Tier 1 Solar Panels Definition

Learn what tier 1 solar panels actually mean in this solar basics video based on the story.

Tier 1 solar panels definition. Comprised of existing sources already made publicly available on the internet this latest tier 1 solar panels list 2020 is available in an easily indexable fashion for. Have been producing solar panels for 5 years or more. Are either publicly listed on a stock exchange or have a strong and stable balance sheet. Tier 1 doesn t mean the panels are the best performing modules on the market.

Have fully automated production and a high degree of vertical integration. It s also important to note that bnef s tiered system ranks manufacturers and not specific panel lines. Pike research in pikes s system tier 1 manufacturers represent only a small slice 2 of the total number of manufacturers on the market but a number of factors set them clearly apart from tier 2 and tier 3 manufacturers. You can read the full methodology on bloomberg new energy finance s website here.

Is vertically integrated meaning they make their own cells and wafers. One may quite rightly make an assumption that a tier 1 ranking has more to do with financial stability rather than product quality and the answer is yes. The tiered solar panel classification was first developed to show banks which panel manufacturers were legitimate and trustworthy but it s evolved since. Based on bnef s criteria tier 1 modules are just those that are used in a lot of projects and almost all established solar companies are considered tier 1.

Each year solar review publishes the latest tier 1 solar panels list in a bid to assist end user education understand the term tier 1 was not created as a quality guideline. All tier 1 solar panels must be produced through highly automated manufacturing techniques. For many years the solar industry has used the tier ranking system to help guide buyers and financiers in understanding what makes a good solar panel and a good company. Tier 1 is simply an investigation by bloomberg new energy finance that entails the solar panel manufacturer needing to show that 6 different finance houses have backed projects of over 1 5mwp of solar a fairly large solar farm within the last 2 years.

Generally speaking tier 1 solar panel manufacturers are defined as those that. Bnef does not publish tier 2 or tier 3 lists so any sub tiered lists out there are just made up marketing terms. The tier 1 ranking scale is orchestrated by bloomberg new energy finance corporation and is used to rank solar panel manufacturers in terms of their bank ability or financial stability. This is designed to guarantee panels are of an extremely high standard of quality consistency and reliability.