REC Solar Panels: An Independent Review by Solar Choice

REC Alpha Pure R 420W – REC Solar Panel Review

Note: Solar Choice is not affiliated with REC Solar Panels or any solar installer and has no financial or other incentives to promote any product brand over another.

Overview of REC Group – Company History

Founded in Norway in 1996, REC Group is one of the original manufacturers of solar photovoltaic modules with a focus on premium quality. Originally production was completed in Norway and Sweden. In 2010 they became fully automated, producing 26 million solar panels in their production plant in Singapore. In 2015 Norway’s Elkem Group (Bluestar Investment Co. Ltd) acquired REC. Elkem is a world leader in silicon production, which aided the development of REC’s integrated photovoltaics in the global market. More recently in 2021 REC has been acquired by Reliance New Energy Solar, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Reliance Industries. Reliance is India’s largest private sector company with activities spanning hydrocarbon exploration and production, petroleum refining, petrochemicals, retail and digital services.

REC Group now has 8 offices across the globe including an Australian office in the Melbourne CBD. The REC Certified Solar Professional Program enables solar installers to become ‘certified’ with them enabling them to offer longer warranty periods to their customers including a product and labour warranty of up to 25 years.

For those looking for an independent REC solar panels review, we’ve done our research and written extensively on this topic:

Key Indicators

 REC Group Solar Panels
Bloomberg Tier 1 RankingYes
PV Evolution Labs Top PerformerYes (2/6)
Office location in AustraliaYes

What is a Bloomberg Tier 1 Solar Panel?

Bloomberg’s infamous tier 1 ranking is NOT a measure of Solar Panel quality. It is just 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.

REC Group were ranked on the Bloomberg tier 1 list as of Q4 2020.

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.

REC solar panels are currently ranked in the PV Evolution Labs Top Performers across 2 of the 6 annual tests in the latest 2023 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 performance 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. 

REC has an Australian office located in Melbourne.

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How much do REC 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 REC Solar Panels
  • Installation from a pre-vetted reputable installer from Solar Choice’s network
  • Small Scale Technology Certificates (STC) rebate and GST
System SizeAverage Fully Installed Cost
6kW$7,659
8kW$10,556
10kW$13,896

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

REC Solar Panels – Points of Difference

There are many solar panels out there, what makes REC solar panels stand out?

Long Product Warranty

Now that LG have dropped out of the market, REC is one the leading premium solar panel manufacturers. They aim to lead the market in quality and reliability, and as a result offer an industry leading 25 year product warranty. REC solar panels have been shown to be more resilient in corrosive coastal conditions and are tested independently to higher standards than most panels. For example they have been called a top performer by PV Evolution Labs solar module scorecard.

Lower Degradation Rate

REC’s top quality Alpha Pure series solar panels lose only 0.25% of their power annually after the first year and still retain over 92% of their nameplate value after 25 years. At the time of writing, the only other solar panel on the market to match this degradation rate is the Sunpower Maxeon 5. This means this REC solar panel will deliver significantly more power than other solar panels on the market through the course of its 25-year lifetime. 

REC’s Warranty Offer for Australian Customers

Solar panels in the Australian market come with a performance warranty and a product warranty.

The product warranty is probably the more important one as it covers manufacturing defects and most problems experienced with solar panels. The new series of REC Alpha Solar offers 25 years for their limited product & labour warranty* on their panels that are sold in Australia which is just about as good as it gets for residential solar panels. While the other series of REC panels offer a 20 year product warranty which can be extended to 25 years if the installer is a ‘REC accredited installer’.

The performance warranty of REC solar panels is also industry leading. The Alpha and N-peak 2 series offer a guarantee that the solar panels won’t degrade more than 2% in the first year and 0.25% per year thereafter for another 24 years. That means they will be performing to at least 92% of their nameplate value after 25 years. The twin-peak 2 series has a slightly lower guarantee of 0.5% per year for years 2-25 landing at 86% of the nameplate value after 25 years.

