Overview of Winaico – Company History
Key Indicators
What is a Bloomberg Tier 1 Solar Panel?
What is PV Evolution Labs Top Performer?
Why is office location in Australia Important?
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How Much Do Winaico Solar Panels Cost?
- Full turnkey Solar System with Winaico Solar Panels
- Installation from a pre-vetted reputable installer from Solar Choice’s network
- The STC rebate and GST
Winaico Solar Panels – Points of Difference
Ethical Leadership in Renewable Energy
Winaico is one of the few companies in the renewable energy sector to achieve the SA8000 certification, reflecting its commitment to ethical practices. This certification ensures compliance with nine core areas of human rights and labour standards, such as fair remuneration, safe working conditions, and freedom from forced labour. By integrating these practices into its operations, Winaico sets a high standard for corporate responsibility, aligning with the European Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).
Quality Testing
Winaico strives to be ahead of the pack on the performance of its panels. One way they attempt to differentiate the production process is through the examination of all solar cells with an ‘electroluminescence test’. Effectively they take an X-ray image of the solar module which helps identify defects such as micro-cracks or hotspots that might not be visible to the naked eye. These practices are starting to be adopted by most of the tier 1 panel manufacturers.
Winaico also claims on the data sheets that their testing demonstrates that their panels perform over the times the IEC standard for Thermal Cycling and Damp Heat tests. This is encouraging to see but would be better to see these tests performed by an independent third party.
Winaico Solar Panels have also been installed at Desert Knowledge in Alice Spring in 2012. The electricity generation is published on their website for anyone to review. Although the project has received some criticism for its methodology, the Winaico panels are among some of the top performers.
Two Years of Free Insurance
Some customers can access two years of free insurance from Willis Towers Watson when purchasing Winaico solar panels. The insurance policy covers losses due to material damage, interruption of service or reduced yield. This could offer good value for projects relying heavily on solar power such as off-grid projects.
To our knowledge, no other solar panel manufacturer offers complimentary insurance.
Winaico Solar Panel Technologies
Winaico Solar currently has 120 solar panels approved by the Clean Energy Council in Australia under the name “Win Win Precision Technology Co Ltd”. This is a requirement to be eligible for the federal STC solar rebate.
Winaico Solar have focused on supplying dual-glass bifacial solar panels into the Australian market.
WST-NGX-D3 Series
The WST-MGX-D3 Series uses monocrystalline N-type solar cells with a high maximum efficiency rating of up to 22.30%. This solar panel is rated at 435 watts and measures 1.7m by 1.1m making it an ideal fit for residential solar projects.
The degradation rate for the WST-NGX-D3 is lower than most panels with the panel degrading at no more than 0.4% for years 2 to year 30, with a guaranteed 87.4% power output by the end of their 30th year.
The series also offers an ‘all black’ option where the solar cells and aluminium frame are black to offer customers a more aesthetically pleasing solution for their roof.
Winaico Solar’s Warranty Offer for Australian Customers
Solar panels come with a product and performance warranty. The product warranty covers manufacturing faults and defects while the performance warranty covers the rate at which the panel will degrade in performance over time. The product warranty is considered the most important and is what we recommend you use in your decision-making criteria.
Winaico offer a 30 year warranty on their dual glass solar panels. Winaico solar panels exceed the product warranty length of some of premium options on the Australian market which typically offer 25 years.
The 25-year linear performance warranty for most of their panels is on par with most other manufacturers and ensures an output of at least 97% of rated performance in the first year and an annual power degradation no more than 0.7% in the following 24 years. However the WST-NGX-D3 30-year performance warranty features 99% in the first year and 0.4% p.a. for the subsequent 29 years offering some energy yield benefits towards the back end of the panels lifetime.
The service record is where Winaico rises above the crowd to be considered one of the most trusted manufacturers on the market. Winaico claim to have had only 16 recorded panel failures out of the 250,000 panels distributed around Australia in the last 7 years.
Read more about Winaico warranty terms and conditions
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Pros and Cons of Winaico Solar Panels
Pros | Cons |
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Comparison of Winaico Solar Panel Specifications (common modules)
Winaico Bifacial Dual Glass 435W WST-NGX-D3 | |
Cell Number | 108 Half Cut Cells |
Cell Type | Monocrystalline, Bifacial, N-Type |
Power Output | 435Wp |
Nominal Operating Voltage | 33.01V |
Power Density | 222.76 W/m² |
Panel Efficiency | 22.3% |
Annual Power Degradation | 0.4% |
Dimensions | 1,722 mm x 1,134 mm x 35 mm |
Weight | 21.4 kg |
Product Warranty | 30 Years |
Operational Temperature Range | -40°C to 85°C |
Made in | Taiwan |
So, should I buy Winaico Solar Panels?
Winaico may not be as famous as other high-quality brands but it does have a very solid reputation for quality and reliability which is backed by proven real world performance. Winaico has been very consistent as well with little or no failures or control issues. Like all quality solar products, Winaico do come at a higher price than much of the competition but paying slightly more is worth it for the longer-term gains and peace of mind.
Example of a Winaico Commercial Solar Project – Royal Dekker Roof Top System
- Date: Q2, 2017
- Winaico Model: WST‐260P6
- Type of Application: Supplier
- System Size: 9.3 MWp
WINAICO, a subsidiary of Taiwan’s biggest solar module manufacturer Win Win Precision Technology Co, Ltd., has – as already reported in July last year – received the order to provide Holland’s largest roof-top system with solar modules.
The photovoltaic system, consisting of more than 35.000 WINAICO solar modules WST-260P6, is spread over 26 roofs. With a total output of 9.3 MWp on a roof area of more than 155.000 square meters, the solar plant is Holland’s largest roof-top system. The project is carried out by the Dutch company Royal Dekker together with other system suppliers and installation partners.
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Reviews from Australians who have installed Winaico Panels
Happy with system output? Absolutely. The Winaico panels have exceeded my expectations in terms of energy output. Even on cloudy days, they consistently deliver strong performance, helping to significantly reduce my electricity bills. How do the solar panels look on the roof? They have a sleek and low-profile design that blends nicely with the roof. I appreciate how they add a modern touch without being too noticeable or bulky. Any other reasons you chose this brand? I chose Winaico because of their reputation for reliability and durability. The strong warranties and high efficiency ratings gave me confidence that I was making a long-term investment in a quality product. Their excellent customer reviews and focus on innovation were also key factors.
Review left 3 years after system installed
High output system that work brilliantly in low light and overcast days.
Review left 7 years after system installed
After nearly 7 years, they are still working well
Review left 5 years after system installed
Seems to work OK
Review left 4 years after system installed
no problems since installation
Very happy so far
Review left 1 years after system installed
They work well and consistently.
High end but not most expensive.