With a good product quality reputation and being one of the world’s largest solar panel manufacturers, Canadian Solar panels are undoubtedly a West Australian favourite choice. However, there are considerable differences between the Canadian solar panels Perth customers can access. Avoid the outdated tech. Within, we’ll fast-track you to the only Canadian solar panels Perth customers should consider in 2024 and how they compare against comparative industry heavyweights.
Contents
- Top 5 volume globally: BNEF Tier-1 Q2 2024
- N-Type TOPCon module options
- Established 2001
- Longstanding Australian presence (2011)
- Powering: Mornington, Longreach, Oakley, Gunnedah solar farms (Australia)
Canadian Solar panels have been powering Perth’s rooftops since 2011, longer than many solar manufacturers have existed. They have a history dating back to 2001. Still, we’re more concerned about how Canadian Solar’s modules perform in real-world West Australian conditions over time while providing superior value for the ‘best available’ specifications.
From 2024, considering anything less than N-Type TOPCon or greater (HJT; Hetero-Junction Technology or BC; Back Contact) seems like stepping back to 2022. We’ve evolved, and so should our solar panel technology, to use the least surface area while providing the most yield.
Residential suitability: (order) Most ideal to least.
1. TOPHiKu6 (440 W): Residential candidates, choose this one! It’s the current highest-specification Canadian solar panel available and has extraordinary value for the technology. The specifications vs. cost make it excellent value compared to other leading brands. A -0.29% Temperature Coefficient means it performs well in hotter temperatures. We love this panel, and you should, too.
2. HiKu6 Mono PERC (550 W): This is an example of where bigger isn’t always better. At a beefy 27.6 kg, this monster suits industry buildings with abundant support and surface area due to its lower efficiency and commercial-level (reduced) 12 and 25-year warranty.
The TOPHiKu6 (440 W) has a better warranty when suitably matched with the ideal environment. Each Canadian Solar panel warranty is summarised below for its intended purpose. More extended warranty periods now support Residential [intended] products from most leading brand Australian-invested solar panel manufacturers, including Canadian Solar.
Reduced warranty periods accompany Commercial & Industrial (C&I) solar panel specifications. Typical among leading solar panel brands due to the competitive space for Residential-grade solar panels, where the environments range from some of the most diverse on earth. A classic solar storey where bigger doesn’t always mean better.
Model | Product warranty period | Performance warranty period | 1st year degradation 1 | Annual degradation 1,2 | Download | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | TOPHiKu6 | 25 yrs | 30 yrs | 1% | 0.4% | Warranty |
 | HiKu6 Mono PERC | 12 yrs | 25 yrs | 2 % | 0.55% | Warranty |
- Warranted maximum power output degradation within a nominated period at Standard Test Conditions.
- Annual warranted maximum power output degradation at Standard Test Conditions, beyond year-1 for the remaining performance warranty period.
This information should be interpreted alongside the full Canadian Solar warranty document.
Perth’s Canadian Solar Pro’s and locals you can trust. Google & SolarQuotes 4.9/5
Different plants internationally contribute to the vertical integration of Canadian Solar’s manufacturing process. North America and China are the primary assembly locations for Canadian Solar panels. In contrast, alternative strategic locations in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand and Brazil manufacture integral components such as ingots, wafers, solar cells, and other products.
Due to Australia’s geographical location, we receive modules from Canadian Solar’s robotic Gigafactories in China. Many module manufacturers are now strategically deploying replica [automated] facilities internationally for improved adoption on demand. Canadian Solar’s North American customers are more likely to receive Canadian-made (Ontario) or US-made (Texas) Canadian Solar panel variants. Fortunately, quality assurance and manufacturing lines are the same.
Canadian solar panel options resonate with premium customers seeking good technology value. A BNEF Top 5 [Q2, 2024] manufacturer globally, all currently produced Canadian Solar panels must push innovative boundaries or remain on trend to compete with similar high-volume manufacturers. However, you’re purchasing more than a solar panel and investing in a brand that is more likely to have warranty assurance for the intended period. Expect competitive value for the technology inside.
After the current zone 3 STC subsidy (Perth & Bunbury region), the average costs for a grid-tie solar-only Canadian solar energy system are as follows;
Model | Sample System Size | Average Cost per kW 1 | PSW Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOPHiKu6 | 6.6 kW | $756 | Discover |
| HiKu6 | 6.6 kW | $908 | n/a |
1. Average cost per kW installed (after STC value deducted as a point-of-sale discount), considering average inverter cost compatible with the sample system size, and based on values relevant within 30 days of the article post date.
Ensure these Canadian Solar panels and their nominated prices are our best. Get your copy of the latest Perth Solar Warehouse catalogue.
A 6.6 kW system is an example of the most common small-scale system size (residential). Considering all inverter types, the average cost divided provides an Average Cost per kW. The Average Cost per kW is multiplied by any nominated system size for general system cost guidance. This content is not a substitute for a quoted price.
Quick links: Alternative system size prices: 3 kW, 10 kW or 13 kW. OR build your ideal Canadian Solar panel and inverter combination with online installed prices on PSW Energy: Canadian solar package – variable sizes ›
Hassle-free solar. From a local company you can trust. Google & SolarQuotes 4.9/5
It’s one thing to know which Canadian solar panels to consider; this is only half the question. Some know precisely their inverter or battery preferences. However, for those seeking further inspiration, try these popular product pairings for an assured future-ready energy system.
Standard Inverter: Goodwe DNS-G3 or SDT-G2. It’s hard to ignore Goodwe as an inverter consideration. It may be at the more affordable end of the spectrum, but it just works. Great software, outstanding local support, and a solid reputation—unquestionably, Goodwe builds dependable solar inverters.
Review: How good is a Goodwe for your project
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Hybrid Inverter: The most advanced hybrid inverter solution we’ve ever seen. Start here, and add on essential elements as you need. Sigenergy’s Sigen Inverter become ‘Sigenstor’ when you add battery modules. Bonus: Up to 25 kW DC (bidirectional) EV charging capabilities available. Mind-blowing!
Review: Sigenergy’s ‘SigenStor’ is a game-changer for Australia
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European inverter: Fronius GEN24. When you occupy 20% of the Australian inverter market share, there’s a reason. Over the last decade, Fronius has earned a reputation for building dependable solar inverters, leading the way in energy ecosystem development with the new release of the Fronius GEN24 range.
Review: Is a Fronius inverter worth the extra expense
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When selecting the ideal solution for your home, with cutting-edge specifications, each Canadian Solar panel within the range will undoubtedly have a best-case scenario—we’ve compared variants stocked and available in Perth, Western Australia, at the time of writing. For most Perth Solar Warehouse turnkey energy solutions, the ideal Canadian solar panel will be the TOPHiKU6 with its n-type TOPCon solar module technology in a 440W format as the perfect system multiplier for customers looking to maximise their solar rebate within most system size categories (without batteries), for example: 3.9 kW, 6.6 kW, 10.5 kW, 13.2 kW and 19.8 kW.
Are you seeking a specific Canadian Solar product? As one of Perth’s proven Canadian Solar panel installers for end customers, we can facilitate your ideal solution with frontline West Australian product knowledge developed over 20 years. Contact Perth Solar Warehouse sales support for a Canadian Solar-certified installer servicing the Perth and Bunbury regions of Western Australia.
