TW Solar Panels: An Independent Review by Solar Choice

https://www.solarchoice.net.au/wp-content/uploads/TW-Solar-Warranty-Document.pdf

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

Overview of TW Solar – Company History

TongWei Solar (aka TW Solar) is a photovoltaic company established by Liu Hanyuan’s Tongwei Group in 1982. The group commenced its solar operations in 2006 giving them almost 20 years of trading history as a solar panel manufacturer. 

TW Solar has 8 manufacturing sites located across China. Tongwei Solar claim an annual production capacity of 150GW for solar cells and 90GW for solar panels, which makes them one of the bigger players in the solar panel manufacturing market. 

Tongwei solar have listed the address of Servcorp in North Sydney on their website which operate virtual offices and co-working space.

Key Indicators

 TW Solar Panels
Bloomberg Tier 1 RankingYes
PV Evolution Labs Top Performer (2025)Yes (7 out 7 tests)
Office location in AustraliaNo

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

TW Solar solar panels are listed on the latest Bloomberg Tier 1 list.

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.

TW Solar are named as a top performer in the test of all 7 performance tests(thermal cycling, damp heat, mechanical stress sequence, hail stress sequence ,PID, PAN performance and LID+LETID) in the latest 2025 report.

See the 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 their 25-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.

TW Solar only appear to have a virtual office in North Sydney, not a permanently leased office.

How Much Do TW Solar Panels Cost?

Based on Solar Choice’s database we have provided the below-average costs as an indicative guide. The prices below represent lower than typical costs reflecting TW Solar’s low costs. These figures include:

  • Full turnkey Solar System with TW Solar Panels
  • Installation from a pre-vetted reputable installer from Solar Choice’s network
  • The STC rebate and GST
System SizeAverage Fully Installed Cost
5kW$3,359
6.6KW$4,260
10kW$6,103
15KW$9,585

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


Compare solar quotes from up to 7 local installers now.


TW Solar Solar Panel Technologies

TW Solar currently has 131 solar panels approved by the Clean Energy Council in Australia under the name “Tongwei Solar (HEFEI) CO LTD”. This is a requirement to be eligible for the federal STC solar rebate.

The two main series of panels below are currently being sold in Australia:

TNC1.0 Series (435–455 W)

The TNC1.0 TWMNH-48HC range represents the earlier generation of TW Solar’s half-cut cell panels. Using 48 half-cut monocrystalline PERC cells, these modules deliver 435 W – 455 W power output with a maximum efficiency around 21 %.

They use a glass-and-backsheet construction, which is lighter than glass-glass modules — typically weighing about 21 kg per panel. That makes them easier for installers to handle, especially on pitched tiled or Colorbond roofs. The panels include a positive power tolerance (0 ~ +3 %), meaning every module should perform at least at its rated output and can exceed it slightly under ideal conditions.

This series provides a solid, dependable option at a competitive price point. However, it uses P-type PERC cell technology, which is now considered standard rather than cutting-edge. Compared with newer N-type panels on the market, it will generally degrade a little faster over time and may deliver slightly lower efficiency in hot Australian conditions.

TNC2.0 Series (445–515 W)

TW Solar TNC2.0 Series all black solar panel

The TNC2.0 series represents TW Solar’s current generation of products for Australia and includes both 48-cell and 54-cell variants with power ratings from 445 W up to 515 W. The key advancement in this range is the use of a dual-glass design, where both the front and rear surfaces are made of tempered glass rather than the traditional glass-and-polymer-backsheet combination.

This dual-glass approach enhances long-term durability and weather resistance, helping protect the solar cells from moisture ingress, ultraviolet degradation, and potential micro-cracking — all important considerations for Australia’s hot and often humid environment. Dual-glass panels are also more resistant to fire and mechanical stress, which can reduce long-term maintenance risks. However it should be noted that as the front glass sheet is thinner (2mm instead of 3.2mm), dual-glass panels are more susceptible to hail damage.

Like the earlier models, these modules use half-cut PERC cells, a manufacturing method that splits each full-sized solar cell into two smaller halves. This reduces resistive losses, allowing better performance under partial shading and slightly higher efficiency overall. Maximum efficiencies in the TNC2.0 range reach approximately 21.5 %, consistent with other mid-to-upper-tier panels in the market.

A typical TNC2.0 panel weighs around 22–23 kg and measures roughly 1.74 m × 1.13 m for the 48-cell version or 1.9 m × 1.1 m for the 54-cell version. These dimensions are similar to other 450 – 515 W panels on the market, making them compatible with most Australian racking and inverter systems.

The temperature coefficient of roughly -0.29 % / °C means the panel’s power output falls only slightly on hot days — a useful metric for Australian conditions, where panel surface temperatures can often exceed 60 °C.

TW Solar’s Warranty for Australian Customers

TW Solar (Tongwei) provides both product and performance warranties for panels sold in Australia through authorised distributors including Blue Sun Group, Supply Partners, One Stop Warehouse, and Krannich Solar.