REC have a very clearly documented process to claim a warranty directly if your solar installer is no longer around to help you. 

Unlike most solar panel warranties REC will also cover the labour required during a warranty claim process if the solar panel is installed by an ‘accredited REC solar installer’.

REC Warranty

*REC warranty conditions apply

Click here to read REC’s full Australian warranty document

REC Panel Technologies

Half-cut cells are the innovation that REC is best known for. The split module design allows for a more efficient solar panel than the standard cell design, providing a number of advantages. Many other manufacturers are developing their own half-cut cell panels. The REC Group has opened a patent infringement lawsuit against Hanwha Q Cells in China, over the half-cut cell technology.

REC Alpha Pure Series

REC Alpha Pure R Solar Panel - REC420AA close up shot

The REC Alpha Pure series features REC’s leading technology which offers greater performance characteristics that almost all solar panels available on the market.

The solar panel is made up of 80 half-cut heterojunction solar cells utilising N-type silicon. The solar cells are connected using lead-free and gapless technology, and are encased in 3.2mm glass and a black aluminium frame.

This all leads to an maximum efficiency rating of 22.3% (REC430AA Pure-R) and a degradation rate of only 0.25% per year after the first year. Most solar panels degrade at 0.5% to 0.7%, so this is a clear advantage of the REC Alpha Pure Series.

The REC Alpha Pure features a temperature co-efficient of -0.24 %/°C which means there will be minimal loss in performance in very hot or cold climates.

REC TwinPeak 5 Series

The TwinPeak 5 series is REC’s other solar panel model sold in Australia which offers slightly lower performance characteristics than the Alpha Pure R.

The TwinPeak 5 series ranges from 395W to 410W utilising 132 half cut P-type solar cells. As a result the solar panel max efficiency rating reaches up to 20.8% which is more in the mid-range of what is available on the market.

The solar panel does still feature the two back supports on the frame. REC also offers a 25-year product warranty on this series if the panel is installed by a ‘REC Certified’ installer.

This solar panel comes with black or silver frame which can align with the customer preference for the appearance of the system.

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REC Solar Panel Specifications

 REC TwinPeak 5

REC410TP5

REC Alpha Pure R

REC410AA Pure-R

Cell Number132 half-cut cells80 half-cut cells
Cell TypeMonocrystalline Cells Heterojunction Cells
Power Output410Wp410Wp
Nominal Power Voltage38.3V49.4V
Panel Efficiency20.8%21.2%
Annual Power Degradation0.5%0.25%
Dimensions1899 x 1040 x 30 mm

(1.97 m²)

1730 x 1118 x 30 mm

(1.93 m²)

Weight21.6kg21.5kg
Warranty 20-25 Years20-25 Years
Operational Temperature Range-40°C to 85°C -40°C to 85°C
Made inSingaporeSingapore

Pros and Cons of REC Solar Panels

ProsCons
  • Technical performance that leads the market in terms of efficiency and reliability
  • REC have vertically integrated their manufacturing process so they control most elements of the chain of production
  • Excellent warranty offer and Australian office to deal with directly
  • The main downside of REC solar panels is that they are one of the most expensive options on the market and may not fit into everyone’s budget

Should I Buy REC Solar Panels?

In our opinion you can’t go wrong with any of the REC solar panels offered in Australia. If its in your budget then REC solar panels represent some of the best quality you can get in Australia. REC Solar Panels are best suited to homeowners who plan to be in the property long-term so they can enjoy the hassle-free life of the products.

Example of a REC Commercial Solar Project

In March 2020, REC Group installed the below commercial rooftop system on a farm in the Netherlands. The system REC installed is the largest REC Alpha panel setup in Europe, with the 1,415m² system’s capacity totalling 268.56 kWp.

This system contains 746 REC Alpha panels and has the capacity to generate around 240,000 kWh of power a year. To put it into perspective, this much power could supply 80 average houses with electricity for a year.

