As one of the world’s largest consumer electronics manufacturers, Panasonic is a household name that entered the solar industry in 1975. Panasonic solar panels are popular among EnergySage shoppers and installers – in fact, they’re the third most quoted brand in 2023! However, in 2021 Panasonic announced that they’ll no longer manufacture their own solar panels (they previously had a manufacturing deal with Tesla). But if you’re interested in Panasonic solar panels, don’t worry: unlike LG Solar, Panasonic is continuing to sell high-performing panels – manufacturing is now just outsourced to a third party.
When evaluating your solar panel options, it’s important to compare what’s available so you can be confident in your solar investment. Let’s take a look at Panasonic’s solar panel technology and how it compares to other leading solar panel brands available today.
This is an unbiased review: EnergySage is not paid to review brands or products, nor do we earn money from affiliate advertising in this article. The content of this blog is based on research and information available at the time of writing. Learn more about our mission and how we make money as a company.
Key takeaways
Panasonic’s solar panels range in efficiency from 19.2% to 22.2%, and they have 25-year workmanship and performance warranties.
Panasonic solar panels cost between $2.61 and $3.45 per watt on the EnergySage Marketplace – that’s $15,660 to $20,700 for a 6 kW system before the federal solar tax credit.
As of 2021, Panasonic stopped manufacturing its panels but continues to sell solar panel modules made by a third party.
Shop for Panasonic solar panels (and many other brands!) today on the EnergySage Marketplace.
What’s in this article?
Panasonic solar panels: what series are available?
Panasonic offers multiple iterations of their top-of-the-line EverVolt solar panels for homeowners ready to start powering their homes with renewable energy. The options include:
EverVolt Series 380W
EverVolt Series 370/360W
EverVolt H Series 400/410W
EverVolt H Series 390W
EverVolt K Black Series 370W
EverVolt K Black Series 360/350W
EverVolt PK Black Series 350W
EverVolt PK Black Series 370/360W
EverVolt HK Black Series 410/400W
Panasonic’s half-cut cell technology gives their solar cells – aka the building blocks of solar panels – a high-efficiency rating and a lower temperature coefficient, resulting in higher electricity production. This gets a bit technical, but if you’re looking to understand the science behind what makes Panasonic solar panels so efficient, here’s a brief summary:
While conventional solar panels use a single layer of monocrystalline or polycrystalline silicon, Panasonic HIT (which stands for “heterojunction with intrinsic thin-layer”) and PERC (which stands for “passivated emitter and rear contact”) panels use a combination of half-cut cells of monocrystalline and ultra-thin amorphous silicon layers with heterojunction technology to reduce power loss and maximize solar panel efficiency. The surface of Panasonic solar panels also has a pyramid structure that can reduce reflection and direct more sunlight into the solar cells, maximizing electricity output. The half-cut cell structure reduces heat loss because the cells themselves are smaller, which increases the efficiency of Panasonic’s panels.
All of Panasonic’s panels use HIT technology, aside from their newest panel released in 2022, the PK Black Series 370/360W, which uses PERC technology. They range in wattage from 350W to 410W. The EverVolt and EverVolt H series are what you might think of as typical blue solar panels, while their other lines, the EverVolt HK, PK, and K, are all part of their Black Series, which you might find more appealing if you’re worried about the aesthetics of solar panels on your roof. We’ll dive into the efficiency ratings, performance, and warranties of all of Panasonic’s panels below.
How do Panasonic solar panels compare?
There are four key metrics that you should review as you evaluate solar panel quality: efficiency, performance, warranties, and price. We’ll explain what each of these means and why they’re important – and show how Panasonic solar panels stack up against each other and other leading brands in the solar industry.
Efficiency
The term “solar panel efficiency” or “conversion efficiency” refers to how well a solar panel captures sunlight and converts it into usable photovoltaic electricity. In the same conditions, a high-efficiency solar panel will produce more electricity than a lower-efficiency panel of the same size. For this reason, a higher efficiency rating is generally preferable. The efficiency of your Panasonic solar panels will vary depending on the specific model you choose for your system. While most solar panels fall in the 14% to 18% range, Panasonic panel efficiency ranges from 19.2% to 22.2%. For comparison, the most efficient panel on the EnergySage Marketplace is SunPower, at 22.8% efficiency, putting Panasonic panels among the best solar panels available when it comes to efficiency.
Panasonic panel series efficiency Panasonic seriesEfficiency rating EverVolt H Series, 410/400W21.6% (410W) / 22.2% (400W) EverVolt H Series, 390W21.1% EverVolt HK Black Series, 410/400W22.2% (410W) / 21.6% (400W) EverVolt PK Black Series, 370/360W20.3% (370W) / 19.7% (360W) EverVolt PK Black Series, 350W19.2% EverVolt K Black Series, 370W21.1% EverVolt K Black Series, 360/350W20.6% (360W) / 20.0% (350W) EverVolt Series, 380W21.7% EverVolt Series, 370/360W21.1% (370W) / 20.6% (360W)
Performance (temperature coefficient)
Temperature coefficient is an indicator of how well your solar panels perform in less-than-ideal conditions. Solar panels, like other electronic equipment, perform better when kept cool (ideally around 25°C/77°F). The temperature coefficient tells you how much your panel’s performance will change during hot sunny summer days.