Product Warranty

All current TNC1.0 and TNC2.0 modules marketed in Australia carry a 15-year product warranty, covering defects in materials or workmanship that affect performance. Earlier single-glass panels may have a 12-year term. Deemed cosmetic issues such as surface marks or colour variation are excluded. Many residential solar panels in Australia now come with 25-year product warranty so the warranty length lags behind some of the leaders in the market.

Performance Warranty

TW Solar guarantees its dual-glass modules for 30 years, with less than 1 % degradation in the first year and no more than 0.4 % per year thereafter — ensuring at least 87.4 % of original output by year 30.
Older single-glass panels are covered for 25 years with a lower final output guarantee of about 85 %. These figures are competitive with other mid-to-upper-tier manufacturers.

Claims and Exclusions

If a panel underperforms or fails, Tongwei may repair, replace, or refund the affected module. Replacement freight is covered, but labour for removal or re-installation is not. Claims must be submitted within 30 days of discovery with proof of purchase and serial photos.

While the 15 / 30-year combination is reasonable on paper, support is handled via authorised distributors rather than a dedicated Australian office. Distributors prefer to deal directly with installation companies (not end-customers) so if your installer is no longer around warranty support may be tedious with TW solar.z

Althought they have a virtual office in North Sydney, in the warranty document, the only Tongwei Solar contact details are only provided for their head office in China:

No.588, Middle Section of Tianfu Avenue, Chengdu High-tech Zone, Sichuan Province
Post Code: 610041, Phone 4000566888

Click here to read more TW Solar warranty terms and conditions

Pros and Cons of TW Solar Panels

ProsCons
Large, Tier-1 manufacturer – TW Solar (Tongwei) is one of the world’s biggest vertically integrated solar companies, supplying wafers and cells to major brands such as Trina, LONGi and Jinko.Limited Australian presence – Warranty support is handled via authorised distributors, with no local Tongwei office or service centre for direct consumer contact.
Strong 30-year performance warranty – Dual-glass panels are warranted to retain at least 87.4% of original output after 30 years, matching or exceeding many mid-tier competitors.Shorter product warranty – 15-year product warranty is below the 25-year standard now offered by several leading panel brands.
Attractive pricing – Offers solid performance at a lower price point, appealing to cost-conscious residential and commercial buyers.Limited long-term track record in Australian conditions – Fewer local field results and independent test data compared to established premium brands.

TW Solar Panel Specifications (common solar panels)

 TWMNH-48HE470WTWMNH-48HW475W
Cell Number96 (6 x 16)96
Cell TypeN- type TOPConN- type TOPCon
Power Output470 wp470 wp
Max Power Voltage30.8V31.05V
Panel Efficiency23.5%23.8%
Annual Power Degradation   (year 2 to year 30)0.4%0.4%
Dimensions1762 × 1134 × 30 mm1762 × 1134 × 30 mm
Weight23.7kg23.7kg
Product Warranty25 years25 years 
Operational Temperature Range–40 °C to +85 °C–40 °C to +85 °C
Manufactured inChinaChina

So, Should I Buy TW Solar Panels?

Tongwei Solar’s panels stack up fairly well in terms of their technical specifications. The 30-year performance warranty is competitive with other dual-glass solar panels. Their 15-year product warranty is now a little below the average.
Tongwei Solar have listed an Australian virtual office managed by Servcorp in North Sydney which is a step in the right direction. They are yet to establish the same support and local presence as some of the leading Chinese solar panel manufacturers so we expect support to be more challenging.

Example of TW Solar Project

Project Type: Distributed

Project Location: Australia

Project Capacity:10.53kW

Products Used: Terra shingled series

Project picture source: TW Solar

Read more product reviews from Solar Choice

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Jeff Sykes

Reviews from Australians who have installed TW Solar Panels

Rated 3.78 from 9 reviews
5 star
4
4 star
3
3 star
0
2 star
0
1 star
2

Showing 9 of 9 Reviews

22nd July 2025
Richard
-
10kW system
1.00

Cannot comment as we are still waiting for the entire thing to be finalised 3 months later

6th March 2025
Warren
-
6kW system
1.00

Output has been low considering the optimum orientation and angle.

16th January 2025
Alex
-
10-15kW system

Review left 2 years after system installed

5.00

The solar system produces electricity like it's suppose to do. Haven't have any issues

15th September 2024
E
QLD - 4215
10-15kW system
4.00

Still new. Yet to see how it perform in the long run

2nd July 2024
Dheerendra
-
9kW system
4.00

Works well, decent warranty & reviews

22nd May 2024
Greg
-
10kW system
5.00

All black panels with black railing.

Installation Photos

24th April 2025
Joseph
QLD - 4014
7kW system
4.00

7th February 2025
Verilyn
-
2kW system
5.00

17th July 2024
Peter
-
20-30kW system
5.00

Showing 9 of 9 Reviews