EGing 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 EGing – Company History

Founded in 2003 in Changzhou, EGing PV is a vertically-integrated solar cell and solar panel manufacturer. The company was listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SHA: 600537) in 2003. They have recently been named a Tier 1 supplier in Bloomberg’s rankings which suggests they are a bankable supplier.

In 2019, Keenstar Holdings, which is a Hong Kong-based investment holding company, acquired a 51% stake in EGing Solar, making it the majority shareholder of the company.

The company has approximately 5GW of annual solar panel production capacity based out of its single manufacturing facility in Changzhou. This is the primary headquarters for EGing and their only office space despite the fact they sell solar panels in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.

EGing solar panels have not been utilised on Solar Farm projects in Australia to date. They have limited penetration of the Australian market without a local presence or marketing effort to support their product. They currently have a distribution agreement in place with One Stop Warehouse.

Key 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.

EGing Solar Panels are on Bloomberg’s tier 1 list.

See full list of Tier 1 Solar Panels

What is PV Evolution Labs Top Performer?

PV Evolution Labs in partnership with DNV GL independently test solar panel reliability on an annual basis. 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.

EGing Solar Panels was listed as a top performer for 6 performance tests(thermal cycling, damp heat, mechanical stress sequence, hailstress sequence, LID+LETID and PAN performance) in the latest 2024 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 warranty.

Relying on your solar installer is not always an option as since 2011 we’ve seen over 700 residential solar installers (including the large ones) go out of business well within the lifetime of the systems they are installing. 

At this point EGing do NOT have an Australian office – so it appears if you have a warranty claim you will need to liaise directly with your installer or a product distributor.

How Much Do EGing Solar Panels Cost?

Based on Solar Choice’s database we have taken the below-average costs from our database as an indicative guide. This pricing places Eging in the lowest cost category. These figures include:

• Full turnkey Solar System using EGing 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

EGing Solar Panels – Points of Difference

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

Tier 1 Listed Brand

EGing has established itself as a mid-scale solar panel manufacturer and has been recognised by Bloomberg NEF as a tier 1 listed brand. This means they have solid financial backing and provides some additional security that they will be able to support their long warranties on their solar panels.

EGing has been listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange since 2011 and now reports to have 3000+ employees, 400+ patents applications and an annual solar panel production capacity of 5GW.

EGing Solar Panel Technologies

The majority of EGing solar panels are approved by the Clean Energy Council (listed under the company of Changzhou EGing Photovoltaic Technology Co Ltd) for the Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme – Australia’s home solar rebate program.

Currently, there are three typical categories in EGing’s residential solutions: Star Series, Aurora Series and Convention Series for residential, commercial and utility-scale solutions. Below is the full range of EGing panels for residential solutions.

Star Series

EGing’s Star series features high-efficiency solar panels using PERC monocrystalline half-cut solar cells enabling them to reach maximum efficiency of up to 21.29% (for model EG-550M72). 

The panels come in various dimensions and have a power output range of 385W to 550W, making them suitable for both residential and commercial solar applications. 

The Star series also has some all-black solar panel options which use black solar cells and black aluminium frames, providing a more visually appealing option for customers’ rooftops.

Aurora Series

The Aurora series includes bifacial and double-glass solar panel options, which can generate electricity from both sides of the panel and increase their energy output. 

This type of technology usually comes at a slight premium and is best utilised on ground-mounted solar projects or panels installed on tilt frames where sunlight can be reflected on the backside.

These panels also use PERC technology with half-cut monocrystalline cells and have a maximum efficiency of up to 21.56% (for model EG-670M66). The panels range in power output from 585W to 650W and are designed for utility-scale solar projects.

Convention Series

EGing’s Convention series is their most affordable option, which uses monocrystalline cells without the PERC technology that is seen in other series. The maximum efficiency of up to 20.93% (EG-455M72), would be considered mediocre in comparison to what’s available in the market at the time of writing.

The Convention series panels have a power output range from 345W to 455W, making them ideal for both residential and commercial applications.

Independent Testing of Eging Solar Panels by PV Labs Australia

The ACT Government commissioned some testing in 2023 which was completed by PV Labs Australia. They tested a total 121 solar panel from 14 different manufacturers taking samples that were available on the Australian market. 

The solar panels were tested via a visual inspection, STC power, electroluminescence, wet leakage and potential induced degradation. 

Eging’s solar panels did not perform well in this testing. Overall, their solar panel scored a 77 out of 100 which was the 3rd lowest scoring brand tested. 

The Eging (EG-415M54-HLV) 415W solar panel tested quite poorly in the accelerated aging test where they experienced the greatest loss in power (2.7% or 11 watts) of the 11 brands of panels tested. This was over double the average loss of 1.3%.

See the full report here.

EGing’s Warranty Policies for Australian Customers

Solar panels come with a product and performance warranty. The product warranty is designed to cover manufacturing faults or materials in the panel that leads to damage or malfunction, while the performance warranty is to cover a panel’s performance that won’t deteriorate beyond a certain point.

As of January 1st 2022, EGing now offers a 15-year product warranty and a 25-year performance warranty on their mono-facial panels offered in Australia. The solar panel models mentioned in the excerpt from the warranty below have a 25-year product warranty:

“EG-(SERIES)M54-HL & EG-(SERIES)M60-HE with black frame or full black design. EG-(SERIES)M54-HLV & EG-(SERIES)M60-HEV with black frame or full black design.”

To have a good chance of claiming a warranty with EGing you will need to have your installer or an ‘authorised dealer’ make a claim on your behalf.  If they are out of business you will need to make “an immediate notification directly to EGing PV” including evidence of the claim and the serial numbers of the solar panels.  EGing does not have an Australian office or an Australian website and the only publicly listed numbers for Eging are from their Chinese location.

In our opinion, this is not a great warranty offer for Australian customers and potential buyers should be aware that they may be subjected to a very difficult claim process if any issues occur. 

Take a look at EGing’s warranty policy for yourself!

EGing Solar Panels Pros and Cons

Comparison of EGing Solar Panel Specifications (common modules)

So, Should I Buy EGing Solar Panels?

The short answer is probably not. EGing panels are cheaper than many of their counterparts in the Australian market, but that comes at a cost. This cost is mostly contained in their limited warranty coverage which as it currently stands would lead to a difficult process for an end-consumer despite being a 25-year product warranty for some models. 

Many of EGings’ range of solar panels available in Australia utilise older technology and are lower in efficiency than their counterparts, so it would be important to look at the technical specifications of any solar panel you are being offered.

After reading the first version of this review some years ago, Eging produced an Australian website that now seems to be no longer supported. In the future, we would hope to see Eging establish a local presence with an Australian office, staff and website to support sales, provide technical support and provide a clear pathway for end-customers to claim warranty.

Read more product reviews from Solar Choice

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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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