If you like your solar panels cheap and efficient, Chinese modules may be the ones you are looking for. However, there are so many Chinese brands – 8 out of Top 10 solar companies are Chinese! How do you choose between them? We got your back, let’s go over them together one by one. In this article we’ll take a look at one of the biggest Chinese brands – here’s a JA Solar panels review for you.
Key takeaways
JA Solar is one of the world's largest solar panel manufacturers, founded in 2005 in China. The company is based in Bejing. It makes photovoltaic cells, modules, batteries and other components that convert sunlight into electricity, selling them to customers globally for both residential and commercial solar projects.
The company stands out for its significant research and development efforts, holding numerous patents for solar technology innovations. They operate multiple manufacturing facilities across China and other countries, producing billions of dollars worth of solar products annually. Their panels are known for decent quality and competitive pricing, which has helped them capture a substantial share of the global solar market. At times, JA Solar fights for the largest manufacturing capacity in the industry.
Despite being one of the largest manufacturers in the world, JA Solar is somewhat local-oriented. English customer support can be hard to get sometimes. Their panels are installed into large soalr farms all around the world though.
30%-35% more production with bifacial panels
JA Solar is focused on monocrystalline PV modules, PV materials and energy storage systems – in fact, that’s all they sell. They sell primarily high power bifacial modules. These are great for utility-scale installations giving 30-35% more production for the same space.
21%-23.5% average efficiency
The efficiency of JA Solar panels usually hovers between 21% and 23.5%, which is above average on the market. JA Solar engineers implement most of the popular modern solar technologies, like half-cut cell construction, PERC cell technology and busbars.
Cheaper side of the market
When it comes to price, JA Solar is on the cheaper side of the market. You could say that JA Solar prices match the ones of Trina Solar, slightly cheaper than Canadian Solar, but a bit more expensive than LONGi Solar. Lower LCOE (levelized cost of electricity) is mentioned in the description of every JA Solar panel. You could say that JA Solar panels may be the most efficient ones among cheaper PV modules.
JA Solar panels can survive a category 5 hurricane
Most panels of JA Solar have good mechanical loading tolerance. Their modules are made to withstand 5400 Pa of front load which is comparable to 210 mph wind. For example, it can live through category 5 hurricane Michael that visited Florida a while ago — its wind speed is around 160 mph. Better shading tolerance is also often mentioned with them: each panel has 3 bypass diodes which decrease the energy losses of a module due to inactivity of some cells.
Almost 90% output even in 30 years
Generally, JA Solar issues a 12-year warranty for the product and 25-30-year warranty for performance of their panels. You can expect from their panel to retain over 90% of its output after 10 years and around 85-87% of the rated output in 25-30 years. JA Solar panels also have better degradation rates of only 0.4-0.5% power output loss per year with only 1% decrease in year one.
To see what’s different between JA Solar and other manufacturers, let’s list the strong and weak sides of their product. Let’s start with advantages:
While aren’t any immediate cons that stand out, let’s just mention a few points of concern:
We have asked our engineer to share his opinion on three different JA models for different purposes: for residential, business and big-scale installations. This is how he feels about them.
JA Solar JAM60D42 LB is a high-output n-type solar panel designed for businesses or large residential installations. The module’s efficiency of 22-23% places it above average in the market, and its bifacial design allows it to get extra power from the rear side. The module comes with a 12-year product and 30-year performance warranty, guaranteeing 87% of initial power output over its lifetime. This durable model exhibits low degradation rates: 1% in the first year and 0.4% 29 years after, ensuring consistent performance over the long term. A solid choice for a rooftop system.
With an efficiency of 22.5-23.5%, this module is the most efficient in the JA Solar lineup. Ideal for low-light conditions, it delivers high power output of 580-605 watts even in challenging environments, and its bifacial design further boosts energy generation. It comes with a 12-year product and 30-year performance warranty, guaranteeing 87% of initial power output over its lifetime. This model also exhibits low degradation rates: 1% in the first year and 0.4% every year after, ensuring consistent and reliable performance. Good pick for a large commercial system.
As the most powerful panel in the series, this model delivers exceptional output of 625-650 watts with an efficiency of 22.5-23.5%. Its high-performance characteristics make it a top option for getting maximum power. It comes with a 12-year product and 30-year performance warranty, guaranteeing 87% of initial power output over its lifetime. This model’s degradation rates don’t change: 1% in the first year and 0.4% annually thereafter, ensuring long-term reliability and consistent energy generation. Aluminum frame protect cells from damage.
JA Solar has panels for the whole range of purposes. For example, if you want to buy a panel for your home, then 450W-5000 watt modules are more than enough. When you are looking to build a huge system for your business, it makes sense to go for 500+ watt panels.
The questions below should help you approach the task of choosing the panel more carefully:
With a power of 435-460 watts and efficiency of 22-23%, this black panel is well-suited for most residential applications. Its strong performance in low-light conditions ensures consistent energy production even in areas with limited sunlight. The module comes with a 12-year product and 30-year performance warranty, guaranteeing 87% of initial power output over its lifetime. Like the previous modules, this one also has low degradation rates: 1% in the first year and 0.4% after, making it a reliable and long-lasting option for homeowners. This is also an n-type silicon cell panel which is more efficient compared to p-type cell panels.
A1 SolarStore verdict: JA Solar is a fine brand
Our JA solar panels complete review of 2025 comes to an end. Let’s summarize everything we’ve covered so far by listing several focal points.
JA solar panels are a fine, middle-of-the-road choice. While we aren’t ready to give the manufacturer a huge praise, there is nothing wrong with its product.
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Andrey had been a news editor and freelance writer for a number of medias before joining A1 SolarStore team. Climate change and its impact on people's lives has always been among his interests and it partially explains his degree in Philosophy and Ethics.
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