar panels, it offers a power range from 200W to 665W including Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, and PERC. Canadian Solar panels can be used in almost every solar project including residential, commercial, and solar farms.
A Trusted and Long History Company
Canadian Solar have a long history in the competitive solar panel market operating for over 20 years. Through-out the majority of this time Canadian Solar has remained on the Bloomberg tier 1 list (measuring financial stability) and is listed as one of the leading manufacturers by production capacity (No.4 in 2022).
Canadian Solar Panel Technologies
A vast range of solar panels listed on Canadian Solar’s Australian website are approved by the Clean Energy Council for the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme, which is Australia’s home solar rebate program. Canadian Solar have different models directed at the residential, commercial and utility-scale market.
HiHero Series
The series of HiHero is High-Efficiency Heterojunction (HJT) Cell Module. They have a higher module efficiency (up to 22.5%) and a longer product warranty and performance warranty (25 years and 30 years respectively) The power range is 415W to 440W, it is suitable for both commercial and residential projects.
KuPower Series
KuPower Series is the series Canadian Solar has offered for many years. They keep a number of panels in stock to act as replacements on older systems where required. Kupower has a wide range of module replacements from 200W to 355W with different sizes for 6-inch, 48/60/72 full-cells, and 5-inch, 72/96 full-cells. They can also be used to replace the other brand of solar modules that have failed, not just Canadian Solar
BiHiKu Series
Mostly applicable in the utility-scale market or large-scale commercial ground-mount projects. These bificial panels enable light to be absorbed from the top and bottom of the panel increasing the energy yield by up to 30%. These panels are up to 665W and up to 2.4m in length, significantly larger in dimensions and output than a typical residential solar panel.
HiKu Series
The HiKu Canadian Solar panels are regularly used in rooftop commercial projects as they offer great module efficiency at a cost-effective price. These panels are typically seen at 330W at their most cost effective price point, but the modules in this series can go up to 670W. The module has been designed for easy and efficient installation on rooftops and is a popular choice among Australian residential and commercial installers.
All Black Series
The all black series creates an aesthetic appeal with a black frame and black back sheet. These panels are designed for residential homes and to provide a sleek look. Despite the dark colour of the panels, Canadian Solar’s modules still perform well in hot conditions with a low temperature coefficient (Pmax) of -0.34 % / °C.
Independent Testing of Canadian Solar Panels by PV Labs Australia
In a 2023 study commissioned by the ACT Government, PV Labs Australia testing a sample of 121 solar panels sourced directly from suppliers in the market. The solar panels featured 14 different solar panel brands and they have published the results.
The solar panels were tested via a visual inspection, STC power, electroluminescence, wet leakage and potential induced degradation.
Canadian Solar had mixed results from the 2 rounds of testing. In the first round of testing they scored a relatively low score of 76 out of 100, however recovered in round 2 with a good score of 92 out of 100.
It was noted in the accelerated aging test that a Canadian Solar panel developed a likely shunt through the testing procedure.
Solar panels come with a product and performance warranty. The product warranty is designed to cover manufacturing faults in the panel that leads to damage or malfunction and is typically 10 years for most solar panel manufacturers. Canadian solar offer either 12 or 15 years a product warranty depending on which module you are looking at, which we would consider to be slightly ahead of the market’s expectations.
The performance warranty on a solar panel covers a minimum level of output of the solar panel based around a normal degradation rate for the panel. Most solar panels guarantee a maximum degradation rate of 2.5% in the first year and 0.7% a year thereafter until the 25th year leaving a remaining output of ~80% of its nameplate value. Canadian Solar’s warranty again varies by panel but is often slightly ahead of this standard. For example the commonly used HiKu series comes with a maximum degradation guarantee of 2% in the first year and 0.6% from year 2 to year 25 leaving a end value of 84.8% of the labelled power output.
Canadian Solar have Australian offices and we anticipate this to be one of the easier companies to claim warranty from even if your installer is no longer around. Canadian Solar have a different warranty policy and document for each solar panel series so make sure you look up the right document on their website that corresponds with your quote to see what you are being offered.
