JA Solar Panels: An independent review by Solar Choice

JA Solar – Company History

JA Solar was originally founded in 2005 and is based in Beijing, China. The company was listed on the US NASDAQ exchange back in 2007 during an early growth phase and has recently been acquired by JASO Acquisition Limited which effectively has taken the company private again.

The company has 9 manufacturing facilities in China and one in Malaysia and Vietnam with a total annual production capacity of 13.5 GW (reported by Bloomberg NEF). This makes JA Solar the third largest producer of Solar Panels as of September 2020.

JA Solar has 22,000 employees as of 2019 working across 32 factories and branches around the world.

Key Indicators

What is a Bloomberg Tier 1 Solar Panel?

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 the company. This should give you an idea if the company is a large, well-known manufacturer.

JA Solar is listed as a tier 1 manufacturer in Bloomberg’s Q2 2020 report.

See full list of Bloomberg Tier 1 Solar Panels

What is PV Evolution Labs Top Performer?

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.

JA Solar are named as a top performer in the test of damp heat, potential-induced degradation and LID+LETID in the latest report.

See full list of PV Evolution Labs Top Performing Solar Panels

Why is office location in Australia Important?

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. 

JA Solar list an office in Newcastle, however this is for an accounting firm called PKF Newcastle. This will not be helpful to JA Solar customers in claiming warranty.

How much do JA 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 JA Solar Panels
• Installation from a pre-vetted reputable installer from Solar Choice’s network
• The STC rebate and GST

 Important Note: Prices will vary depending on location, inverter brand and which installer is used

Full Range of JA Solar Panels Available in Australia

The majority of JA Solar’s solar panels are approved by the Clean Energy Council (listed under the parent company Shanghai JA Solar Technology Co Ltd) for the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme – Australia’s home solar rebate program.

Solar Panel	Product Specifications
	60-Cell Bifacial Mono PERC Double Glass Module  JAM60D09/BP    Max efficiency 19.5% Max power 325W 60 Monocrystalline Cells Double-glass module 30 Year performance warranty 12 Year product warranty
	72-Cell Bifacial Mono PERC Double Glass Module  JAM72D09/BP   Max efficiency 19.6% Max power 390W 72 Monocrystalline Cells Double-glass module 30 Year performance warranty 12 Year product warranty
	60-cell Half-cell PERC Module  JAM60S10/PR    Max efficiency 20.2% Max power 340W 120 Half-cut Monocrystalline PERC Cells 25 Year performance warranty 12 Year product warranty
	72-cell Half-cell PERC Module  JAM72S10/PR    Max efficiency 20.4% Max power 410W 144 Half-cut Monocrystalline PERC Cells Extra large panel 25 Year performance warranty 12 Year product warranty
	60-cell MBB Half-cell Module  JAM60S10/MR    Max efficiency 20.2% Max power 340W 120 Multi Busbar Half-cut Cells 25 Year performance warranty 12 Year product warranty
	72-cell MBB Half-cell Module  JAM72S10/MR    Max efficiency 20.4% Max power 410W 144 Multi Busbar Half-cut Cells 25 Year performance warranty 12 Year product warranty

JA Solar Panels Pros and Cons

Pros

• Listed as a top performing solar panel by PV Evolution Labs
• Tier 1 Solar Company by Bloomberg New Energy
• Have an Australian office in NSW

Cons

• No premium product offering with 25 years product warranty
• Founded in 2005 (shorter history compared to similar Chinese solar brands)
• In 2018 JA Solar merged with JASO Acquisition Limited and ceased to be a publicly traded company

So, are JA Solar Panels worth buying?

JA Solar Panels stack up well for as an affordable mid-range option from a company with a solid financial backing and reputation.

One concern with JA Solar is that they do not have an office here in Australia. JA Solar has provided Solar Choice with evidence that they employ 7 staff in Australia who they advise can support with warranty claims. Their updated warranty document in 2021 does provide an option to contact JA Solar on Australian phone numbers (02 8328 0488 and 0401 580 866).

Example of a JA Solar Commercial Solar Project – South Australian Water Corporation

• Completed in 2018/2019
• Type of Application: Commercial Ground-mount Solar PV System
• System Size: 4.14 MWp across multiple sites

JA Solar provided all the solar panels to three ground-mounted Solar PV projects at Hope Valley Water Treatment Plant (1.5 MW), Glenelg Waste Water Treatment Plant (1.32 MW), and Christies Beach Waste Water Treatment Plant (1.32 MW).

Mr. Baofang Jin, President and CEO of JA Solar, said “JA Solar is committed to the research and development of high-efficiency PV modules… We look forward to promoting the application of renewable energy around the world.”

Read more product reviews from Solar Choice