Seraphim Solar Panels: An Independent Review by Solar Choice

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

Overview of Seraphim – Company History

Seraphim is a Chinese solar panel manufacturer, originally established in 2011. Established with a mission to develop a better world through continuous solar innovation, this is backed by 100+ members of their research and development team. This research has resulted in over 100 technical patents being lodged.

With manufacturing plants located in China, South Africa, and Vietnam, Seraphim has distributed modules to more than 40 countries worldwide. Seraphim has a 5 GW solar module production capacity, placing them as a mid-tier manufacturer in the global market.

Seraphim first entered the Australian market back in 2012. In mid 2020 Seraphim have increased their push into the Australian market agreeing to a 50 MW solar module supply agreement with the Australian based solar wholesaler and importer Raystech Group. The companies that import Seraphim Solar’s panels hold the responsibility for servicing warranty claims in the Australian market.

Seraphim’s local staff in Australia work from a co-working space in Sydney. Read below our in-depth Seraphim solar panel review.

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

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.

Seraphim Solar Panels are currently not ranked in the PV Evolution Labs Top Performers in the latest report (2024)

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 product warranty. Seraphim’s global website names a sales center location in Melbourne but there is no ability to process warranty claims. They have outsourced the warranty claim function to SAE Group, who are a Solar Installer based in Tweed Heads New South Wales.

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.

Seraphim’s local staff are working from a co-working space in Sydney. They are still have not created an Australian website as many of the other Chinese solar panel manufacturers have done, so it seems they are keeping the Australian market with low overheads.

How Much Do Seraphim Solar Panels Cost?

Based on Solar Choice’s database we have provided the below-average costs as an indicative guide which places Seraphim in a very low price category. These figures include:

• Full turnkey Solar System with Seraphim 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

Compare quotes from up to 7 installers in your area now.

Seraphim Solar Panels – Points of Difference

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

Independent quality testing

Seraphim solar panels have been awarded certifications through most independent testing authorities including PV Evolution Labs and Bloomberg Tier 1, and their panels have been trusted by large investment firms on many large-scale solar farm projects. 

The annual capacity of Seraphim has reached up to 7.75GW in 2021 which makes them one of the larger solar panel manufacturers by size of production.

Seraphim Solar Panel Technologies

Seraphim Solar currently has 132 solar panels approved by the Clean Energy Council in Australia under the name “Seraphim Solar System Co Ltd”. This is a requirement to be eligible for the federal STC solar rebate.

Seraphim has four main series of solar panels: S2, S3, S4 and S5 series which have a variety of different options to suit residential, commercial and utility-scale projects.

S2 Series

The S2 Series features bifacial and mono facial panels originally launched in 2019 and featuring their ‘Blade’ panel. The panels used 156 half-cut monocrystalline cell technology which is now commonly adopted across the solar panel industry to improve yield and resilience to shading. The power range for this series is from 320Wp to 455Wp, with an up to 20.83% efficiency.

S3 Series

The later S3 Series also features mono facial and bifacial panels with efficiencies of up to 20.07% (SRP-375-BMB-HV). The S3 series also features a multi-busbar and slightly larger 166 mm silicon wafers which help increase the total output of the panel. As a result the S3 panel dimension (2094x1038x35mm) are larger than the S2 series. 

The S3 series also offers dual glass panels with a lower degradation rate (0.45% per year).

S4 Series

The Seraphim S4 solar panel was launched in 2020 and integrates 182mm large-size silicon wafers with PERC, multi-busbar, half-cell technologies and high-density encapsulation. The S4 series maximum power output is 550Wp with a maximum efficiency in excess of 21% (21.48% for SRP-555-BMA-HV). With the larger panel size and more solar cells, this solar panel is best suited to large-scale ground-mounted projects or commercial roof tops.

This series also offers bifacial and lightweight dual glass options for the customer in a similar power range.

S5 Series

The S5 series total output and panel size are further increased as it integrates 210mm large silicon wafers. The solar panel also features PERC, multi-busbar cell technology and high-density encapsulation meaning the solar panel maximum efficiency reaches up to 21.6%. 

Due to the size of the panels this series are best-suited to utility-scale solar farm projects.

Seraphim’s Warranty Lacks Support for Australian Customers

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

The product warranty is the more important one as it covers manufacturing defects and most problems experienced with solar panels. Most Seraphim solar panels come with a 15-year product warranty which is ahead of the market standard of 12 years. 

The performance warranty for solar panels guarantees a maximum rate at which the solar panel will degrade over time. For the PERC mono Series of Seraphim’s solar panels, you can expect a 2% loss of power in the first year and 0.55% each year thereafter as per their 25-year performance warranty. For the PERC mono dual-glass panels, Seraphim offers a 30-year performance warranty with a 0.45% each year power loss.

The main issues with Seraphim’s warranty come down to the claim process. The Australian contact information provided is for an individual with a residential address and a phone number that is not in a valid Australian format. This does not look good for customers seeking warranty.

Extract from Seraphim’s warranty document:

Address: Unit 340 Brodie St, Rydalmere NSW 2116
Tel: 159 9623 9815
Contact person: Sabrina Shang
Mail: sabrina.shang@seraphim-energy.com

Read more about Seraphim’s warranty terms and conditions :

PERC Mono

PERC Mono(Glass-glass)

Pros and Cons of Seraphim Solar Panels

Pros:

• Bloomberg tier 1 listed company emphasising they have financial stability

Cons:

• No premium options – panels are mostly focused on the low cost mass market
• Shorter company history compared with some of the other Chinese solar panel manufacturers
• No Australian office and local support for warranties is completed by the importer

Seraphim Solar Panel Specifications

Should I Buy Seraphim Solar Panels?

Seraphim solar panels are positioned towards the budget end of the market with a cost-effective mix of quality and price. While the technical aspects of the panel don’t lag too far behind the market, the main concern is the local support and warranty offer.

Feel free to contact Solar Choice for some impartial expert advice on your quote.

Seraphim Commercial Solar Project

An example of a Seraphim commercial project is the system that was installed for the lighting retailer Beacon in June of 2016. The system consisted of 384 SRP-260-6PB modules, totalling a system capacity of 100kW. The system installed in Melbourne took the team of 9 technicians 2 weeks to fully install and connect to the grid. With estimated electricity production of 130 thousand kW/h annually, it will significantly reduce Beacon’s energy consumption costs. The project also included the installation of a Tesla electric car charger. The innovative drive of Seraphim was on display, as illustrated through the installed panel array for Beacon. (pictured below)

Read more product reviews from Solar Choice

• About
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Jeff Sykes

CEO at Solar Choice

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.

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