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Comparison of Canadian Solar Panels
BiHiKu Bifacial Mono Perc
BiHiKu Bifacial Poly Perc
HiKu Poly Perc
Cell Number
144
144
144
Cell Type
Mono-crystalline
Poly-crystalline
Poly-crystalline
Power Output
420Wp
420Wp
425Wp
Nominal Power Voltage
39.9V
39.5V
39.7V
Power Density
187.98 W/m²
187.98 W/m²
192.38 W/m²
Panel Efficiency
18.8%
18.8%
19.2%
Annual Power Degradation
0.45%
0.45%
0.55%
Dimensions
2132 x 1048 x 30mm
(2.23m²)
2132 x 1048 x 30mm
(2.23m²)
2108 x 1048 x 40mm
(2.21m²)
Weight
28.4kg
28.4kg
24.9
Product Warranty
12 years
12 years
12 years
Performance Warranty
30 years
30 years
25 years
Operational Temperature Range
-40°C to 85°C
-40°C to 85°C
-40°C to 85°C
Made in
China, Thailand & Vietnam
China, Thailand & Vietnam
China, Thailand & Vietnam
Canadian Solar Panels Pros and Cons
Pros
Tier 1 Solar Company by Bloomberg New Energy
Have an Australian Head-Quarters in Melbourne along with Warehouses in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth
Premium panels have 25 year performance and product warranty
Cons
Name can be confusing for customers who think the panels will be manufactured in Canada. The majority of panels that land in Australia are Chinese manufactured. Whilst Canadian Solar do still operate manufacturing plants in Canada, these panels are typically deployed to other Countries.
Should I Buy Canadian Solar Panels?
Canadian Solar have been around for a long time and suit customers looking for a mid-range panel that has been tried and tested. With a presence in Australia, all signs point to their warranty policy and process not causing too much trouble if you have to go down that path. We would recommend choosing one of the Canadian Solar panels that now offer a 25-year product warranty for extra piece of mind.
Example of a Canadian Solar Commercial Solar Project
In 2016 Canadian Solar installed a photovoltaic system on the roof of the International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) located in Darling Harbour. Which when installed was one of Australia’s largest panel arrays in a business district. Canadian Solar in conjunction with CSA Services constructed the solar system across the three sites, this installation featured state-of-the-art products and an innovative roof-top mounting structure. The system consists of 2,004 260W Canadian Solar modules and is estimated to generate around 545MWh of electricity annually.
Compare quotes from up to 7 pre-vetted installers in your area now. Since 2008 our knowledge and sophisticated software has allowed over 300,000 Australian households and businesses to make a well-informed choice on their solar & battery installer.
Jeff has consulted on over 20MW of commercial solar projects, ranging from SMEs to ASX top 100 companies. Jeff has also provided independent advice to 100s of residential solar, battery and EV charging customers across every state in Australia. He holds an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management and is an expert in business strategy and financial analysis.
Good output so far and the panels don't look ugly on the roof.
27th May 2025
David
-
6kW system
1.00
Was told Canadian made panels not proven - and German inverter latter quite untrue. Also was told it was local company and it is not. System does not seem to work as suggested poor return on investment .
15th April 2025
David
-
10kW system
5.00
Canadian Solar panels are among the top end of the market so I was confident in choosing them. They have been landscape installed for best fit on my roof and look fine with proper margins.
15th April 2025
Lorraine
-
6kW system
Review left 1 year after system installed
5.00
Happy with output and positioning on my roof.
4th April 2025
David
-
6kW system
5.00
Solar output is great. Even on overcast days I'm still getting some power, which offsets my daily usage.
26th March 2025
Leah
-
10-15kW system
5.00
So far so good. We went the recommendation.
25th March 2025
Jan
NSW - 2517
7kW system
Review left 2 years after system installed
5.00
My roof faces almost due north, but it's not huge, so I opted for more expensive panels with maximum performance.
24th March 2025
Adrian
NSW - 2630
6kW system
3.00
The system appears to be producing the expected output.
18th February 2025
Mike
-
6kW system
5.00
Perform well even in summer and late afternoon
3rd February 2025
Robert
-
10-15kW system
5.00
Solar output has lived up to expectations.
3rd February 2025
Bevin
QLD - 4306
10-15kW system
5.00
More than happy with the whole system,great output.
30th January 2025
Tanya
-
10-15kW system
5.00
Very happy with my choice and solar panels
15th January 2025
Nicole
-
10-15kW system
5.00
Good reviews of this brand. Very happy with the position of the panels on the roof. Location of all equipment worked well.
22nd December 2024
Ian
-
10-15kW system
Review left 8 years after system installed
5.00
We are currently happy with output of our solar system. The Canadian panels produce a good output even in cloudy conditions.
11th December 2024
Susan
-
10-15kW system
5.00
Already generating enough to run the house on sunny days!
3rd November 2024
Bruce
-
10-15kW system
5.00
Happy with the system output, panels look OK on the roof.
31st October 2024
Ian
-
10-15kW system
5.00
The best panels available are Canadian and that's what was installed.
28th October 2024
Colin
-
6kW system
5.00
The panels are delivering a better than expected return
25th October 2024
Donna
-
9kW system
5.00
Happy with the look and they have a great warranty
Showing 20 of 162 Reviews
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