REC Alpha Comercial Project Netherlands

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Jeff Sykes

Reviews from Australians who have installed REC Panels

Rated 4.80 from 35 reviews
7th March 2024
Ian
-
10-15kW system
4.00

happy so far

10th January 2024
Paul
-
10-15kW system
5.00

We are very happy with appearance of the panels. We are similarly pleased with the output from the panels and since installation, have had to pay only $51 for electricity used. The installing technician was remarkably efficient. The complete job (panels and installation of inverter) was finished within 2 days and would have been done quicker I'm sure if his offsider had not been unwell on installation day.

23rd November 2023
Ken
VIC - 3251
7kW system
5.00

They do the job so far..

11th November 2023
Denis
NSW - 2323
6kW system
5.00

No issues with panels

23rd October 2023
Doug
NSW - 2106
7kW system
5.00

12th October 2023
Mark
NSW - 2073
10kW system
5.00

11th October 2023
Cameron
QLD - 4556
6kW system
5.00

Seem to be performing exactly as advertised, very happy with them.

23rd September 2023
Peter
QLD - 4570
8kW system
5.00

We installed REC Split Cell Panels, and they are brilliant.

1st August 2023
David
NSW - 2439
6kW system
5.00

Perform well. Clients need to be aware that angle of installation as well as compass points can make a large difference to output of panels. More so in winter.

28th July 2023
Mark
QLD - 4659
8kW system
5.00

works as described very happy with output

2nd July 2023
Matt
TAS - 7173
10kW system
4.00

20th June 2023
Hugh
TAS - 7155
8kW system
5.00

400kw panels, great technology at a reasonable price point.

1st June 2023
Glen
QLD - 4053
7kW system
5.00

Flawless REC Alpha panels on a solaredge system just works every day.

25th May 2023
John
-
10-15kW system
1.00

Poor performance

24th February 2023
Dan
-
4kW system
5.00

REC are working well, they are split in half so if shading hits one half of the panel, it won't affect the other half or the whole string of panels... bonus

24th January 2023
Graham
-
10kW system
5.00

24th January 2023
Michael
QLD - 4300
5kW system
5.00

REC have given me 10 years uninterrupted service on my western roof.

19th January 2023
Caylen
-
6kW system
5.00

27th November 2022
Edwin
-
6kW system
5.00

very happy with Solar twin peak 2

17th November 2022
Doug
-
6kW system
5.00

30th October 2022
Linda
-
6kW system
5.00

16th October 2022
Susan
-
6kW system
5.00

10th October 2022
George
-
8kW system
5.00

After discussing a number of options we decided to go with REC as they have fantastic warranty conditions and service support .

7th October 2022
Stephen
-
6kW system
5.00

26th September 2022
Carlo
NSW - 2250
8kW system
5.00

works well in low sunlight

13th September 2022
Robert
TAS - 7018
6kW system
5.00

We were looking for something that was highly recommended and performed in the top quarter of brands available on the market plus a panel that had a good appearance with black surround. Unlike a neighbour whose silver frames have an overbearing reflection at certain angles of the sun.

1st September 2022
Allan
QLD - 4227
10kW system
4.00

Very happy with specifications and technical information provided by the manufacturer.

22nd June 2022
Wolfgang
WA - 6038
10kW system
5.00

Panels perform very well, overall reviews been excellent.

18th May 2022
Stephen
TAS - 7004
3kW system
5.00

Only a week in so hard to say.

12th May 2022
Paul
QLD - 4573
10-15kW system
5.00

I went for the REC Alpha Pure 405w panels

12th March 2022
Paul
VIC - 3815
8kW system
5.00

the panels seem to perform very well

11th February 2022
Rosh
NSW - 2154
6kW system
5.00

6th September 2021
Stephen 2
TAS - 7150
7kW system
5.00

Too early to tell if these are good. But the reviews are good.

16th July 2021
James
WA - 6210
6kW system
5.00

Not made in China. Look good on the roof. Slimline

10th June 2021
Geoff
QLD - 4075
10-15kW system
5.00

So far so good