For every degree above 25°C (77°F), your solar panel’s electricity production will decrease by its temperature coefficient. For example, Panasonic’s EverVolt HK Black series has a temperature coefficient of 0.26%/°C. This means that if the panel’s temperature increases by one degree from 25°C (77°F) to 26°C (79°F), its electricity production will decrease by 0.26%. If its temperature rises to 35°C (95°F), electricity production will reduce by 2.6%.
Your solar panels will likely see more than a few hot and sunny days each year, so ideally, they will have the lowest temperature coefficient possible. Panasonic’s solar panels offer some of the lowest temperature coefficients in the industry at -0.26 for all their series. For comparison, the most popular brand of solar panels on EnergySage, Q CELLS, offers panels with a temperature coefficient range of -0.39 to -0.34.
Panasonic panel series temperature coefficient Panasonic seriesTemperature coefficient EverVolt H Series, 410/400W-0.26%/°C EverVolt H Series, 390W-0.26%/°C EverVolt HK Black Series, 410/400W-0.26%/°C EverVolt PK Black Series, 370/360W-0.26%/°C EverVolt PK Black Series, 350W-0.26%/°C EverVolt K Black Series, 370W-0.26%/°C EverVolt K Black Series, 360/350W-0.26%/°C EverVolt Series, 380W-0.26%/°C EverVolt Series, 370/360W-0.26%/°C
Warranties
Whether you’re buying a TV, a car, or solar panels, the brand should stand behind their product with a strong warranty. A solar panel’s materials warranty (sometimes referred to as the product or equipment warranty) is a guarantee from the company that they will replace your panel if it fails due to manufacturing defects or environmental issues.
Panasonic offers a 25-year warranty, guaranteeing that their panels will still produce at least 86% to 92% of their original output by the end of the warranty term, depending on the product series. You can view the degradation rates and output percentages for the Panasonic EverVolt panels in the table below.
Under their TripleGuard warranty, Panasonic offers a 25-year product, performance, and labor warranty on any panels installed by a Panasonic authorized installer, comparable to other leading solar panel manufacturers like REC, SunPower, and Q CELLS.
The Panasonic AllGuard warranty covers the same things as the TripleGuard, and also expands your warranty to cover more of your solar system. When you pair your Panasonic solar panels with Enphase microinverters, you are eligible for the AllGuard warranty, which extends warranty coverage to the microinverters, racking, and monitoring system. Panasonic also offers an EverVolt warranty for any solar and energy storage systems, but this warranty does not cover the racking and monitoring system.
Panasonic panel power output warranty Panasonic seriesAnnual degradation (%)Power at year 25 (%) EverVolt H Series, 410/400W0.25%92% EverVolt H Series, 390W0.25%92% EverVolt HK Black Series, 410/400W0.25%92% EverVolt PK Black Series, 370/360W0.5%86% EverVolt PK Black Series, 350W0.5%86% EverVolt K Black Series, 370W0.25%92% EverVolt K Black Series, 360/350W0.25%92% EverVolt Series, 380W0.25%92% EverVolt Series, 370/360W0.25%92%
For more information, check out our in-depth review of Panasonic’s warranty and our guide to comparing the solar panel warranties of the top brands on the market.
How much do Panasonic solar panels cost?
For many homeowners, the final decision around the solar power equipment they choose rests on cost. The total price you’ll pay for a solar energy system with Panasonic panels will vary depending on the other equipment (such as inverters and mounts) used in the installation, as well as the characteristics of your roof.
To identify the range of prices for Panasonic systems, we analyzed quotes that homeowners received from installers on the EnergySage Marketplace that included Panasonic solar panels. Most Panasonic systems are typically priced between $2.61 and $3.45 per watt – comfortably in the mid-range for the solar industry.
This means that, for a 6 kW system, your gross cost (before subtracting any tax credits or other incentives) would be anywhere from $15,660 to $20,700. Compare this to Tesla, which has a cost range for a 6 kW system ranging from $18,180 to $21,000. But, most homeowners pay much less than the total gross cost: there are plenty of solar incentives and rebates to help you reduce upfront costs, including the 30% federal tax credit for solar, which lowers the cost range of a Panasonic solar panel system to $10,962 to $14,490.
By the way, if you’re interested in Panasonic solar panels, they’re currently offering a $250 rebate for all of their EverVolt panels on EnergySage.
Advantages & disadvantages of Panasonic solar panels
As with any product that is such a significant investment, Panasonic panels have advantages and disadvantages to keep in mind before deciding to make a purchase.
Pros of Panasonic solar panels
Superior product warranty: at 25 years, Panasonic solar panels come with one of the most extended and comprehensive warranties available.
High-quality customer service: one of the largest electronics manufacturers in the world, Panasonic offers a quality of customer service that many smaller brands cannot.
Excellent specifications: with a high-temperature coefficient, these panels work well in higher temperatures
Cons of Panasonic solar panels
Cost: while Panasonic has slightly cheaper options than brands like SunPower, there are still some less expensive (if lower quality) options available on the market.
Manufacturing: though this isn’t a direct disadvantage, Panasonic panels are no longer manufactured by the same company, so some things remain to be seen about how well these newer panels will hold up to those manufactured by Panasonic.
How to find the best price on Panasonic solar panels
The best way to determine whether Panasonic solar panels are the best option for your home is to review multiple quotes with different solar equipment before making a decision. On the EnergySage Marketplace, you’ll receive quotes from our network of qualified, vetted solar installers so you can go solar with confidence. If you’re already set on certain equipment – Panasonic or otherwise – simply note your preference in your profile so installers can include it in your quotes.